The 2024 Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship in the OK and OK-Junior categories is already shaping up to be a great success. The first of the four Competitions will be well attended, with a total of 200 Competitors taking part. The opening event will take place in Spain at the Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero in Valencia from 21st to 24th March.
The OK category, open to Drivers aged 14 and over, represents the ultimate stage in international karting, leading young talent towards single-seater racing, while the OK-Junior category is a real training ground for youngsters aged 12 to 14.
The number of Competitors in the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK and Junior continues to rise, with an increase of around 10% compared to 2023. A record number of 91 OK Drivers and 109 in OK-Junior, representing 48 nations, is expected in Valencia. Tyres will be supplied by Maxxis, with its CIK-FIA-homologated MA01 'Option' slicks in Junior and 'Prime' in OK for dry conditions and 'MW' for rain.
The Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero de Valencia will be hosting an FIA Karting Competition for the second time, following its successful debut in 2023. The 1,428-metre-long track allows for a fast pace, and the width of the track in the first corner favours fluid starts. The numerous overtaking opportunities make for interesting and competitive racing.
The 100% sustainable fuel, using second-generation biocomponents and supplied by the company P1 Racing Fuel, is now part of the FIA Karting Competitions landscape in line with the FIA's global strategy for sustainable development.
Sustained interest in OK
Several key figures from last OK season, including 2023 Champion Rene Lammers, are now competing in single-seaters. The up-and-coming generation from OK-Junior is rapidly taking its place in the top category for the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK, with Drivers such as Zac Drummond (GBR), Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL), Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR), Noah Wolfe (GBR) and Dmitry Matveev. More experienced Drivers such as Gabriel Gomez (ITA), Joe Turney (GBR), Ean Eyckmans (BEL), Anatoly Khavalkin, Fionn McLaughlin (IRL) and David Walther (DNK) represent a force to be reckoned with among the 91 Competitors in Valencia, including only four wild cards.
Promising buzz in the Junior class
Belgian World Champion Dries van Langendonck is not the only Driver to extend his stay in OK-Junior for a second or even third year this season. His Spanish runner-up Christian Costoya, Austrian Niklas Schaufler, Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn, Ukraine’s Lev Krutogolov and Italians Iacopo Martinese and Filippo Sala have also started 2024 with strong ambitions. Rocco Coronel (NLD), who trained in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy last year, has already made his mark in the OK-Junior class since the start of the year, as has Kenzo Craigie (GBR), who came through a brand cup. With 109 Competitors, including eight wild cards, the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - Junior has all the makings of a very good vintage.
Provisional schedule for the Valencia event
Friday 22nd March
09:00 - 11:55: Free Practice
12:05 - 13:31: Qualifying Practice
14:40 - 17:55: Qualifying Heats
Saturday 23rd March
09:00 - 10:13: Warm-up
10:20 - 17:55: Qualifying Heats
Sunday 24th March
09:00 - 10:05: Warm-up
10:10 - 11:45: Super Heats
13:20 - 14:55: Finals