Xavier Lázaro concluded today the first day of races at South Garda Karting in Lonato, the stage for the 2nd and final round of the 2022 edition of the WSK Final Cup this weekend. In his last competition of the year, the Portuguese driver showed that he is finishing the season on a high note, becoming increasingly competitive in a category filled with young talents and highly experienced individuals in the Mini class.
With 123 drivers participating in the Mini category for this event, including all the big names, Xavier Lázaro showed from the official free practice sessions that he was competitive. The Portuguese driver set the 22nd fastest time in his series, stating that he came to Lonato to continue his development in international competitions.
Fifth Best in the Series and 18th Overall
The highlight of the day in Xavier Lázaro's participation in the Final Cup was recorded in the Qualifying. The Portuguese driver set the 5th best time in his series, corresponding to the 18th overall, which immediately allowed him to run the three Heats of the day from a good starting position.
In the first of the three races he contested today, Xavier Lázaro confirmed his good pace. Starting well, the Várzea de Sintra driver quickly climbed to the third position, but during the race, he ended up losing several places. In the end, he finished in 10th place, a result that reflects a good performance, although it doesn't hide the inexperience of this nine-year-old, especially when competing for top positions in the category.
The second Heat of the day was the one that didn't go well for the Portuguese driver. Starting again from the 5th position, Xavier Lázaro ended up struggling with an engine that stopped working properly. The DR driver was running about two seconds slower than all his opponents from very early on, eventually seeing his chances of finishing at the top of the table fade away. The final 32nd place was the best possible outcome in these circumstances.
In the final race of the day, Xavier Lázaro once again showed that his youth and inexperience at this level still limit him. Once again, the Portuguese driver had a good start, but as the race progressed, he eased off in the battle for positions with his opponents. Nevertheless, he finished the Heat in 11th place. In the end, the Portuguese driver did not hide some frustration, shared by his father.
"Xavier eased off a bit in several position battles", said Vasco Lázaro. "In the end, we talked a bit, but he didn't escape a 'telling off' from Danilo (Rossi). Tomorrow, I believe we will be competitive again and in the fight for the best possible position, preferably one that allows us to start well in a potential pre-final"
Tomorrow, Xavier Lázaro competes in three more Heats, aiming for a spot in the Mini Pre-Final. If he reaches there, the goal will be to secure his first Final in his debut season at the international level.
It's worth mentioning that on Sunday, you can follow the Pre-Finals and Finals of the Final Cup in Lonato through the live streaming from WSK.
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
