The Birelart Racing Team got the FIA Karting European OK and OK-Junior Championship off to a flying start at Campillos. Although the final results did not fully reflect the potential seen on track, the performances nevertheless highlighted the quality of the preparation and the cohesion of the team.

OK-Junior: Marques Da Silva and Mazzola well established

In the OK-Junior class, Gustavo Marques Da Silva qualified 6th in his group, just ahead of team-mate Ludovico Mazzola. Both put in solid runs, regularly finishing in the top 10, with Marques Da Silva scoring several top three finishes. He then finished 6th in his Super Heat, while Mazzola was 8th. In the Final, Marques Da Silva crossed the line in 12th position and Mazzola could have finished 11th had it not been for a spoiler penalty.

OK: Gonzalez in the spotlight on his debut

On his first appearance in the European Championship, Eloi Gonzalez made his mark by setting the 5th fastest time in his group in Qualifying, before going on to win a heat. Unfortunately, a collision at the start of the Final forced him to retire.
 

Noah Wolfe, racing with VAR by Birel, experienced difficult conditions during Qualifying in the rain. However, he recovered in the heats to finish 5th in his Super Heat. He too saw his Final come to a premature end after an incident.
 

Vladimir Ivannikov shone in the heats with a 2nd place and two other top 10 finishes. But his two retirements prevented him from reaching the Final, as did Aston Sharp and Skye Parker, who were also affected by bad luck.

A formative weekend ahead

"After a Friday marked by rain, our young drivers reacted well and made some fine comebacks," emphasised team manager Jordon Lennox. "If it hadn't been for a few unfortunate incidents in the race, we could have had several top five finishes or even a podium finish. Having said that, everyone has gained experience in demanding conditions and we've collected some valuable data with the Maxxis tyres. I'd like to thank all the team members for their hard work and competitive spirit.”
 

Next up for Birelart Racing: Portimão, Portugal, with the second round of the FIA Karting European Championship scheduled for 4th May. As part of its preparation, the team will also take part in the Champions of the Future Euro Series event a week earlier.