Three categories on the track at Val d'Argenton
The second Competition of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior taking place in France on the Val d'Argenton circuit will also see the start of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy from 25 to 28 April 2024.
A total of 244 Drivers from 62 nations on five continents are entered, with the Competition setting a new record seeing 90 Drivers entered in OK, 103 in OK-Junior and 51 in Academy.
A renowned circuit that has been graced by some of the racing greats including Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica, Kimi Raikkonen, and Lewis Hamilton, Val d'Argenton makes its return to the FIA Karting calendar after a 14-year absence.
1280m long and 8m wide, the circuit was resurfaced in 2022. Its layout is still very popular with the Drivers, but the international teams are not used to its selectiveness. The ability of both Teams and Drivers to adapt to different conditions will be essential in the quest for performance.
Maxxis is the exclusive supplier of the tyres used at Val d'Argenton in all three categories.
Junior: Van Langendonck holds the lead
After the first Competition in Valencia (ESP), reigning World Champion Dries Van Langendonck (BEL) leads the provisional standings of the 2024 Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - Junior. The odds on Spaniard Christian Costoya and Italian Filippo Sala remain very high. A response from Drivers who crashed out of the Spanish Final, such as Niklas Schaufler (AUT), Sebastien Lehtimaki (FIN), Borys Lyzen (POL), Rocco Coronel (NLD) and Kenzo Craigie (GBR), is also to be expected. Scott Kin Lindblom (SWE), Joel Pohjola (FIN), Jack Illife (USA) and Kosei Oguma (JPN) are just some of the Drivers capable of shining in France.
Provisional standings for the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship – Junior before competition 2
1- Dries van Langendonck (BEL) - 94 points
2- Sebastian Minns (GBR) - 72 points
3- Christian Costoya (ESP) - 72 points
4- Bosco Arias (ESP) - 60 points
5- Niklas Schaufler (AUT) - 50 points
Confirmation expected for Gomez in OK
Italian-licensed Brazilian Gabriel Gomez made a strong impression in Spain on the opening Competition of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK, while Britain's Joe Turney was extremely competitive. Their performances at Val d'Argenton will be watched with great interest. While the chase is on for young guns Lewis Wherrell (GBR) and Louis Iglesias (FRA) as well as the experienced Matheus Morgatto (BRA), other contenders could steal the show in France. Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) has made meteoric progress in OK in his first season, Sebastiano Pavan (ITA) should be able to make his mark as one of the fastest Drivers and Zac Drummond (GBR) is becoming increasingly assertive.
Provisional standings for the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK before competition 2
1- Gabriel Gomez (ITA) - 100 points
2- Joe Turney (GBR) - 78 points
3- Lewis Wherrell (GBR) - 70 points
4- Louis Iglesias (FRA) - 63 points
5- Matheus Morgatto (BRA) - 43 points
The Academy Trophy takes to the track
The FIA Karting Academy Trophy is the only formula of its kind in the world, focusing on finding and training young talent aged between 12 and 14 during 2024. The OTK Group will supply and manage the identical Exprit/Vortex OK-Junior karts, which are allocated by drawing lots and the fairness of the equipment is reinforced by frequent engine exchanges throughout the Competition.
As a partner of the official supplier of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy (OTK Kart Group), Formula Medicine will be putting on its specific Academy programme. An awareness-raising session on the risks of doping will also be offered under the aegis of the FIA.
Three countries are making their debut in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy this year. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman bring the number of nations represented in 2024 to 50. Victor Alexandru Rad (ROU) who was 32nd in 2023, Zain El Hommossany (EGY) 34th, Nikhilesh Raju (IND) and Rolands Juris Sprude (LVA) 42nd, will be competing in their second Academy season. Five female drivers are entered in 2024: Amelia Wyszomirska (POL), Ivonn Simeonova (AUT), Ana Cristina Solis (MEX), Delcine Galea (MLT) and Vanessa Silkunaite (LTU), supported by the FIA Women and Sport Commission thanks to her victory in the FIA's Girls on Track - Rising Star programme.
The 2024 edition is a great opportunity for newcomers. Few of the participants have any experience of international competition to date. Discovering young talent will be more important than ever this season in the Academy Trophy.
Provisional schedule for the Val d'Argenton Competition
Friday 26th April
08:00 - 13:20: Free Practice
13:35 - 15:13: Qualifying Practice
15:50 - 19:05: Qualifying Heats
Saturday 27th April
08:00 - 09:39: Warm-up
09.50 - 18.45: Qualifying Races
Sunday 28th April
08.30 - 09.55: Warm-up
10.05 - 10.40: Qualifying heats - Academy
10.45 - 12.20: Super Heats - Junior & OK
13.55 - 16.35: Finals