Xavier Lázaro contested the fifth and final round of the Champions Of The Future this weekend, with the RGMMC-organised event taking place at the iconic Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Sarno, Italy. Facing 54 drivers from 25 countries in OKJ, the 13-year-old Portuguese driver produced his most consistent performance of the season, confirming the progress made since joining Parolin Motorsport.
Qualifying leaves more on the table but secures strong starting positions
In Qualifying, Xavier set the sixth-fastest time in his group with a best lap of 59.272 seconds, placing him 16th overall among the 54 competitors. There was, however, a feeling that an even stronger result had been within reach, as he spent much of his fastest lap behind a slower driver and lost valuable time.
Nevertheless, the result ensured Xavier would start all three Heats from inside the top eight, putting the Várzea de Sintra youngster in a strong position to build his weekend without having to take unnecessary risks.
Consistency and maturity define the Heats
In the opening Heat, Xavier started eighth and quickly joined the battle at the front, climbing as high as fourth. A late move from Alexandre Point, however, forced him to take a wider line to avoid contact, dropping him to sixth. Xavier held that position through to the end of the eight-lap race.
In the second Heat, again starting eighth, he lost one position on the opening lap but quickly regained it. Remaining firmly in touch with the leading group throughout the race, Xavier delivered an intelligent and controlled performance to finish seventh.
The third Heat followed a similar pattern. After regaining the position he had lost at the start before the end of the opening lap, Xavier again showed the pace to fight near the front and climbed as high as fourth. In the closing stages, he adopted a more conservative approach, prioritising consistency and avoiding unnecessary risks that could compromise a strong starting position for the Super Heat. He comfortably finished seventh, completing a highly consistent set of three Heats.
Excellent Super Heat followed by a difficult Final
Starting fifth in Super Heat B on Sunday morning, Xavier took a cautious approach into the opening corners and dropped to eighth during the first lap. The Portuguese driver quickly found his rhythm, however, and produced his strongest race of the weekend. Combining pace, intelligence and composure, he fought his way back to fifth and crossed the line right behind the group battling for second, third and fourth.
The result secured 11th on the grid for the Final, a demanding 15-lap race held in high temperatures that presented an additional challenge for drivers, karts and tyres. Having managed his allocation of six Maxxis tyres particularly effectively throughout the previous sessions, Xavier entered the decisive race in a strong position to challenge for a significant result.
The Final began positively, with Xavier making a strong start and climbing as high as ninth. His progress was then compromised when he spent almost an entire lap behind Julian Frasnelli, who was running at a slower pace and made it extremely difficult for Xavier to find a way past. The situation created an accordion effect in the chasing pack, with Xavier subsequently receiving several hits from drivers behind.
From that point, the race became increasingly physical and eventful. Xavier also became involved in more aggressive battles for position and finished with damage to his kart's front fairing, resulting in a 10-second penalty that dropped him to 19th place. A less responsive engine in the decisive race, combined with the circumstances of the on-track battles and a few moments of over-aggression, ultimately prevented him from achieving a result that reflected his earlier performance.
The Final result, however, does not tell the full story of Xavier Lázaro's performance at Sarno. Consistent throughout the Heats, highly competitive in the Super Heat and showing maturity in the way he managed his Parolin Motorsport equipment across the event, the Várzea de Sintra youngster brought his Champions Of The Future campaign to a close with his strongest overall performance of the season.
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
