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Another major fightback but challenging weekend in Franciacorta

2025.03.11

The fourth round of the WSK Super Master Series took place in Franciacorta, Italy, where Tamás Gender Junior, representing VictoryLane Karting, faced a challenging weekend. Despite the difficulties, he delivered a strong performance in the Pre-final, showcasing his determination. With just one round remaining in the championship, the young driver is ready to push for a strong finish.

The fourth round of the WSK Super Master Series took place at the increasingly prestigious Franciacorta Karting Track, where Tamás Gender Junior once again competed in the OK category for VictoryLane Karting.
The 1.3 km circuit features a mix of tight corners, long straights, and technical sections, making it a demanding track for drivers. Its high-grip asphalt surface allows competitors to push their limits while providing exciting wheel-to-wheel battles and strategic overtaking opportunities.

Just as Franciacorta has become a key venue in karting, the WSK Super Master Series plays a crucial role in driver development, with many Formula 1 drivers having raced in this championship during their early careers. Max Verstappen, the four-time Red Bull Racing world champion, won the KF category in the 2013 WSK Super Master Series. Charles Leclerc, now a Ferrari driver, also secured victories in multiple WSK events during his karting years. Lando Norris, McLaren’s British star, similarly found success in this prestigious series.

Following in the footsteps of these renowned drivers, Tamás Gender Junior took on the challenge at Franciacorta, though this time, the weekend did not yield standout results. The pace was lacking, and technical issues arose throughout the event. Nevertheless, the 15-year-old driver fought relentlessly in the heats, gaining 10 positions in the pre-final, showcasing his determination despite the setbacks.

Friday – Challenges and a strong start

Friday’s warm-up session was promising, with Tamás Gender Junior setting a lap just 0.2 seconds off the fastest time, demonstrating competitive pace. However, a technical issue in qualifying compromised his session, resulting in a P17 finish in his group.

In the day’s only race, he launched from P21 and made an excellent start, quickly climbing towards the top 10. However, another mechanical issue caused him to lose momentum, ultimately crossing the line in P20, gaining one position from his starting place.

"I tried to make the most of my opportunities, and my start was strong, allowing me to gain multiple positions. Unfortunately, my pace wasn’t enough to fight at the front this time. The team is working hard to ensure we maximize our potential for the rest of the weekend!" – said Tamás Gender Junior after the session.

Saturday – Major Progress and a Dramatic Finish

Saturday saw a significant improvement in both pace and results. In the final race of the day, Tamás executed a brilliant start, quickly making his way into the top 10. By the final lap, he was running in P7, but an unfortunate incident caused him to drop down the order, finishing in P17. Despite the setback, his performance marked clear progress compared to Friday.

"Our hard work is paying off. We improved both in pace and racecraft, and I’m determined to keep building on this progress!" – he stated.

Sunday – Strong recovery but no spot in the Final

In the Pre-final, Tamás Gender Junior delivered an impressive comeback drive, gaining 10 positions from his starting place. Despite this determined effort, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the final, marking the end of his Franciacorta weekend.

"Even though I couldn’t make it to the final, we learned a lot from this weekend. The hard work will pay off in future races. Huge thanks to the VictoryLane Karting team, Kart Republic, IAME for the technical support, and Zele Bau for their backing!"

The WSK Super Master Series continues with Round 5 at the Viterbo circuit in Italy from March 14-16, 2025, where Tamás Gender Junior will look to fight back stronger.