Emanuel Mai Secures Podium Finish for Solgat Motorsport at DKM

21.07.2026 Solgat Motorsport has successfully concluded the first half of the German Kart Championship, achieving notable results at the third of five rounds. Emanuel Mai delivered a commendable performance in the KZ2 Cup, clinching a strong second place, while teammate Simon Billman finished the KZ2 final in sixth position. The event took place at the 1.063-kilometer Schweppermannring, where 135 drivers from 20 nations faced challenging weather conditions.

The competition began under sunny and warm skies on Friday and Saturday. However, a thunderstorm on Sunday morning brought rain to Ampfing. As a result, the Super Heats were held on wet and drying tracks, while the finals were contested on dry asphalt. Solgat Motorsport quickly adapted to the changing conditions, making a significant impact in both gearbox kart classes.

In the largest field of the weekend, featuring 45 competitors, Emanuel Mai emerged as a frontrunner from the outset. He showcased his ambitions with a third-place finish in qualifying. Mai maintained his strong form throughout the three heats, remaining in third place after the preliminary rounds. His speed continued to impress on Sunday morning, where he recorded the fastest lap in the Super Heat. However, a five-second penalty for a front spoiler infraction relegated him to sixth position for the final.

During the final, Mai fought his way into the leading pack, advancing to third place. He continued to pressure his rivals for the last podium spot until a red flag prematurely halted the race. Following a subsequent time penalty assessed to another competitor, Mai was promoted to second place. This podium finish elevated him to fifth in the championship standings, now only 16 points behind fourth place.

Dino Carlsson also made headlines in the KZ2 Cup. After qualifying in 24th place, the Swedish driver progressed through the heats to finish in 19th overall. His standout moment came in the Super Heat, where he achieved an impressive second-place finish, securing him a tenth-place start for the final. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the final race and thus could not fully realize his potential.

Luca Breemer started the KZ2 Cup with optimism from 21st place in qualifying but faced challenges in the heats, where he was unable to finish three consecutive races. Although he mounted a strong comeback with a 14th-place finish in the Super Heat, it was not enough to qualify for the final.

Maximilian Preradovic also encountered difficulties throughout the weekend. After qualifying in 25th, penalties and a disqualification in the heats hindered his progress. He responded with a 15th-place finish in the Super Heat, but it was insufficient for final qualification.

In the KZ2 category, Simon Billman displayed consistency throughout the weekend. Starting from ninth in qualifying, he maintained his position after the heats and finished eighth in the Super Heat. Despite a five-second penalty, he held his ground, making up two positions in the final to finish sixth.

Team principal Simon Solgat expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance: "Emanuel was strong from qualifying through to the final. He was a top contender all weekend and truly earned that podium. Simon also had a solid performance in the KZ2, achieving a great sixth place. Dino showed what he was capable of in the Super Heat. Not everything went according to plan for all drivers, but the team adapted well to the fluctuating conditions. We aim to carry this momentum into the second half of the season."

The Birel ART team will next compete in Kerpen, starting with the ADAC Kart Masters on August 8-9, followed closely by the DKM’s fourth round.