From August 15 to 17, 2025, the elite of karting gathered in Kerpen for the fourth round of the German Kart Championship. For the drivers of Mach1 Motorsport, it was a weekend full of emotions, setbacks, and triumphs – carried by hope, adrenaline, and relentless fighting spirit.
A Fairytale Start
The first statement came from Emanuel Mai, who claimed absolute pole position in qualifying with a sensational lap time of 42.502 seconds. A moment of pure euphoria that electrified the Mach1 Motorsport paddock.
His teammates also impressed: Rouven Wilk in 10th place (42.847 sec), Svenja Dreher in 18th (42.926 sec), Erik Müller in 22nd (42.961 sec), and Sascha Dreher in 24th (43.041 sec). A strong team performance in a 50-driver field!
Rollercoaster of Emotions in the Heats
The qualifying heats revealed the true face of motorsport. Rouven Wilk suffered a heavy blow when an engine failure set him back in the standings. But he refused to give up and kept fighting.
Meanwhile, Emanuel Mai defended his top position and ranked third overall after the heats. Svenja Dreher showcased her consistency and moved into the Top 10, while Erik Müller fought his way steadily forward, finishing the heats in 12th place.
For Sascha Dreher, the weekend became a true test of resilience. Despite courageous charges through the field, a retirement and multiple spoiler penalties robbed him of valuable points. In the end, he narrowly missed the cut for the final – a bitter disappointment for him and the team.
The Super Heat Showdown and the Crowning Moment in the Final
The Super Heat B became Rouven Wilk’s stage: despite earlier setbacks, he delivered a stunning performance and powered to victory – a testament to his determination and fighting spirit.
But the ultimate highlight came in the Final: In a dramatic race, Svenja Dreher kept her cool while others faltered. As her rivals were penalized, she seized the moment and finally took the win. A magnificent triumph that crowned the team’s hard work and perseverance.
Rouven Wilk (P6) and Erik Müller (P9) also delivered strong results. For Emanuel Mai, however, the final ended in heartbreak: after an outstanding qualifying and strong heats, his race was over in the very first corner due to an unavoidable start collision.
Voices from the Team
“Kerpen was an emotional rollercoaster. We had pole position, a Super Heat win, and victory in the final. I’m incredibly proud of Rouven’s morale and determination – he refused to give in and came back stronger. And Svenja’s win – that was the crowning moment of an unforgettable weekend.”
Team Manager Ralf Wilk
“Karting is tough – but so are our drivers. Emanuel’s qualifying lap was a clear statement to the competition. What Svenja achieved in the final is simply admirable. She kept her composure when others lost theirs. This is a victory of skill and perseverance – proof of the strength within our team.”
Mach1 CEO Martin Hetschel
