Xavier Lázaro returned to competition this weekend after nearly a month of vacation in his extensive 2024 calendar. In Franciacorta for the WSK Super Cup, the driver, who recently turned 11, went head-to-head with the elite of the Mini Gr. 3, showing increasing confidence in competing with the best drivers in the world in the category.
With the weather conditions proving quite unstable in recent days on the track in northern Italy, this did not trouble the young driver from Várzea de Sintra, who remained consistently as fast as ever behind the wheel of the OTK/TM from the British team SM Racing.
After securing 11th overall in Qualifying, thanks to the sixth fastest time in his group, Xavier Lázaro was only 281 thousandths of a second away from pole position. This session highlighted the competitiveness in the Mini Gr. 3, with the 30 fastest drivers among the 40 participants being timed within the same second.
Flawless Heats and Strong Pace
Due to the 11th position obtained in Qualifying, Xavier Lázaro started almost all three Mini Gr. 3 Heats from the outside of the track, which is a significant handicap at the Franciacorta Karting Track. The only exception was Heat 1, where the young driver from Várzea de Sintra started from 5th place, a position he quickly capitalized on, taking the lead early in the race. However, as the eight-lap race progressed, Xavier Lázaro encountered carburetion issues with his TM engine, which gradually reduced his power. Despite the difficulties, the SM Racing driver managed to stay with the leading group, although he was no longer in a position to fight for the victory, which had been within his reach. Xavier Lázaro finished seventh in Heat 1.
The team worked to find the 'missing pieces' so that in the remaining races before the Pre-Final, Xavier Lázaro could perform at the highest level. By Saturday morning, the Portuguese driver could see that he had the equipment to compete. However, in the two remaining Heats, the young SM Racing driver started from the outside, consistently losing positions during the first of the race's eight laps. In Heat 2, despite dropping to 10th on the first lap, Xavier Lázaro stayed focused and steadily climbed up the standings, finishing seventh. In the final Heat, he again lost positions at the start, but remained highly competitive and consistent, recovering to finish fifth. The combined results from the three races placed Xavier Lázaro in sixth for Pre-Final B.
Once again starting from the outside, Xavier Lázaro lost positions at the start of the Pre-Final, but with composure and pace, combined with great consistency during the race, the Portuguese driver steadily moved up the field to finish in seventh place.
Eighth Place in the Final Was the Best Possible Result
Today, in the Mini Gr. 3 Final, Xavier Lázaro started from 11th place. On the inside line, the young SM Racing driver gained positions on the first lap but was pushed by Giuseppe Noviello (EKS/TM kart), causing him to drop a few positions. Throughout the race, he consistently fought for a spot in the top 10, eventually stabilizing in eighth place. From there, he observed the battle for the podium positions, but the time lost on the first lap put him at a distance that was challenging to recover from in such a competitive category. Consistent and error-free, Xavier Lázaro finished the WSK Super Cup comfortably in eighth place.
"I felt very good behind the wheel in this return to competition", said Xavier Lázaro at the end. "I would like to thank SM Racing for their work in this event and for providing me with an excellent kart and engine setup."
Xavier Lázaro will return to competition next weekend, racing in the Trofeo D’Autumno (Autumn Trophy) in Lonato.
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
