Three European titles will be at stake - in OK and Junior and FIA Academy Trophy - when the 2023 FIA Karting European Championship concludes in Cremona, Italy from July 27-30.
The three titles on offer in Cremona are based on the total number of points scored during the season, with no countback. A maximum of 81 points can be awarded at this final event in OK and OK-Junior and 56 points in the Academy Trophy.
The Cremona Karting track, which made its debut on the FIA Karting calendar last year, was completely redeveloped in 2019. The compact layout, which is 1,210 metres long and up to 10 metres wide in places, features 16 corners ensuring that the races are fast-paced.
Ninety-five drivers are entered in OK, 100 in OK-Junior and 46 in Academy, making a total of 241 drivers representing 60 nations. There are 25 wild cards on the OK and Junior lists.
Tyres are supplied by MG Tyres for OK and Vega for OK-Junior and the Academy Trophy. The 100% sustainable P1 Racing Fuel will help to reduce the competition's carbon footprint.
OK: Lammers and Gomez set to face off
Four drivers are theoretically capable of winning the 2023 FIA Karting European Championship - OK, but the lead held by Dutchman Rene Lammers (NLD) and Italian-licensed Brazilian Gabriel Gomez make them strong favourites, while Jamaican Alex Powell is well placed to remain on the podium. The battle for victory in this event is also wide open, with drivers such as Enzo Tarnvanichkul (THA), Kean Nakamura-Berta (GBR), David Walther (DNK), Luigi Coluccio (ITA) and Sebastian Pavan (ITA) all highly competitive on this circuit.
Provisional standings for the FIA 2023 Karting European Championship - OK before Round 4:
1- Rene Lammers (NLD) - 208 points
2- Gabriel Gomez (ITA) - 202 points
3- Alex Powell (JAM) - 165 points
4- Tomass Stolcermanis (LVA) - 138 points
5- Joe Turney (GBR) - 89 points
Bondarev, the logical favourite in the Junior class
Great Britain's Lewis Wherrell recently lost out to Ukraine's Oleksandr Bondarev, who clearly leads the provisional standings, and his runner-up, Belgium's Thibaut Ramaekers. The new leader of the FIA International Karting Ranking (IKR) for all categories combined, Bondarev has a substantial lead of 42 points in the provisional European standings, which in theory allows him to manage the Cremona event as he pleases in his bid to win the 2023 FIA Karting European Championship - Junior. Dries van Langendonck (BEL), Stepan Antonov and Taym Saleh (DEU) will all be aiming for victory in Italy ahead of Iacopo Martinese (ITA), Zac Drummond (GBR) and Christian Costoya (ESP).
Provisional 2023 FIA Karting European Championship - Junior standings before Round 4:
1- Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR) - 206 points
2- Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) - 164 points
3- Lewis Wherrell (GBR) - 139 points
4- Zac Drummond (GBR) - 122 points
5- Iacopo Martinese (ITA) - 117 points
Academy Trophy: Walton well placed against Marti and Barry-Berg
Among the 12-14 year-olds representing their countries in the FIA Karting detection formula, Australian Max Walton arrives in Cremona with a good lead over Hugo Marti (ESP) and Marius Barry-Berg (NOR). The title already seems a long way off for Ruytaro Sakai (JPN), Vasileios Apostolidis (GRC), and Santino Panetta (ARG). That doesn't mean that victory is a foregone conclusion in Cremona.
Provisional standings for the 2023 FIA Karting Academy Trophy before Round 3:
1- Max Walton (AUS) - 90 points
2- Hugo Marti (ESP) - 75 points
3- Marius Barry-Berg (NOR) - 74 points
4- Ruytaro Sakai (JPN) - 57 points
5- Vasileios Apostolidis (GRC) - 55 points
The provisional schedule for the Cremona race:
Friday 28th July
08:00 - 11:45: Free Practice
12:50 - 14:38: Qualifying Practice
15:00 - 18:55: Qualifying Heats
Saturday 29th July
08:30 - 10:09: Warm-up
10:20 - 18:30: Qualifying Heats
Sunday 30th July
08:30 - 09:55: Warm-up
10:05 - 10:40: Academy Qualifying Heats
10:45 - 12:20: OK and OK-Junior Super Heats
13:50 - 16:10: Finals