Xavier Lázaro secured 13th place today in the final round of the WSK Final Cup, an event under the auspices of WSK Promotion that took place this weekend at the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato. In what was only his third race in OKJ (Junior), the Portuguese driver proved to be among the strongest and increasingly adapted to one of the most competitive categories in international karting.
After once again failing to get the desired results in Qualifying, where he placed 31st among 66 participants, the 12-year-old saw things get even harder when he retired in the first of three heats that could lead to the Final. A 15th place in Heat 2 left his chances of reaching the Final very slim, but a determined race rewarded with eighth place in the last attempt opened the door — which was then fully thrown open by a brilliant performance in Pre-Final A, where Xavier Lázaro started from 16th and finished in an impressive top six.
For the Final, the official DR driver — from the team managed by five-time world champion Danilo Rossi — climbed from 23rd place to finish the 15-lap race in 13th after yet another remarkable performance, matching the result he had achieved two weeks earlier in Cremona. The young driver from Várzea de Sintra ended the season in Italy by securing 20th place in the category in the WSK Final Cup, which featured a total of 82 participants from all corners of the world across the rounds held in Franciacorta, Cremona, and Lonato.
Qualifying Could Have Gone Better
The Qualifying session for this final round of the WSK Final Cup initially proved difficult for Xavier Lázaro, with the driver from Várzea de Sintra finding himself blocked on track by other drivers who were more focused on racing against the Portuguese than on working for a good lap time. Xavier Lázaro eventually decided to look for clear track space that would at least allow him one clean lap. Despite losing some precious time in the session, the DR driver still managed to minimise the damage, securing a lap time that placed him in the middle of the pack for the start of the three heats. On the timesheets, Lázaro recorded the 16th fastest time in his group, which placed him 31st among the 66 participants.
Heats Highlighted the Strength of Xavier Lázaro
After a qualifying session that had already become complicated, Xavier Lázaro’s progress through the weekend initially became even more difficult. Starting from 16th position for the first of the three heats that determine a possible place in the OKJ Final, and with heavy rain, Xavier Lázaro didn’t even manage to start the race, as the spark plug of the Modena Engines engine failed, forcing him to withdraw.
In this scenario, the Portuguese driver knew the importance of having two strong races to secure a chance of being in Sunday’s Final, which did not seem easy given the high quality and competitiveness of the majority of the field in OKJ (Junior).
In Heat 2, the Portuguese driver got off to a good start and quickly began moving up the positions, reaching the top ten. However, while trying to gain more places amid a group of several drivers, he had to stay wide at the entry of one of the corners at South Garda Karting, dropping several positions. He ultimately had to settle for 15th place, just one position higher than where he had started.
Heat 3 was one of the highlights of Xavier Lázaro’s weekend, showcasing his determination and talent on track, even with limited experience in the OKJ category. With the track dry and starting from 16th position, the official DR driver steadily moved up the standings and entered the final lap in 11th. With a move of great skill and courage at one of Lonato’s overtaking spots, he gained three positions, finishing in a spectacular eighth place.
Another Excellent Performance in the Pre-Final
This morning, Xavier Lázaro started Pre-Final A from 16th position. With great composure after a strong start, the 12-year-old managed to avoid an incident at Turn 2 in Lonato that affected a third of the field. Showing good pace and precision, he steadily moved up the order, reaching the tail of the leading group of nine drivers. Shortly after, he overtook KR Motorsport’s Chinese driver Xie Huifei, moving into eighth. Always strong and focused, he unfortunately arrived at the wrong moment amid a battle for fifth, sixth, and seventh. When those drivers made contact, Xavier gained positions but lost speed, leaving him vulnerable to an attack from Xie Huifei, who reclaimed the position. Even so, Xavier Lázaro’s excellent performance was rewarded with seventh place at the finish line, a gain of nine positions in the race. However, upon arrival at Parc Fermé, Xie Huifei was given a five-second penalty for damage to his KR’s nose, which promoted Xavier Lázaro to sixth place.
In the Final and Once Again with a Strong Performance
In only his third race in OKJ, perhaps currently the most competitive category in high-level karting, Xavier Lázaro secured his place in the Final for the second time. Starting from 23rd position on the outside of the track, the Portuguese driver began cautiously, especially as there were several incidents on the first lap. Moving up the order consistently, Xavier Lázaro clearly demonstrated on track how quickly he is developing behind the wheel of the DR in OKJ. He had to work hard, but with an intelligent race that highlights his growing maturity, he secured 13th place overall, the same result he had achieved in Cremona.
In the final standings of the WSK Final Cup, Xavier Lázaro secured 20th place among the 82 OKJ participants — a remarkable result for his debut season in the category. Here’s to 2026, with a full competitive calendar soon to be announced.
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
