FIA Karting: A promising season kicks off in Spain
The Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championships - OK and OK-Junior - are about to get underway in southern Spain. The entry list includes almost 190 drivers, divided between 98 OK and 89 OK-Junior, confirming the appeal of the international categories. 43 nationalities from five continents will be represented at this eagerly-awaited event.
Three and a half years after the FIA Karting World Championship at the end of 2021, where Tuukka Taponen (FIN) in OK and Kean Nakamura Berta (JPN) in OK-Junior were crowned, two motorsport hopefuls now competing in single-seaters, the Campillos circuit will once again host a major international competition. Its demanding, gently undulating 1,580-metre layout offers drivers a significant challenge, with its many bends as well as high average speeds, in excess of 95 km/h in OK.
RGMMC, the service provider for the FIA Karting Championships, and the organising team led by Martin Reuvers have worked hard to welcome the drivers and teams in the best possible conditions, in constant collaboration with the CIK-FIA. The complex, located in Andalusia to the north of Malaga, equidistant from Seville and Granada, has undergone extensive work to meet the demands of this high-level competition.
As in 2024, the manufacturer Maxxis will be the tyre supplier for these two Mondokart.com European Championships. OK-Junior, aimed at talented youngsters aged 12 to 14, will use ‘Option’ tyres, while the OK, accessible from the age of 14, will benefit from ‘Prime’ tyres. Fuel distribution will be handled by Brava Fuel (Panta Spain).
OK: Who will succeed Joe Turney?
In 2024, the experienced Joe Turney (GBR) became FIA Karting European Champion in OK for the first time in his career. The 23-year-old has beaten all of motorsport’s greatest hopefuls and will be looking to retain his title. He will face strong competition from the last two OK-Junior World Champions, Dries Van Langendonck (BEL) and Kenzo Craigie (GBR). Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL), who came 3rd in the previous European Championship for OK, will have no shortage of ambition, as will other drivers with experience of the category such as Lewis Wherrell (GBR), Jindrich Pesl (CZE), Zac Drummond (GBR), Markas Silkunas (LTU) and Dmitry Matveev.
Among the younger drivers coming straight from the OK-Junior category, Christian Costoya (ESP), Rocco Coronel (NLD), James Anagnostiadis (AUS) and Iacopo Martinese (ITA) have already finished on the final podium of a World or European Championship. A number of women are taking part, including Luna Fluxa Cross (ESP), who has frequently featured at international level in recent years. Bernardo Bernoldi and Ella Hakkinen have names that resonate with F1 fans. They will be looking to stand out from the crowd.
OK-Junior: A very open category
Many of the most promising young drivers in 2024 have moved up a rung, but several of last season’s revelations have every chance of fighting for victory in 2025. Noah Baglin (GBR), the unsuccessful hero of the World Championship in the UK, is likely to be among the contenders for the Championship, along with Dean Hoogendoorn (NLD), Ilie Crisan (CDN), Bosco Arias (ESP), Iskender Zulfikari (TUR) and William Calleja (AUS).
Henry Domain (GBR), Michael McGaughy (USA), as well as the Walz brothers (USA), Devin and Drew, showed that they had learned the unique aspects of the category perfectly during the preparation races at the start of the season. The top two finishers in the 2024 FIA Karting Academy Trophy, Gilles Herman (BEL) and Dan Allemann (SUI), will be at the start with the aim of building on their podium finishes!
Provisional programme
Friday 4th April
09:00 - 11:25: Free Practice
11:45 - 13:16: Qualifying Practice
14:50 - 18:05: Qualifying Heats
Saturday 5th April
09:00 - 10:13: Warm-up
10:20 - 13:35: Continuation of Qualifying Heats
14:40 - 17:55: End of Qualifying Heats
Sunday 6th April
09:00 - 10:05: Warm-up
10:10 - 11:45: Super Heats
13:00 - 14:00: Presentation of OK-Junior drivers, Final and podium
14:10 - 15:10: Presentation of OK drivers, Final and podium