Perfect summer weather accompanied the inaugural race of the IAME Series Germany and Shifter Series Germany in Kerpen. It was the first weekend with the newly established organization and as an independent event, and accordingly everyone was pleased with the smooth operation and well-filled entry lists.
IAME Mini Swift: Attractive Class Draws Many Drivers
The newly introduced IAME Mini Swift class in Germany started the season with a success. In Kerpen, more and more drivers and teams were convinced by the engine package, resulting in 16 participants from four nations competing. The weekend began with pole position for Norwegian Markus Engan Aasen (Un1), who positioned himself as the favorite for the following heats due to his large gap to the competition. He also won the first heat on Saturday, but the competition led by Elias Dahlmann (CRG Deutschland) kept closing in. On Sunday, another heat and a superheat were scheduled to determine the starting grid for the final. Once again, Engan Aasen was unbeatable, but the competition, this time led by Vincent Oliver Rieso (FSR Performance) and Ukrainian Artem Kikireshko (Un1) respectively, kept getting closer.
The final developed into an exciting race in which none of the drivers could pull away decisively from the field. Nevertheless, it ultimately resulted in a double victory for Team Un1, who dominated the entire weekend. Surprising, however, was that it wasn’t Engan Aasen who crowned his weekend. The Norwegian rolled to a stop a few laps before the end and had to let his teammates Kikireshko and Dutchman Musab Bera Akbaba go. The podium was completed by German Vincent Oliver Rieso.
X30 Junior: Close Battle for Victory
In X30 Junior, one fast lady particularly stood out: Ceyda-Linet Pirecioglu (KSL Racing Team) set the fastest lap in qualifying and secured her first pole position at the national level. In the first heat, she left nothing to chance and defended her position at the front overnight. Going into Sunday, Pirecioglu again got the best start, with Semih Bektas (SH Kartsport Stefan Hirth) emerging as her closest pursuer. The superheat then brought a setback for Pirecioglu—she had to retire early and lost valuable points in the battle for pole position for the final, which Bektas secured with his superheat victory. The final became a showdown between the two protagonists of the weekend: Bektas led the race, and Pirecioglu couldn’t find a way past over the entire race distance. At the finish, the drivers were separated by less than a tenth of a second, with Bektas getting the better end. The podium was completed by Dutchman Danton Nguyen (Un1).
X30 Senior: The Premier Class of IAME Series Germany Impresses
As expected, the popular X30 Senior class had the most entries. Alongside some familiar faces, there were also several drivers competing in the IAME Series Germany for the first time. Two of them were at the front in a very tight qualifying session, in which the fastest five drivers were separated by just a tenth of a second. Fastest here was Dutchman Keano Frens (MP Motorsport) ahead of Swiss driver Florent Panes. The first heat then turned the tables, with two completely new drivers taking turns in the lead: Emilio Bernd (VM Energy Corse Germany) finished just ahead of the fastest woman in the field, Joelina Denzel. In the second heat on Sunday, both drivers were again among the favorites, joined by Daniel Brozovic (VM Energy Corse Germany). The latter drove brilliantly in the superheat and reached first position. This meant there was no clear favorite for the final: The trio of Bernd, Denzel, and Brozovic pulled slightly away from the rest of the drivers and seemed to have the podium to themselves. After Bernd dominated the early phase, Denzel countered and led until the last lap. Then Bernd surprised with a skillful overtaking maneuver and saw the checkered flag first. Denzel finished second ahead of Keano Frens, who passed Brozovic late in the race.
KZ2: Shifter Series Germany Building Momentum
Due to some scheduling conflicts, the start of the Shifter Series Germany was more subdued than hoped. Nevertheless, there were interesting races to watch. The brother duo of Max and Lutz Ohsenbrink (both KSL Racing Team) had the weekend firmly under control. Max Ohsenbrink was fastest in qualifying, while Lutz struck back in the first heat. Sunday went to Max again: A win in the second heat and in the superheat gave him momentum going into the final, which he also won. Behind Lutz Ohsenbrink, Luis Simon completed the KSL Racing Team podium.
Outlook: Two-Week Break Until Wackersdorf
In less than 14 days, the racing action in the IAME Series Germany and Shifter Series Germany continues. One of the season’s highlights is coming up—the race at Pro Kart Raceland, probably the most famous kart track in Germany. The race will be used particularly as preparation for the IAME Euro Series at the same venue, which could attract a large number of international top drivers.
