FIA Karting European Championship OK & Junior - Round 2 Portimao / Portugal (Saturday)

Something special expected in Portugal

With many years experience organising major FIA Karting events, the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve will host the opening round of the brand new Senior Academy Trophy to be organised over three competitions in 2025. After a successful launch in Spain, the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championships - OK and OK-Junior - will continue at the circuit in southern Portugal for a second meeting that promises plenty of intensity and spectacle from 1st to 4th May. A total of 232 drivers are racing in these three categories at Portimao.

With the Senior Academy Trophy, the CIK-FIA is opening a new chapter in its history. The International Federation has chosen to duplicate the concept launched for Juniors (12-14 year-olds) in 2010, which has been a resounding success over 16 seasons. Selected by their ASN, 36 drivers aged between 14 and 16, representing 36 nationalities, will be competing on Exprit / Vortex equipment supplied by OTK Kart Group in a draw, with Maxxis ‘option’ tyres. Sporting equity will be guaranteed, with the aim of promoting talent from all over the world. The suits and gloves for the drivers, as well as the clothing for their mechanics, will be provided free of charge by partner OMP Racing Force. The drivers will all be grouped together in the paddock in identical awnings supplied and installed by FIA Karting. They are all dreaming of a place on the Portuguese podium, and it seems difficult at this stage to single out any favourites.

As far as the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championships - OK and OK-Junior - are concerned, an initial trend has already emerged from the Spanish competition at Campillos, which took place from 3rd to 6th April. The top-ranked drivers will be looking to confirm their positions, but they can already expect to face stiff competition.

The organisers of the AIA-Motor Clube are ready to welcome the competitors in the best possible conditions. With its extensive high-quality infrastructure and 1,531-metre track, much appreciated by drivers, the Portimao complex remains a solid benchmark in Europe.

OK: A leader far from the land down under
Winner of the Final at Campillos, Australian James Anagnostiadis overcame all the favourites in OK, even though he was still a Junior driver in 2024. The Championship leader is currently ahead of two Belgian hopefuls, Thibaut Ramaekers and Dries Van Langendonck. In Timed Practice and the Qualifying Heats at Campillos, it was Switzerland's Chiara Battig who topped the order. She will be out for revenge after a race incident in her Super Heat. Spaniard Christian Costoya, who was impressive in his comebacks, and Frenchman Thomas Pradier were also among the most prominent drivers. Reigning European Champion Joe Turney of Great Britain failed to achieve the result he had hoped for and will be keen to get back on the podium.

A wide-open Championship in OK-Junior
In Spain, the Prema Racing duo of Briton Noah Baglin and Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn faced off against the Forza Racing trio of Australian William Calleja, Briton Henry Domain and Turkey's Iskender Zulfikari. These five drivers had often had to contend with the ambitions of Canadian Ilie Crisan and Spaniard Bosco Arias, members of the Tony Kart Racing Team and Ricky Flynn Motorsport respectively. At the second round at Portimao, there are likely to be more contenders for a place on the podium.