A Competition I Really Like
For the second time, I was present at the Trofeo Ayrton Senna, which takes place in December at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli, in Sarno. Throughout the weekend I was very competitive, but I ended up not being happy in Qualifying, which conditioned my position for the qualifying heats. I ended up having to race the Repechage, where I guaranteed my presence in the Finals. I had good performances in Final 1 and 2, with different results.
The Best Performance of the 1st Campaign at WSK
As I become more consistent in the WSK (Italy) competitions, I feel more comfortable in a field of quantity and quality. I'm very comfortable behind the wheel of the DR in Lonato and I was finally able to perform strongly in Qualifying. Some inexperience in the Qualifiers, in addition to an engine problem (in one of them), left me very close to the 1st Final in the Mini. My performance makes me very excited for 2023.
An Event Not to Remember
Although I was looking forward to the 2022 edition of the Portuguese Karting Cup with great anticipation, the truth is that after the event is over, I just want to forget it very quickly. When I performed at my best behind the wheel of the X30 Mini kart, I believed that I could battle for victory in a race that is very dear to me. Unfortunately, a series of setbacks and technical problems turned out to be my biggest opponents of the weekend. Next year I will be stronger and more motivated for the race, which I still want to win.
Naturally Reaching the Pre-Final
After achieving my first victory in the X30 Mini class on Portuguese soil, I went to the 1st round of the WSK Open Cup with great motivation, but aware of the difficulties that I have faced in this first international year. With various weather conditions interfering in the three days of racing in Lonato, I was able to prove how I have been progressing and I feel more confident and competitive in a field full of the best Mini drivers in the world. I reached the Pre-Final and that motivates me for the future.
Result of Hard Work
Even though on Saturday all my goals for the weekend were at risk with the bumpy 1st Qualifying Round, I managed to get back to my best pace to be able to lead for the first time and taste victory in the X30 Mini class. After securing pole position on Saturday, Sunday was almost perfect, with victory in the 2nd Qualifying Heat and second place in Race 2, a race in which I led until the last lap. This result mirrors the values of a bet that began a year ago.
Evident Growth
The international venue in which I felt most comfortable so far. I ended up penalized, as my inexperience still didn't allow me to translate the good pace I had in the Qualifying sessions. This ended up being my biggest handicap for the weekend, as I was always quite competitive, but after failing to get a good result in Qualifying, I ended up conditioned, finishing too far behind in the qualifying heats. I reached the Pre-Final but ended up being put off the track at the start. Motivated for what's coming!
A Weekend That Doesn't Bring Great Memories
The 4th round of the CPK Toyota is not one that gives me great memories for the future. For some reason, neither I nor my equipment were at our best, which was pragmatically reflected in the final results. I never managed to find myself on the track, nor did my DR setting work within the objectives. Still, I left some good indicators and on a weekend in which I wasn't comfortable, I managed to finish all the races without any type of incident. Come next race!
Mistakes Will Help Me Learn
On a motivating weekend as it was the 1st round of a championship, Qualifying left me excited. Then, I made a mistake in the 1st Qualifying Round and fell victim to an opponent in the next. From the outset, the final result was conditioned, so I was conditioned for access to the Repechage. In the remaining two races I focused on finishing and I achieved my goal. I am in much more intense realities when I race abroad and that is why we must take advantage of all the lessons to profit in the future. I loved the track!
Almost Everything Went Wrong
Even on a track we like, it's difficult to achieve goals when practically everything goes wrong. From the outset, the engine to be used simply did not perform, making it necessary to rent a unit. Then, the engine we started using had a non-homologated spark plug that cost us qualifying on Sunday. Furthermore, we always caught an opponent on the track who made it his business to not be overtaken, even if he was the slowest on the track. We did the best we could, given the setbacks.
We Don't Race Alone
This could have been a very positive weekend, highlighting my evolution in the class, with my ability to fight for podiums. I had a good Qualifying on the first day, in the afternoon I had a good Qualifying Heat but I was hampered by an opponent in Race 1. On Sunday, Qualifying didn't go well for me, but in the Qualifying Heat I made up for it a little. Committed to being at my best in Race 2, I ended up once again hampered by an opponent, whose attitude condemned the chances of a good result.
Bad Start Conditioned My Final Result
In my first appearance at an event as important as the Trofeo Andrea Margutti, I started to perform well in practice, but two bad results in the first Qualifying Heats ended up conditioning my hopes for this race. On Saturday I was strong in the first two heats, but in the last one I was not happy again. The consequence ended up being the absence of the race that I knew was within my reach: the Mini Repechage. I still learned a lot this weekend.
First Podium in the X30 Mini Class
The weekend's result doesn't say anything about all the difficulties I faced on the Viana track. Since Qualifying, I have experienced the drama of setbacks, with a technical problem preventing me from qualifying, a situation made worse by a chaotic 1st Qualifying Round. On Sunday, a virus literally knocked me down and I had to turn my weaknesses into strength to move up, be competitive and in Race 2 achieve my first podium. Super happy with the way I overcame the many difficulties and challenges of the last two days.
Initial Positive Sensations Were Not Confirmed
Participating in a round of the series that was initially not part of my calendar, I ended up quickly adapting to the track, running within the Mini reference lap times. The arrival of rain greatly complicated my learning, on a track where the tarmac does not allow the best complicity between the rubber left by the tires and the water that does not drain properly. On Sunday, with the return of dry weather I achieved my best performances of the weekend.
Proximity to the Podium Makes Me Excited
In my first race of the year at national level, I had a very positive performance. From free practice, through qualifying and qualifying heats, it was clear at Kartódromo de Viana that I will be competitive and fighting for victories. I ended up having my final result conditioned by the behavior of other drivers on the track, but I accept that naturally: these are races. What my presence at the Portuguese Karting Open showed was that I am ready to be a protagonist in 2022 in the X30 Mini class.
The First Race of an Intense Year Was in Italy
In 2022 I have a very intense competition program, the biggest of my young career. With several races in Italy, in addition to the Portuguese calendar, I started by racing Round 2 of the WSK Super Master Series, which took place at South Garda Karting in Lonato. In this race, although still an 'apprentice', I was already much more comfortable with the competition: a total of 116 participants in the Mini class.
