Niklas Krütten with impressive speed and bad luck at European Championship in Portugal
The third round of the CIK-FIA European Championship took place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao (Portugal) last weekend. The young talented driver Niklas Krütten from Trier, was amongst some of the worlds best 70 kart drivers from 25 nations, racing in the OK-Junior Category with his 13 years of age. Following an impressive qualifying and strong overtaking moves in the pre-races, a lot of bad luck spoilt a top-finish in the end.
The lap times during the free practice sessions indicated a strong performance of the young Trierer for the weekend. And promptly he delivered a fantastic result in qualifying with P2 in his group and an overall P10 position – his best qualifying result this season in an international starting field. Niklas was fully motivated and positive for the pre-races on Saturday afternoon, but suffered an up and down full of emotions.
The young racer finished in a strong fifth place in the first Heat. After a late braking, he had to start again from the back of the field, but amnaged to finish in P20. In the third Heat, he was forced to retire from P8. A overmotivated competitor drove into Niklas´ kart and forced him to retire as well. The chassis was slightly bend following the accident and a tight timetable did not allow enough time to repair the kart for the following race. With no weapons, Niklas had to defend throughtout the fourth Heat, finishing in P23 in the end.
„I had a lot of understeering with the bend chassis in the last race on Saturday and my lap times were lacking over a second gap“, said Niklas on Saturday evening. „After such a strong qualifying and my top speed in the pre-races, it is bitter to end in an overall P47.“
With the eighth best lap time in Warm-up on Sunday morning, the 13 year old proofed once again his potential. He started from P24 into the Pre-final and was ready to attack. Following a good start, he had climed up the ladder into P15 and was able to drive up to the leading group. But in a hill climb passage, another driver raced into the back of Niklas´ kart without breaking and airlifted him. Another retirement fort he young gun.
„Kartsport is very hard“, said Niklas after the race. „I have shown that my speed is currently compettive to run in the worldwide leading group of kart racers. But that´s no good if I cannot put my potential on paper during the races. But you just have to learn to cope with these setbacks in Karting and come back even stronger to attack next time. And that is exactly what I am going to do!“
The International Circuit in Genk (Belgium) will be the next venue for two races awaiting Niklas. The German DKM will take place from 15th until 17th July, with the CIK-FIA European Championship taking place from 27th until 31st July 2016.