Niklas Krütten P6 at DKM Championship round in Oschersleben
Following the long summer break, it was finally back to full-throttle for the young German kart driver Niklas Krütten from Trier. The 13-year-old demonstrated a strong performance at the second-to-last Championship round of the German Kart Championship (DKM) and heads strong and ready into the DKM season final at his home track in Kerpen.
More than 135 drivers participated in the seventh and eighth championship round, held at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (Germany), in which the young Niklas started in the highly competitive OK-Junior Category. The event saw the reigning European Championship as well as the winner of the WSK Master Series competing.The start into the weekend was successful: Niklas held the fastest time in qualifying for most of the time, but lost a few tenths towards the end to secure 13th grid for the following pre-races. He was 13th overall and started into two pre-races from 10th on the grid.
In both “Heats”, the young driver from Trier fought his way up into fifth place, following a good start with lap times of the Top-3 runners and winning against a strong, international competition. P5 in both pre-races resulted in an overall P6 and therefore in a striking distance to drive to the top on Sunday.
The young driver from Trier impressed on Sunday morning in Warm-Up with the second fastest time, lacking only a mere 0.079 seconds to the fastest driver in that session. Niklas started from from sixth on the grid and the worse outer line into the first race and showed an extraordinary performance: In no time, he was running in P4 after a fight put him back into eighth. But he came back and crossed the finishing line in P6.
Niklas had a podium finish in his sight and started on new tyres into the second race. After a good start from the outer line, the 13-year-old established himself within the top-group. But Niklas did not have luck on his side. Whilst running in sixth place, two drivers just ahead of him spun, forcing Niklas to run wide and avoid the accident. He was back down in P22, but fought his way up into 14th place with great speed. But a later ordered penalty because of the damaged bumper meant only P21 in the end results.
„The weekend was super great and a lot of fun! To finish in P6 in such an internationally high-competitive race oft he German Championship is ok, but there could have been much more without the incidents“, said Niklas after the weekend. „In total, we have made a step forward und I very much look forward to the next race in Kerpen in two weeks. Big thanks to my Team Ricky Flynn Motorsport. You guys rock!“
The final round of the DKM-Championship takes place from 23rd until 25th September in Kerpen.