The Birel ART Racing Team was looking forward to the start of the FIA Karting European Championships. They arrived in Portimao with a particularly sharp technical package, both in the OK class and in OK-Junior. Kirill Kutskov was constantly at the top of the rankings and could certainly have aimed for better than 8th place in the Junior Final, if he hadn't had a retirement in a Qualifying Heat. And in OK, Cristian Bertuca was close to the top ten when he had to retire.