Amazing races to celebrate winners and champions!
Two particularly competitive categories, an extraordinary field of 215 drivers, a welcome return to the PF International Kart Circuit, changing weather conditions during Qualifying to heighten the drama and races of rare intensity: the fifth and final round of the 2024 Champions of the Future Euro Series, organised highly professionally by RGMMC, lived up to all its promises. Great Britain's Joe Turney celebrated his title with a brilliant victory in OK, while Belgium's Dries Van Langendonck took the crown in OK-Junior, with victory going to Great Britain's Scott Marsch.
With Valencia (Spain), Val d'Argenton (France), Slovak Karting Center, Kristianstad (Sweden) and PFI (United Kingdom): this season of the Champions of the Future Euro Series organised from March to September over five events was a great success. The many improvements and innovations introduced by promoter RGMMC were particularly well received, the high quality live streaming continues to generate significant added value, as does race control, and each event benefited from extensive promotion and coverage on Motorsport TV, YouTube and social networks. RGMMC would like to thank all of its partners who have contributed to the success of the series, as well as tyre manufacturer Maxxis for supplying the tyres.
OK: Joe Turney does double duty
On a circuit that had not hosted the CIK-FIA international classes for several years, and with some heats contested in the rain, it was never easy for the drivers and teams competing in England from 5th to 8th September. Portugal's Noah Monteiro (KR Motorsport) was the fastest in Qualifying, but a lot happened after that. No fewer than 11 different drivers won Qualifying Heats, which saw Britain's Freddie Lloyd (Fusion Motorsport) take the lead on Saturday evening. Lloyd confirmed this by winning the first Super Heat, with the second going to Ireland's Fionn McLaughlin (VDK Racing).
Sitting on the outside of the front row, Joe Turney (KR Motorsport) made sure he was right on Lloyd's tail from the very first lap. Great Britain's Gus Lawrence (PF International) followed just behind, while his compatriot Matthew Higgins found himself in 4th place under pressure from a large group determined to climb onto the podium. Feeling confident after becoming FIA Karting European Champion five weeks earlier, Turney overtook Lloyd and flew to victory ahead of his rival, settling the Champions of the Future Euro Series title. A magnificent battle ensued between Colombian Salim Hanna (Prema Racing) and Gus Lawrence for 3rd place, with Hanna eventually taking the lead.
European OK-Junior Champion in 2024, Dries Van Langendonck (Forza Racing) celebrated his OK debut with a magnificent 6th place behind McLaughlin. Romanian David Cosma-Cristofor (KR Motorsport) gained six places to finish 7th ahead of Briton Joseph Smith (Victory Lane), Frenchman Jimmy Helias (Victory Lane) and Brazilian Olin Galli (CRG Racing Team). A collision cost Sweden's Scott Kin Lindblom (Fusion Motorsport) a good result and Higgins dropped out of the top 10 due to a penalty. Lacking success in Great Britain, Belgian Thibaut Ramaekers (VDK Racing) nevertheless salvaged the runner-up spot ahead of his teammate McLaughlin.
OK-Junior: Marsh wins, Van Langendonck Champion
The OK-Junior Final produced an incredible race, with constant changes in the leading pack, numerous podium contenders and the top eight grouped within just a second of each other going into the last lap. But before it got to that stage, Britain's Noah Baglin (Prema Racing) secured pole position, before handing over first place in the Qualifying Heats to his team-mate James Anagnostiadis. As well as the Australian, 12 drivers managed to win at least one heat! Anagnostiadis retained the lead by winning his Super Heat and was joined on the front row of the Final by Britain's Kenzo Craigie (Prema Racing).
The Final got off to a fast start and the intensity never let up throughout the 19-lap race. James Anagnostiadis, Kenzo Craigie, Scott Marsh (Tony Kart Racing Team) and Dutchman Rocco Coronel took it in turns to lead the race. Marsh proved to be the most inspired and crossed the finish line as the winner. 2nd at the chequered flag, Coronel was penalised and dropped to 7th. Craigie thus took 2nd place on the podium ahead of Italy's Filippo Sala (RFM), another major player in this Final.
Britons Jarrett Clark (Forza Racing) and Kit Belofsky (Fusion Motorsport) were next, while Arjen Kraeling climbed back up to 6th. Another driver penalised, the United Statesman Devin Walz (Forza Racing) dropped from 4th to 9th place, sandwiched between Anagnostiadis and Finland's Joel Pohjola (Tony Kart Racing Team).
In the overall standings, the main rivals of Dries Van Langendonck (Forza Racing) were unable to score enough points to overtake him, so the Belgian was crowned OK-Junior Champion despite his entry in the OK category at PFI. 2nd place went to Austrian Niklas Schaufler (DPK Racing) ahead of Kenzo Craigie.