Mathilda Paatz ended the WSK Euro Series in Sarno, Italy, with a strong performance: In the second and final race of the hotly contested championship, in which Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Co. also once competed, the Cologne native set important highlights. Paatz, who once again competed for the Italian KR factory team, battled for the top ten at times, put in a strong performance in the Pre-Final on Sunday and was ultimately the best girl.
Mathilda Paatz entered uncharted territory on the Circuito Internazionale Napoli in the south of Italy. The Rhinelander only completed her first laps a few days before the race weekend. Nevertheless, the learning process continued in free practice and the subsequent qualifying session. Paatz was therefore not satisfied with 19th place in her group and 53rd overall out of more than 80 participants.
Full of ambition, the Cologne native started the first preliminary race on Friday, in which she perfectly implemented what she had learned in the previous training sessions. Paatz crossed the finish line in twelfth place after a flawless race. After the good start, the Rhinelander could only watch the second heat without a fight, as the kart rolled out with a technical defect during the introductory lap.
Paatz also experienced a changeable race day on Saturday. In the third heat, the "Women in Motorsport" ambassador finished in 20th place, while the fourth heat came to an early end. The Cologne native had already fought her way up to 14th position when she was taken out of the race by the competition. With the goal of still achieving a good result in the important heats to reach the Pre-Final, Mathilda Paatz fought her way forward to eleventh place in the fifth and final heat. She missed the top ten by a narrow margin.
Paatz with strong performance on Sunday
On Sunday, Mathilda Paatz had the Pre-Final on the agenda, in which she had to prove herself against 34 competitors. With a flawless performance, fast lap times and clever overtaking maneuvers, the Cologne-based driver, who had started the race from 31st place on the grid, fought her way up to tenth position. In the end, the ADAC Nordrhein protégé was classified in 14th place after adjusting for penalties, thus living up to her nickname of "speed girl".
Despite the good performance, however, the entry into the final remained denied. The two failures in the heats, which were not his fault, prevented a good overall result. Paatz finished in 53rd place out of more than 80 starters, although only the best 36 participants were allowed to compete in the final. Nevertheless, the young talent from "FIA Girls on Track" had every reason to be happy, because she represented the best girl of the event.
I could prove several times that the top ten are within reach, although the track in Sarno was still unknown to me. In addition, I was able to leave all the other girls behind me on Sunday!
Mathilda Paatz
"Although I had a changeable weekend with good and bad results, I am quite satisfied," Mathilda Paatz sums up. "I was able to prove several times that the top ten are within reach, although the track in Sarno was still unknown to me. In addition, I was able to leave all the other girls behind me on Sunday!"
In doing so, Mathilda Paatz gave herself her own present, as the schoolgirl celebrated her 14th birthday on the Monday after the race. It's back to the race track next weekend (August 6 and 7). The next race in the ADAC Kart Masters will take place at the Erftlandring, the home track in Kerpen. There, the Cologne native will not only be fighting for victories and podium places, but also for the lead in the overall standings.
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