Barnard puts Rosberg racing back on top in Adria

The first major race of the season in OK, the WSK Champion’s Cup saw some new names moving up the ranks from Juniors to give the established drivers something to worry about.

In qualifying, it was one of those new names at the top, in Andrea Antonelli who put his KR Motorsport machine on the top spot. Taylor Barnard topped the 2nd qualifying session, but was just under 2 tenths adrift of Antonelli’s pace. Also moving up from Juniors was 3rd placed Nikita Bedrin as well as regning Junior world champion Thomas Ten Brinke who ended qualifying 7th. Antonelli would end up backing out of competition due to the flu, so wouldn’t compete in the final.

Ten Brinke was showing his speed in the heats, taking 2 wins out of three to top the score sheets. The only man to beat Ten Brinke on track, was Barnard who lines up 2nd thanks to winning the last heat. Dilano Van T Hoff didn’t win a heat, but finished 3rd twice to finish the heats 3rd in the standings ahead of Laurens Van Hoepen who qualified down in 16th. Bedrin collected a single podium from his three heats leaving him 5th with Harry Thompson in his new Sauber Karting colours in 6th, after flying through the field to finish 3rd in his final heat after starting 25th.

Pre-Final A went the way of Forza Racing’s Rafa Camara from 4th ahead of Bedrin and Gilles Stadsbader. Pole man Ten Brinke was handed a penalty, ending the race in 9th , leaving him a lot of work to do in the final. By contrast, Barnard won Pre-final B from pole ahead of Thompson and Rosberg Racing Academy team mate Laurens Van Hoepen. Another dark horse was Josep Marti who started off the 5th row.

Barnard got his bid for a 2nd Champions cup title off to a strong start, taking the lead at turn 1. Bedrin slotted into 2nd with Camara in 3rd. That didn’t last too long as Thompson threw his Sauber machine into 3rd. Camara was falling fast, finishing the opening lap in 7th. Marti was quickly on the pace, pressuring Bedrin for the final spot on the podium.

Barnard and Thompson were clear at the front, the Sauber driver trying to chase down the Rosberg Racing man. Marti also had breathing space on his new FA Racing KartRepublic machine in 3rd, while it was all go behind as Danny Carenini pressured Laurens Van Hoepen, managing to pass the Dutchman at half distance. Also in that battle was Kirill Smal and the recovering Camara.

As the race entered the closing stages, Barnard was clear at the front, while behind Marti was pushing Thompson for 2nd. Heading into the final complex, Marti made his move and got 2nd off Thompson. That allowed Kirill Smal to start catching the Sauber driver. It didn’t take long for Smal to catch and pass Thompson for 3rd, leaving him in the clutches of Camara.

Thanks to the battling, Barnard was away and clear, taking victory by 3.6 seconds ahead of Marti, that was until Marti was disqualified for being underweight, promoting Smal onto the podium in his debut for the Energy team and Thompson back onto the podium in 3rd. Bedrin finished his OK debut in 4th with a storming driver from Matheus Morgatto to finish 5th after starting 26th.