Italian driver Valerio Viapiana has won the first ever FIA Karting Shootout (Junior) after four days of extensive evaluation and assessment in Valencia. The Shootout was designed and funded by the FIA to put the emerging stars of motor sport through their paces, challenging the young drivers intensely and ultimately crowning a junior karting winner of the winners for 2025.

Out of 1217 driver entries across the 2025 FIA Karting season, just eight junior drivers earned a spot at the inaugural Karting Shootout as a result of their success in the FIA’s karting cups, championships and trophies over the last year. The FIA Karting Shootout has been carefully crafted to assess drivers based on multiple criteria as the governing body for motor sport looks to support, recognise and reward well-rounded and promising racers who embody the future of the sport.

The week began with sessions in the gym, simulator and classroom, where judges evaluated drivers on their strength, agility, speed, and resilience, key attributes essential for success on track. Utilising the world-class facilities of Campos Racing, the drivers were also introduced to the simulator for the first time as they began to introduce data, metrics and detailed insights into their racing preparation and analysis.

The shootout competitors moved to Aspar Circuit on Thursday and Friday driving in identical karts provided by Parolin Motorsport on tyres supplied by LeCont. Laying down laps across the 2 days of running, the drivers received technical feedback from Parolin’s driver trainers who were monitoring their improvements and the drivers’ responsiveness to technical feedback.

By this morning, only tenths of a second separated the field on track leaving the judges to spend the afternoon analysing the finer details that distinguish excellence among a group of drivers who had all demonstrated remarkable promise and potential throughout the week. Combing through the feedback and data from the on-track and off-track assessment, the judging panel deliberated intensively and finally reached a decision on Friday evening, selecting Italian driver Viapiana as the 2025 FIA Karting Shootout Junior Winner.

Announcing the winner, FIA Karting Commission President, Akbar Ebrahim, said:
“Valerio displayed incredible raw talent and racing potential across the four days of assessment. His perseverance and adaptability to a new kart and unfamiliar track, his consistency across all assessment criteria and his constructive engagement with the technical feedback displayed all the qualities of a promising future champion.

“All of the junior participants of this year’s FIA Karting Shootout approached the event with an admirable commitment to learning, developing and growing in the sport - something they should all be incredibly proud of. I am confident they will continue to shine in our sport and carry forward the valuable lessons gained here into their racing careers next season.”

Valerio Viapiana, 2025 FIA Karting Junior Shootout Winner, said:
  "Winning means so much to me because it will help me for next season in OK-Senior and making the World Championship. I learned so much in the first two days and also on track so I'm very happy with this."
 
Valerio Viapiana earned his spot in the shootout after finishing second in the 2025 FIA Karting World Championship (OK-J) and will receive a prize of free tyres, fuel and entries for up to 5 FIA Karting events in 2026 plus a financial contribution to an FIA Karting team of 6,000 euros per event.

The runners-up were announced as Troy Ferguson from the USA in second position who came to Valencia fresh from his victory in the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup and Michele Orlando from Italy in third position.

Ferguson and Orlando will receive free tyres, fuel and entries for up to 5 FIA Karting events in 2026 plus a financial contribution to an FIA Karting team of 3,000 euros per event.

The full list of entries to the 2025 FIA Karting Shootout (Junior) were:

Tomasz Cichoracki (POL)
Troy Ferguson (USA)
Gioele Girardello (ITA)
Maël Le Marchand (FRA)
Michele Orlando (ITA)
Nojus Stasionis (LIT)
Oiva Vettenranta (FIN)
Valerio Viapiana (ITA)

Tomorrow, Saturday 6 December, will see the seven FIA Karting Senior Shootout competitors take to the track in Formula 4 cars in what will be a major milestone in their racing journeys. A senior winner will be announced on Sunday 7 December the winner receiving a transformational prize of 250,000 euros towards a Formula 4 championship.