MAD Performance was in action at two different venues last weekend. While three of its drivers competed in the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive European Championship at the 1.208-kilometre Autodrom Słomczyn in Poland, Luca Tafelmeier and Luca Mattis Brixius simultaneously contested the third round of the German Kart Championship in Ampfing. At both circuits, the young team impressed with strong pace, determined recoveries and important steps forward in its development.
The best result of the weekend came from Andie Stewart in the Junior category of the Arrive and Drive European Championship. In a highly competitive international field, she was among the fastest drivers from the outset. A series of consistently strong results placed Andie third after the heats and gave her a promising position heading into the decisive phase of the weekend. She remained among the front-runners in the final and, after an intense race, crossed the finish line in fourth place, narrowly missing out on the podium.
Her brother Johnston Stewart also delivered a strong performance. He was ranked 14th after the heats and started the final from the midfield. Johnston then worked his way steadily forward, gaining five positions. Ninth place earned him a top-ten finish and provided a convincing conclusion to his weekend.
Charlotte Tille represented MAD Performance in the Senior category. She was competitive throughout the heats and regularly ran close to the top ten. The Munich-based driver qualified for the final in 14th place before making further progress in the decisive race. Charlotte gained three positions and finished eleventh, narrowly missing out on a top-ten result.
At the same time, MAD Performance was fighting for points in the German Kart Championship at the Schweppermannring in Ampfing. A total of 135 drivers from 20 nations competed at the halfway point of the DKM season.
In OK-N Junior, Luca Tafelmeier delivered a particularly strong performance on Saturday. Ninth place in qualifying immediately put him among the leading group. A five-second penalty dropped him to twelfth in the opening heat, before he underlined his pace with sixth place in the second race. Luca therefore ended Saturday in seventh position. Sunday did not go as hoped, however, and he eventually finished 19th, below what his pace had suggested was possible.
Luca Mattis Brixius produced an impressive recovery in Mini. After finishing 21st in qualifying and remaining 21st after the heats, he began Sunday from the rear of the field. On a wet and gradually drying track, the young driver adapted particularly well and gained twelve positions in the Super Heat to finish ninth. That result moved him up to 13th on the final grid and also earned him his first four DKM championship points of the season.
Team principal Dan Harper drew a positive conclusion: “We can be very satisfied with many aspects of this weekend. Andie ran among the front-runners throughout the entire event in Poland and delivered a really strong performance to finish fourth. The other two also represented themselves very well in such an international field. In Ampfing, both Lucas produced some great moments. We are heading in the right direction and are looking forward to the second half of the season.”
The second half of the season begins with a double-header in Kerpen on 8–9 August. The ADAC Kart Masters will visit the circuit first, followed by the fourth event of the German Kart Championship.
