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KARTING - 2020: A GOOD SPORTING SEASON DESPITE THE PANDEMIC

01.02.21

2020 will continue to be marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which gradually spread around the world from February onwards. The FIA Karting calendar underwent some changes in dates and locations to adapt to this new situation. The 2020 FIA Karting Championships, Cups and Trophies were finally able to take place over seven Competitions involving five categories in five European countries: Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Given the circumstances, attendance proved to be more than respectable with an average of more than 130 Drivers per Competition, compared to 160 in 2019. The infection-control protocol drawn up by the FIA proved its effectiveness in collaboration with the Promoter RGMMC Group and the organisers. The efforts of all participants to prevent transmission played a major role.

FIA Karting 2020 Rookie of the Year, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA - KR / Iame / LeCont) won the FIA Karting European Championship - OK at the age of 14, contested over three events instead of four, managing to outstrip Taylor Barnard (GBR - KR / IAME / LeCont) thanks to his two victories in Spain and Germany. The young official KR Motorsport Team Driver thus won his first major title ahead of the Rosberg Racing Academy Driver. Official Tony Kart Racing Team Driver Joe Turney (GBR - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) finished 3rd, followed by Nikita Bedrin (RUS - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) and Rafael Chaves Camara (BRA - Exprit / TM Racing / LeCont).

Postponed to Portimao at the beginning of November, the FIA Karting World Championship - OK saw a lot of rain and a surprise winner, Callum Bradshaw (GBR - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) who took the victory in the deluge. Joe Turney (GBR - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) and Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) brought a superb triple win to the Tony Kart Racing Team. Antonelli had been injured in an accident shortly after the start. Morgan Porter (GBR - KR /IAME / LeCont) was 4th and Taylor Barnard 5th.

Ugo Ugochukwu (USA - KR / IAME / LeCont) was dominant in the FIA Karting European Championship - Junior, winning the title thanks to his victory in Italy and his regular presence at the front of the field. Winner in Germany, Arvid Lindblad (GBR - KR / IAME / LeCont) secured the double for the KR Motorsport Team ahead of Tony Kart Racing Team driver Tuukka Taponen (FIN - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont), victorious in Spain. The young Valerio Rinicella (ITA - Parolin / TM Racing / LeCont) finished 4th and Harley Keeble (GBR - Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) made a remarkable debut in 5th position.

Christian Ho (SGP - KR / IAME / MG) had led the Qualifying heats of the FIA Karting World Championship - Junior in the wet weather of Portugal, but, like in OK, the Final changed the situation. After an intense battle, the rookie from the Ricky Flynn Motorsport Team Freddie Slater (GBR - Kosmic / Vortex / MG) won the Final and the title at just 12 years old, against Tuukka Taponen and Harry Burgoyne (GBR - KR /IAME / MG). Christian Ho finished 4th and Arvid Lindblad 5th.

World Champion in 2019, Marijn Kremers (NLD - Ricciardo Kart / TM Racing / Vega) won the FIA European Championship Karting - KZ in 2020 without winning a Final. His consistency earned him a double victory for Team Birel ART Racing ahead of Alessandro Irlando (ITA - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) and Simo Puhakka (FIN - Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), while Stan Pex (NLD - KR / TM Racing / Vega) finished 4th and Riccardo Longhi (ITA - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) 5th.

Organised once again in Lonato, the FIA Karting World Championship - KZ has finally crowned a much appreciated Driver who has been racing for a long time. Jérémy Iglesias (FRA - Formula K / TM Racing / Vega) achieved a superb victory with the Formula K Racing Team after battling against the reigning champion Marijn Kremers (NLD - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) and Bas Lammers (NLD - Sodi / TM Racing / Vega). Fabian Federer (ITA - Maranello / TM Racing / Vega) took 4th place and Riccardo Longhi 5th.

In the colours of Team Leclerc by Lennox Racing, Viktor Gustavsson (SWE - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) dominated the FIA Karting European Championship - KZ2 ahead of Simone Cunati (ITA - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) and David Trefilov (DEU - Maranello / TM Racing / Vega), the winner in Belgium. Giuseppe Palomba (ITA - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) and Paavo Tonteri (FIN - Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) completed the top five.

Simone Cunati took a satisfying revenge by winning the FIA Karting International Super Cup - KZ2 in Lonato for Team Modena Kart ASD with a comfortable advantage over Giuseppe Palomba. Giacomo Pollini (ITA - Formula K / TM Racing / Vega) was on the third step of the podium, Leonardo Marseglia (ITA - Birel ART / TM Racing / Vega) recovered his 4th place and Danilo Albanese (ITA- KR / IAME / Vega) was 5th.

During its 11th season, the very international line-up of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy was impacted by the travel difficulties caused by the pandemic. The one-design formula Exprit / Vortex / Vega crowned the young American Connor Zilisch, winner of the first two Competitions. The Israeli Ariel Elkin won the last one in Lonato, but the British Driver Theo Micouris took 2nd place in the Trophy, tied with the 3rd, the Frenchman Macéo Capietto. Matteo De Palo (ITA) and Jonathan Weywadt (NLD) completed the top five.