The FIA Karting season starts this weekend in Portugal with the first of the four events of the OK & OK-Junior European Championship. The field is very good in terms of the number of drivers entered, given the instability around Ukraine, which is under attack by the Russian army. Not being able to show their nationality in competition, some Russians have changed their flag to Italy. The participants are more or less the same as in the Champions of the Future two weeks earlier. The question is whether the hierarchy will be the same or whether this preparatory race will have allowed the teams and the less well placed drivers to adjust their methods.
The French delegation is made up of 10 drivers, plus one in the colours of Luxembourg. In OK, Enzo Deligny (Parolin/TM) of Parolin Motorsport finished 8th, but he had the potential to do better in Champions of the Future. Malo Bolliet (KR/Iame) from KR Motorsport made a strong debut in 9th place. Arthur Rogeon (KR/Iame) of VDK Racing finished 36th while Evan Giltaire (KR/Iame) from VDK Racing came in unprepared.
In OK-Junior, Andy Consani (Sodi/TM) of Sodikart was the best placed in 14th position, with Arthur Dorison (Tony Kart/Vortex) of Tony Kart Racing Team finishing 19th, Jimmy Helias (Tony Kart/Vortex) also of Tony Kart Racing Team 23rd and Maxens Verbrugge (Exprit/TM) of Forza Racing 28th. In the colours of Luxembourg, Guillaume Bouzar (Tony Kart/Vortex) from Koski Motorsport took 35th place. Jules Caranta (Energy/TM) from Energy Corse and Thomas Quincé (Tony Kart/TM) did not manage to qualify for the Final.
The weather should be rather good, with no rain forecast for the moment and with temperatures reaching 20° and a medium strong wind from the west.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink