Continuing his adaptation at the international level in the Mini category, Xavier Lázaro was in Italian territory over the past weekend to compete in the first stage of the Italian Karting Championship in Franciacorta. Without harboring specific result ambitions and with a focus on accumulating kilometers behind the wheel of the DR, the Portuguese driver experienced some good moments on the track, leaving him motivated for the rest of the season.
Starting with the downside of the news, Xavier Lázaro did not manage to qualify for the Mini Repêchage, let alone the Pre-Final. Although the goal for this weekend was to gain race experience, the truth is that the driver from Várzea de Sintra could only participate in the four qualifying heats.
Good Indicators In Free Practice and Qualifying
With the Franciacorta Karting Track proving to be a challenge with some similarities to the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve, Xavier Lázaro quickly adapted to the best way to navigate the DR successfully in the free practice sessions. The Portuguese driver, by far the youngest competing in the Mini category during the weekend, consistently improved in the various Friday free practice sessions, showing comfort and keeping pace with the fastest competitors. At one point, he even ranked as the 12th fastest among the 40 in his heat. This good form continued into the qualifying session, with Xavier Lázaro being the 14th fastest in his group.
The Racing Lottery Did Not Favor the Portuguese Driver
With the 14th position in his group, Xavier Lázaro entered the Qualification heats in the middle of the pack. This situation is still a novelty for the Portuguese driver, accustomed to a smaller number of competitors on the track when racing in Portugal.
The first two races for Xavier ended in the worst way possible. In the first one, he got involved in an accident for which he was not responsible, and in the second one, while trying to avoid a collision in front of him, he lost control of the kart, resulting in damage. With these two consecutive setbacks, the chances of reaching the Repêchage quickly faded away. Therefore, in the remaining two races, Xavier aimed to simply finish without getting involved in disputes. In both races, he finished outside the top 20.
"This was another weekend of learning, with good indicators but also some disappointments mixed in", said Vasco Lázaro, father of the eight-year-old young driver. "When we arrived here, Xavier quickly took to the track and showed competitiveness. In the free practice sessions, he was on par with the best, but races are always a tense moment for him, starting in the midst of the 'noise,' something that is still new to him. He had bad luck in the first heat, and in the second, he made a mistake. It's part of the process; he's learning, and it's through mistakes that we evolve the most. It hasn't happened yet for him to make it to the Repêchage, but I'm confident that he'll get there soon."
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
