Extraordinary Performance by Niklas Krütten at DKM Season Finale
Niklas Krütten impressed on the whole line at his home race and last round of the German Kart Championship (DKM) 2016 at the Erftlandring in Kerpen last weekend. After a difficult Saturday, the 13-year-old from Trier fought his way back into contest against an high-class international competition and crossed the finishing line in second place at the finale race.
Following a so-so qualifying with P15, Niklas started from 10th on the grid into the first pre-run and fought his way up into seventh position. The young driver from Trier was attacked hard towards the end of the race. Niklas took revenge after crossing the finishing line with a overly hard bump. He was ordered to the Race Directors and was excluded from the race. „The penalty was ok. I overreacted and it was not fair“, said Niklas afterwards.
The 13-year-old took to the second pre-race motivated, having in mind to make up for his mistake earlier on. After a spin in the warm-up-lap, he rushed behind the field from P28 and with more than half a second gap. With a great driving performance, he managed to come back and finished in P10. With an overall position of 34 from a total of 43 international starters in the OK Junior Class, Niklas stayed way behind his potential and capabilities.
To secure one of the highly sought-after places for the finales on Sunday, the young driver had to start into the last race and finish in the Top-6 positions. With P3, the 13-year-old secured his finale ticket effortless and started from 31st position into the first race. After a good start, Niklas progressed well and crossed the finishing line in 10th place. After some penalties against other competitors due to damaged front bumpers, Niklas was ranke das seventh. To everyone´s surprise, does penalties were taken back and Niklas started from P10 into the second race.
Niklas did not let it get to him and took confidently to the second finale race. With continues fast lap-times and strong overtakings, he soon found himself running in the top-positions. By half of the race, the 13-year-old was able to take the lead for the first time and outpaced the leading runners of the championship. Until the end of the race, the positions in the front changed a few times and Niklas crowned his outstanding drive with second place at the checkered flag. The success was clouded over with a non comprehensible penalty after the race, given after a view of a video. Niklas was only ranked in sixth place afterwards.
„This was an amazing weekend! After the catastrophic Saturday we were able to put everything together when it counted“, says Niklas after the race weekend. „Unfortunately, there were a few decisions by the race directors that were not transparent. But the joy about my great driving is more important und I am heading into the Final Cup in Adria fully motivated this coming weekend.”