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Birelart ends the WSK Super Master Series weekend in Sarno with a podium

The weekend at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli - Sarno ended with a podiumfor Birelart colors, third place for Ferdinando Torchia in the Mini U10 category.

MINI – Torchia on the podium, Sheetov and Muijs between pole position and top five
The Mini drivers were among the main protagonists in the second round of the WSK Super Master Series in Sarno. Very good results already on Friday with the first Pole Position of the season for David Sheetov, the fastest on a wet track. The heats were also positive, where David made the most of starting from the front row to fight for the top five, including a third place. A hard-fought final endedwith twelfth place. An almost identical weekend for Cees Muijs, fifth in qualifying and then always near the front in Mini Gr.3 during the heats, with a second place among his best results. The Dutch driver gained twelve positions in the final and finished sixth. In Mini U10, Ferdinando Torchia had a weekend of strong improvement and speed already in qualifying and the heats. Among hisbest results was a second place after a comeback with the fastest lap. He confirmed his performance at the front in both the prefinal and final, finishingthird and again setting the fastest lap of the race.

OK Junior – Rea with a strong comeback
Second race weekend for the OK Junior drivers, useful to continue the work ahead of the European season. Achille Rea finished his final positively, gainingtwelve positions from the start and showing good speed despite a weekend with difficult track conditions. Good progress also for Legenkyi (CL Racing Team), competitive both in the heats and in the final. Positive seasonal debut for Spencer, who gained fourteen positions in the prefinal, while Julia Angelardcontinued to improve her performance.

OK – Sala and Rousseau among the fastest in the category
Filippo Sala (CL Racing Team) finished the Senior final in sixth place, proving to be among the fastest overall, with six positions gained. Useful results and good lap times also during the heats, between the top ten and top five. Worth highlighting Rousseau’s excellent qualifying on the wet track with second fastestin session and third overall, followed by three good heats that allowed him to stay consistently at the front. Positive qualifying session also for Sharp with fifthoverall, unlucky but still competitive in the heats and prefinal. Among the debutswas also Purcell (CL Racing Team), at his first race in Senior, able to recover tenpositions in the final before a penalty. Ivannikov also made a comeback in the final, while it was a difficult but improving weekend for Mazzola.

KZ2 – Hiltbrand fighting for the top five
Season debut for all KZ2 drivers, racing for the first time with the new BirelartS19. Pedro Hiltbrand finished fighting for the top five after a hard-foughtweekend. Positive progress during the heats with a P3 and fastest lap, thenrepeated in the prefinal together with the fastest lap. Pigaev was fast in qualifyingand consistent up to the final, as was Knopjes in his first weekend in KZ2 and with the team. A competitive weekend despite some track fights for Ritonen and Ider. Unfortunate retirements in the final for Bertuca, who had been among the best in the category until then, and for Wolfe, author of the best qualifying on the wet track, finishing third. Season debut also for Zanfari.

Marino Spinozzi, Mini Class Team Manager:
“It was a more than positive weekend, despite the weather that made us work a lot. Fortunately, we were fast both on dry and wet track. We managed to take the overall pole with Sheetov and fifth in the group with Muijs. Both tried to make the most of everything despite a bit of inexperience, which is normal for their age. In any case, they always recovered the positions lost at the start and then stabilizedtheir strong pace. Both had a good final, and Muijs completed a great race with an impressive comeback, finishing sixth. Moving to Ferdinando Torchia, he is atthe beginning of these very competitive races and he really satisfied us. He wasalways fast and, based on his lap times, he could have done even better. After the first laps of the final, he started setting the fastest laps and recovering positions up to a fantastic podium. Now we are ready to go on track in Viterbo.”

Jordon Lennox, Direct Drive Team Manager:
“It was a week of hard work that left us a bit disappointed because, especially in OK, we could have done well not only with Sala but also with Rousseau, Sharp and Purcell. I am very happy with his first weekend with us, considering he hasjust moved to the Senior class. Overall, everyone showed good speed, we had a strong race pace with many fast laps and best sectors. The weather and race incidents did not allow the final result. In Junior we got closer, and overall it wasa positive weekend where we were fast in wet conditions. We are working on allaspects to make further improvements.”

Riccardo Longhi, KZ Team Manager:
“Overall and as a season debut, the Sarno weekend was positive for all the drivers. Even the youngest ones showed good speed, both in wet and dry conditions. We also continued the work on the new material and on the IAME engine, where we started in the right way. Hiltbrand set excellent lap times and recovered in all the heats, with the fastest lap in the prefinal. The final result wasmissing, but he fought all weekend. Unfortunately, Bertuca was involved in acontact at the start. In the heats he recovered well after a wet qualifying session that penalized him, and like Hiltbrand he was very fast in all sessions. Wolfe started in the best way with a good qualifying. Overall, all KZ2 drivers proved to be quite fast in all conditions. It was the first step of the new season.”

The third round of the WSK Super Master Series will take place in Viterbo, where the Birelart Racing Team will be on track from 18 to 22 February.

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