Strong OK debut for Mathilda Paatz from Cologne: At the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, Italy, the 14-year-old, who is competing for DPK-Racing this season, convinced with a solid performance. After an unlucky qualifying, Paatz fought her way to the front in the heats with strong overtaking manoeuvres - and narrowly missed out on a place in the final. Nevertheless, the Rhinelander is satisfied with her debut weekend with the Spanish DPK team.
Mathilda Paatz celebrated her debut in the OC Seniors at the second round of the WSK Super Master Series season. The 14-year-old is competing this year for DPK-Racing, the Spanish junior team of Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso. Paatz, who is part of the ADAC Nordrhein Foundation's development squad this year, worked with the experienced racing team for the first time during test drives in January. Although the cooperation worked right away, a misunderstanding with the mechanic meant that Paatz only qualified in 63rd place overall in qualifying.
The ambitious young driver did not let this slow her down. In the first two heats, which were held on Saturday, the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé made up eight positions each, which was rewarded with 23rd and 24th places. The third heat did not take place until Sunday morning. As in the first two heats, Mathilda Paatz also impressed in the last heat with a strong chase. The Cologne native even fought her way forward by twelve positions in this race and thus reached 20th place.
Satisfaction about the start of the season
In the combination of all runs, Paatz was ranked 46th overall. The Pre-Final was the deciding factor, as only the best 36 pilots were allowed to tackle the coveted final race. Paatz started the Pre-Final from 24th place and fought her way back to the front with a faultless performance. In the end, she was classified in 17th place, which corresponded to 40th place out of 71 participants overall. Paatz missed the final by only four positions.
I now know what I still have to work on and I am confident that things will go better in the next races. Many thanks to the team and my mechanic for the successful premiere!
Mathilda Paatz
"Of course I am annoyed that the qualifying failed and that the starting position for the important heats was not perfect," Mathilda Paatz takes stock. "Otherwise I would have reached the final for sure. Nevertheless, the satisfaction prevails, because with the exception of the timed practice, I experienced a strong debut, which gives hope for the upcoming races! I now know what I still need to work on and I am confident that things will go better in the next races. Many thanks to the team and my mechanic for a successful debut!"
Mathilda Paatz will return to the race track as early as March for testing and the season opener of the Champion of the Future Euro Series. From 9 to 12 March, the 14-year-old from Cologne will compete in Valencia, at the home race of the Spanish DPK team, to prepare for the European Karting Championship race at the same venue (23 to 26 March). On the track, which is still unknown to the "speed girl", another challenge awaits, which Paatz is looking forward to with joy and ambition.
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