After winning the first two Finals of the European Championship, Hiltbrand arrived in Germany in a favourable position to clinch the title. Despite retiring from the first Qualifying Heat as a result of a collision at the start, the Spaniard managed to retain the lead in the provisional standings at the end of the Qualifying Heats and the Super Heat.

Starting 6th in the Final, Hiltbrand quickly moved up to 3rd place, closing in on the leaders, when a mechanical failure forced him to retire with only six laps to go in the 23-lap race. Disappointed not to be able to add a fourth major title to his list of achievements in these circumstances, he is already determined to bounce back in the next World Championship.

Cristian Bertuca, who performed very well throughout the weekend, was in a promising 3rd place on the starting grid for the Final, but was forced to retire following an incident with another driver. Daniel Vasile (CL Racing) gained four positions in the Final to finish 8th.

In KZ2, Noah Wolfe got his weekend off to a perfect start by finishing 5th overall and 2nd in his group in Qualifying, before moving up to 3rd after the heats. Second in his Super Heat, he finally finished 4th after intense battles in the Final.

Jean Luyet and Luis Laurin Speck both made it into the top 10, while Jay Urwin finished close behind. Juho Valtanen made a remarkable comeback, climbing 16 positions to finish 17th, just ahead of Zoe Florescu Potolea, who also made significant progress. Jenson Graham and Corentin Rousseau (CL Racing) performed well but were penalised during the weekend.

Riccardo Longhi, Team Manager for the gearbox categories, commented:

"This new circuit on the international calendar provided some great battles in the gearbox categories. Of course, we would have liked to win the European title, but we can be satisfied with Hiltbrand in 2nd, Bertuca in 5th and Vasile in 8th in the overall standings. Congratulations also to Noah Wolfe, who established himself as one of the best in an extremely competitive KZ2 category. It is also worth noting that we supplied chassis to more than a third of the drivers competing, making Birelart the most represented brand at this event."

Birelart Racing remains in contention for the KZ team classification, which will be decided at the World Championship in Franciacorta next October. Before that, the OK and OK-Junior drivers will compete in the final round of the European Championship in Rodby, Denmark, in two weeks' time.

About Birelart

Birelart is an Italian manufacturer of kart chassis that combines long experience and a keen sense of innovation with a boundless passion for motor sport.

Founded in 1959 by Umberto Sala, whose precise nickname was Birel, the company has played a pioneering role in the development of karting around the world since its very beginnings. The demand for quality has always been part of the DNA of the Lissone-based brand through its quest for success in competition. Over more than 60 years, Birelart has won 26 world titles, countless European titles and numerous national championships.

Birel has accompanied the careers of many great racing drivers, including Riccardo Patrese, Keke Rosberg, Stefano Modena and Emanuele Pirro, as well as the more recent Formula 1 stars Mika Hakkinen and Juan Pablo Montoya, Robert Kubica, Jenson Button and George Russell. Robert Kubica, Daniel Ricciardo and more recently Charles Leclerc have called on Birelart's expertise to launch their own chassis ranges.

Three generations have succeeded one another at the helm of Birel. Today, Ronni Sala, the founder's grandson, presides over Birel's destiny. In 2014, he ushered in a new era by joining forces with ART Grand Prix, a famous team on the single-seater scene, thanks to its association with Nicolas Todt and his partners. Birelart was born.

Ronni has contributed to the creation of an ambitious new project that will be at the forefront of the karting industry, thanks to original sporting, marketing and communication initiatives that will benefit the brand, the dealer network and, of course, Birelart's customers.

Birelart has built on its prestigious heritage to enter the 21st century and make full use of technology in terms of R&D, production, logistics and communication. Its area of expertise, based on high-level competition, has been extended to include production quality control for a large number of competitors around the world, as well as the leisure sector with its Rental range with both internal combustion and electric engines. The factory at its original site in Lissone, near Monza and within easy reach of Milan, has undergone constant modernisation.

Birelart's high level of expertise, with its well-balanced blend of tradition and innovation, is reflected in the results it has achieved in racing, offering fans around the world the opportunity to become real drivers or to have fun and experience the thrill of adrenaline on the track.