MARIEMBOURG - From last to first place! Luis Bielande did it on Sunday during the opening round of the IAME Series Benelux. The ten-year-old karting talent from Charleroi impressively won the final on the Mariembourg circuit despite engine problems in qualifying. In doing so, he proved that he can also excel at this higher level of competition. 

"I am very happy and proud," said Luis with a big smile after his victory. "It was difficult today. There was a communication problem and I couldn't participate in qualifying because the engine was broken."

This setback meant that he had to start last in the first heat. An almost impossible starting position, you might think. But Luis proved otherwise. "I had a goal and I finished first in the first race. I actually didn't think I could win that heat when I started the race," he confessed. "It was really great."

He suffered the same fate in the second heat. He had to start from the back again. "That heat went well, I finished sixth. That was also a very good result," said the driver of the top RSD Karting team.

His strong performance in the heats allowed Luis to start the final from 4th position. "I was already in second place coming out of the first corner," he said of his excellent start. "Then I moved into first place on the last lap. It was difficult to make a move, but I had to or I wouldn't have won."
 

The young driver showed no signs of tension when it mattered most. "I wasn't nervous when I made the move, I just went for it. When it worked, I shouted into my helmet: 'Yes, I did it!'" What makes his achievement even more impressive is that the leader had built up a five-second lead. But Luis was able to close the gap and make the winning pass.

"This is probably my best win so far, from last to first," he reflected. "It's very special. When my engine didn't start in qualifying I was very disappointed, but when I went from last to first in the first race I thought I could still finish in the top ten this weekend."

With victory secured and a lot of confidence, the young kart racer was already looking ahead to the next Benelux competition, which will take place at Ostricourt in four weeks. "I know the track well. I'll practice there the weekend before. It's a difficult track with some elevation changes. But if my engine works well in qualifying, I expect to be able to take pole position!"

Luis thanks all the crew, engineers, mechanics and supporters of RSD Karting.

Luis Bielande is supported in his racing activities by RSD Karting.