TIZIANO KUZHNINI SWISS CHAMPION FOR A SECOND TIME

Tiziano Kuzhnini won his second national title since 2021 at the final of the autobau Swiss Kart Championship in Wohlen on Saturday.

Three years ago, Tiziano Kuzhnini (15) won his first title in the Super Mini category of the autobau Swiss Kart Championship. Since then, he has caused a stir internationally by winning a WSK and an IAME title. On Saturday, he repeated his national triumph - this time in the X30 Challenge Switzerland.

Kuzhnini went into the final race weekend of the season with a 26-point lead. He extended his lead with pole position in 37.672 seconds, for which two extra points are awarded. Kuzhnini also set the pace in the first heat. However, due to a controversial yellow phase, the race was not scored with the chequered flag, but with the position on lap 17, and Kuzhnini was only in second place. ‘I don't quite understand the reason for that,’ says Kuzhnini . ‘There was an accident, yellow flags and a ‘slow zone’. This usually applies to the whole track. But at the same time, the green flag was waved, which means that you are allowed to accelerate again from this point onwards. I did that, took the lead again and was also ahead at the finish. But then the result was changed to my disadvantage and the order from before the accident was taken as the final result.’

Although this meant that Samuel Ifird, Kuzhnini's rival in the battle for the Swiss championship title, inherited the victory, the young Lucerne native did not allow himself to be rattled. He reversed the order again in the second preliminary heat, won confidently and was 28 points in the lead before the final. This would have been enough for Kuzhnini to finish 16th in the final. But the rider from the Innovate Competiton team didn't even think about stepping off the gas and also won the final race over 26 laps with aplomb. This put him 280:250 ahead of Ifrid in the final standings.

‘I'm delighted to have won this title,’ said Kuzhnini at the podium ceremony. ‘I knew that I came to Wohlen with a head start, but I didn't want to rest on my laurels and just completed my programme as usual. I got off to good starts and was in the lead in all races, except for that yellow period.’

Kuzhnini won seven races in the course of this year's season. He led the overall standings from the third race weekend in 7 Laghi. ‘It was a good season. With a small weak phase in Levier,’ says Kuzhnini. ‘I would like to thank the team, especially team boss Agostino Lagrotteria and my mechanic Franco Durante, for the great cooperation. Without them, this title would not have been possible. A big thank you also goes to all my sponsors and my family. Their support has made it possible for me to be Swiss champion again after 2021.’
Tiziano is planning to enter Formula 4 next year and wants to cause a stir there.