Xavier Lázaro concluded an extensive competitive calendar in 2022 last weekend. The driver from the official DR team, led by Danilo Rossi, raced at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Sarno for the Trofeo Ayrton Senna. This event holds special significance for the nine-year-old driver, who, for the second time, did not miss the opportunity to participate in an event that pays tribute to a major figure in motorsport. On the track near Naples, the youngster from Várzea de Sintra competed in the Mini Group 3, designed for the youngest drivers in this category. Racing among 58 registered drivers, Xavier Lázaro had a good opportunity not only to accumulate more track kilometers but also to be part of a highly competitive group in terms of performance.
The Qualifying Ultimately Influenced the Weekend
Highly motivated for this race, Xavier Lázaro ended up facing disappointment during the Qualifying, one of the most crucial moments of the weekend as it determines the starting position in the qualifying heats. Getting involved in an incident with two other karts, the DR driver couldn't achieve a competitive lap time. His lap of 1m06.514s left the Portuguese driver three seconds behind the pole position and with only the 22nd time in his group. The task of achieving a good result became quite challenging since he would start the qualifying heats from the last positions.
In the first of three Qualifying heats on Saturday, Xavier Lázaro showcased his strength behind the wheel of the DR. Starting from 23rd, the Portuguese driver gained 11 positions, finishing in 12th place. This performance provided a lot of encouragement towards the goal of making it to Sunday's Final. However, the second qualifying heat turned out to be chaotic for the nine-year-old driver. He got stuck on the starting grid with the engine not cooperating, and Xavier Lázaro couldn't avoid finishing in the last position.
In the final qualifying heat, once again, the Portuguese driver faced misfortune, ending up involved in an accident. The final result was 26th place, relegating Xavier Lázaro to the back of the pack in the Last Chance Qualifier. In other words, things were not looking easy for someone aiming to conclude the Italian campaign in 2022 with a spot in the Final.
A Special Sunday
On Sunday, Xavier Lázaro approached the Sarno circuit with a very strong mindset. Aware that securing a spot in his first final in Italy would be challenging, the Portuguese driver went all out to achieve his goal. In the Last Chance Qualifier, he performed admirably, starting from 24th and gaining 13 positions in seven laps, finishing in 11th place, securing a spot in Finals 1 and 2. In this event, access to the final for drivers who faced difficulties in the qualifying heats was obtained by finishing within the top 12 in the Last Chance Qualifier. Subsequently, it was possible to compete in both finals, with Final 2 being the most important.
The race that followed, Final 1, was the stage for Xavier Lázaro's best performance since he started driving a kart. The Portuguese driver delivered a remarkable performance, starting from the back of the pack (35th). In a frantic eight-lap race, Xavier overtook 15 drivers, driven by an immense determination to achieve a goal that became increasingly challenging throughout the weekend. The memorable performance of the Portuguese driver brought suspense to see how much he would be able to climb the standings in Final 2.
In the most important race of the event in the Mini category, Xavier Lázaro nearly replicated his performance from the previous race. Starting the race in 20th place, by the end of the first lap, Lázaro was already in 13th position. However, he let his enthusiasm and lack of experience take over, ultimately making a mistake that sent him off the track. Although he returned to the race in the last position, Xavier Lázaro could only recover to the final 29th place.
“O Xavier hoje estava endiabrado”his father, Vasco Lázaro, confessed at the end. “Ele sabia que hoje era muito difícil conseguir estar presente nas Finais, que no fundo é o objetivo para que todos trabalham no fim de semana. No entanto, acho que esse cenário adverso acabou por o tranquilizar e ao mesmo tempo foi um tónico. A corrida que fez na Repescagem foi muito boa, mas o desempenho na Final 1 foi o melhor que já o vi fazer. As oito voltas em que esteve perfeito e ganhou 15 posições foram a melhor prova de que toda esta aposta internacional valeu a pena. Na Final 2, deixou-se entusiasmar e evidenciou um aspeto em que sabemos é necessário trabalhar mais, a sua consistência. Este fim de semana deixa-me e a todos na estrutura DR muito motivados para o ano de 2023, em que vamos renovar esta aposta, de forma ainda mais ambiciosa. Mas, as novidades ficam para daqui a mais algumas semanas”, concluded Vasco Lázaro.
Photos: DRSSpeedphoto and Archive (Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency)
