It is one of the specificities of the new CIK-FIA “U18” World Championship and Academy Trophy: in addition to the competition itself, an educational programme – called EduKart – has been introduced. In practical terms, on touch-sensitive terminals the Drivers must answer questions concerning various topics: sporting and technical regulations, history of Karting, anti-doping fight, etc.
At Alcañiz, as well as being invited to climb on the podium and being given a financial boost, the Top 3 Drivers of the Academy Trophy also won a christening at the wheel of a racing car on the automobile circuit of Motorland Aragón located within the same complex as the Karting track. On the initiative of the circuit owners, the SEAT Leon Supercopa (305 HP) of the regional Driver David Sanchez was indeed fitted with a second seat in order to give a ride to the Frenchman Anthoine Hubert, the Russian Vsevolod Gagen and the Finn Niklas Tiihonen, who were the quickest to come up with correct answers to all the questions asked.
After two laps of this brand-new 5.300 km circuit eaten up at high speed, the three boys had big smiles on their faces. “What a fabulous circuit!”, explained Anthoine Hubert (13 years old), who had already had the opportunity to sit in a racing car before. “It goes up and down, and there are very fast corners… It was really great to discover it like this!”
Russia’s Vsevolod Gagen (14 years old) declared himself impressed by the braking. “I was unable to keep my head straight”, he said. “It’s amazing to see how powerful the braking is! And the speeds reached are impressive!”
As for Niklas Tiihonen (14 years old), he was almost speechless. “Fantastic! The circuit is superb as regards both the facilities and the course. And the sensation on board such a car is impressive… It was really a beautiful gift!”
It must be noted that the EduKart programme proved to be successful, with 22 out of the 31 academicians putting up a faultless performance by answering the 12 questions asked, while 35 out of the 54 “U18” World Championship Drivers did likewise.
Info CIK / © Photos KSP