A top-3 finish to launch Andy Ratel's international season

Official Pantano Racing Team driver since the end of 2023, Andy Ratel kicked off 2025 with a brilliant performance at the IAME Winter Cup in Valencia. In Spain, the young boy considered to be one of the best French kart drivers of his generation fought his way to the front for three days. A few race incidents slowed his performance, but Andy never gave up, and his efforts were rewarded by a brilliant comeback in the X30 Senior class final, with a 3rd place finish.

Always fast on the Valencia circuit, Andy Ratel quickly demonstrated his ambitions for this Winter Cup by setting the fastest time in his group in timed practice, 3rd place overall out of 99 drivers entered. “With the team, we worked on different aspects as the free practice progressed, and it paid off,” says Andy. “When we put all the parameters together, the expected performance was there.”

In each of his qualifying heats, Andy confirmed that he was there to fight for victory. He also set two fastest laps in the race, but the intense duels in the pack resulted in two penalties for incorrect front-firing position. The French driver had to start from 13th on the grid.

 “I was really fast and was soon able to overtake several drivers in the opening laps. As I worked my way up, the two frontrunners were able to pull ahead and I found myself in a very compact group fighting for the podium. A number of drivers were penalized for unsportsmanlike driving. I stayed focused right to the end, and my race ended in 3rd place. For both the Pantano Racing Team and myself, it's an excellent way to start the season. The level was very high at this Winter Cup and it promises to be a very tight IAME Euro Series.” This all-important European Championship will be played out over 4 events again in 2025, starting at Cremona in Italy from March 19 to 23.

NB: Andy Ratel's result in Valencia remains provisional pending a decision on another driver.