Xavier Lázaro continued his competitive schedule for the 2024 season this weekend, participating in the second stage of the ACI Italian Karting Championship, held at the International Circuit La Conca, in Muro Leccese. Competing in the highly competitive Mini Gr. 3 category, the driver from Várzea de Sintra had a very challenging weekend, managing with great effort to qualify for the two decisive races today, in which he finished 17th and 21st.
With a total of 51 drivers answering ACI Sport's call to race in Mini Gr. 3, Xavier Lázaro had to compete in two Qualifying Heats to secure a spot among the 36 drivers who qualified for the decisive races 1 and 2 today. The SM Racing driver was competitive in Qualifying, although a small tactical error affected his final result, leaving him with the 15th best time, four-tenths of a second behind the pole position winner.
For the two Qualifying Heats, Xavier Lázaro started from 10th place in his group. In Heat 1, he had a good start, maintaining 10th position until Turn 3, where he was pushed off the track by an opponent, dropping to last place. Shortly after beginning to recover some positions, Xavier Lázaro lost places again to avoid an accident ahead of him involving several competitors, which triggered a 'slow lap' situation lasting four laps. The SM Racing driver could only secure 24th position.
In Qualifying Heat 2, the Portuguese driver was once again unlucky, dropping to last place at the start as he avoided a major crash in front of him. From there, Xavier Lázaro managed to find a good rhythm, evidenced by his recording the fourth fastest lap of the race, ultimately finishing in 15th position.
He Qualified for Races 1 and 2
In the sum of the results from the Qualifying Heats, Xavier Lázaro secured a spot in today's decisive Races 1 and 2. For Race 1, the 10-year-old started from the 29th position and consistently climbed up the ranks, finishing 17th—a positive outcome considering the race's incidents. In Race 2, the Portuguese driver was again unlucky, being held up by Antonio Ianni, who stalled in front of him. The situation worsened shortly after when Lázaro was pushed off the track again. Although he started from 18th (instead of the 17th position he should have), he found himself at the back of the pack from the first lap. In a frantic race, Xavier Lázaro managed to recover and finished in 21st place.
Now, three well-deserved weeks of rest follow before returning to Italy for the 3rd stage of the ACI Italian Karting Championship, in Val Vibrata, from June 20 to 23.
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
