The first race of the year was supposed to be a learning event for junior driver Henri Möhring from Schöneck, but in the end it turned out differently. The youngster impressed in front of an international backdrop at the Tropheo Andrea Margutti in Lonato (Italy) and finished the event as the best German in the Mini U10 junior class.

Already the first test day on Wednesday went very well. After short difficulties in changing from Rotax Micro, in which Henri had prepared himself the weekend before in Wackersdorf, the young rider was concentrated on the job and appeared very confident. After 5 training sessions he has ended the test day with a lot of anticipation for the upcoming race weekend and solid lap times on the challenging track in Lonato.

Already in the training sessions on Thursday the team could see the potential. There was very intensive work on the final details, which are important in Lonato, for a very good lap time.

The Hessian used the last few weeks to prepare for the season, doing numerous test kilometers at home and abroad. Things got serious for the first time on the South Garda Circuit in Lonato, where he started for Maranello Kart with the support of his team Nees Racing.

Not far from Lake Garda, he met 45 drivers from all over the world in his Mini60 U10 class – and he was one of the youngest in the field. He already set fast times in the free practice sessions, but experienced a qualifying session to forget. “We had thought up a tactic and wanted to take advantage of the slipstream of the leading drivers,” explained father Christian. But the plan didn’t work out and Henri finished last in his group.

Despite the setback, the rookie kept his nerve and fought his way back to the front, winning his heat to advance to the final round. In this it went steeply uphill. In the pre-final, the ADAC Hessen-Thüringen e.V. protégé improved by an impressive 13 places, and then finished the final in a great 21st place. In the process, he was the best German in his category.

“After a good debut year in the Rotax Micro, this year we start in the Mini60 class. This is a completely different environment to which I have to get used.”

Henri, before the start of the season.

“That was a mega weekend, I learned a lot and am happy about the super result,” beamed Henri at the finish. For the rest of the season, he will be attacking in the national ADAC Kart Masters and is planning to take part in further international events as part of the World Series Karting (WSK) in Italy in the second half of the year.

After the season opener in Italy, Henri already has the next race of the season coming up this weekend at the start of the Rotax Max Challenge Germany 2023 in Wackersdorf. Here Henri will start in the Rotax Micro class to fight for the championship.

  • To come: Rotax Max Challenge Germany 25.-26.03.23 in Wackersdorf