OK-Junior: Dan Allemann on pole by 33 thousandths!

Still soggy after the rain that had fallen in the morning, the track required the use of treaded tyres for the Group 1 drivers in Qualifying Practice. Noah Baglin (GBR), winner of the previous competition in Spain, set the fastest time of 1:09.613 ahead of Michael Mcgaughy (USA) and William Calleja (AUS). However, the track conditions improved considerably when Group 2 took to the track, this time equipped with slicks. Ilie Crisan (CAN) was fastest in 59.041, ahead of Will Green (GBR) and Arata Endo (JPN). The track grip continued to improve for Group 3.

Ranked 2nd in the Junior Academy Trophy in 2024, Dan Allemann (SUI) was confident when it came to setting the fastest lap during this Qualifying session, which is always very important when there are almost 90 drivers in the same category. After his brilliant lap of 58.915, the Swiss driver gave his analysis...

"I suspected that Group 3 would be faster than the previous two. However, there were still some wet sections on the circuit and we really had to find the right feeling, without making any mistakes."

Lucas Bonhomme (FRA) was only 33 thousandths off the pace in 2nd place, ahead of Lillian Scarbrough (USA).

Qualifying Practice rankings - OK-Junior

1 Allemann, Dan (SUI) Tony Kart / TM Kart / Maxxis - 58.915 (Gr.1)
2 Crisan, Ilie (CAN) Tony Kart / Vortex / Maxxis - 59.041 (Gr.2)
3 Baglin, Noah (GBR) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 1:09.613 (Gr.3)
4 Bonhomme, Lucas (FRA) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 58.948 (Gr.1)
5 Green, Will (GBR) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 59.085 (Gr.2)
6 Mcgaughy, Michael (USA) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 1:09.654 (Gr.3)
7 Scarbrough, Lillian (USA) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 58.992 (Gr.1)
8 Endo, Arata (JPN) Tony Kart / TM Kart / Maxxis - 59.136 (Gr.2)
9 Calleja, William (AUS) -Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis - 1:09.700 (Gr.3)
10 Scelles, Luka (FRA) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 59.034 (Gr.1)
...

OK: Christian Costoya ideally placed

As in the case of the Juniors, the grip conditions on the Algarve International Circuit varied according to the order in which the drivers went out. However, they were all able to use Maxxis slick tyres in this highly competitive OK category. With a time of 58.543, James Anagnostiadis (AUS) finished ahead of Vegard Klemetsen (NOR) and Aston Sharp (GBR) in Group 1. But this reference time was quickly beaten. Noah Wolfe (GBR) took over in Group 2 in 58.715, with a narrow lead over Kenzo Craigie (GBR) and Luke Kornder (GER).

It was then time for Group 3 to face the clock. Four drivers managed to better Wolfe's time, including Christian Costoya (ESP), who was particularly pleased with his performance.

"It was important not to make any mistakes in terms of set-up and tyre pressure, as the track conditions never stopped changing throughout the morning. Despite a final sector that wasn't as good as the previous one, I was able to improve by two tenths on my final lap. The FIA Karting events are so tough and tight, it's important to start from the front row."

More used to Shifter-type categories, Viktor Gustafsson (SWE) showed that he was still excellent with a "direct drive" engine. Just 38 thousandths behind Costoya, he beat Joe Turney (GBR) and Lev Krutoholov (UKR) in Group 3.

Qualifying Practice rankings - OK

1 Costoya, Christian (ESP) Parolin / TM Kart / Maxxis - 56.617 (Gr.1)
2 Wolfe, Noah (GBR) Birel Art / TM Kart / Maxxis - 56.715 (Gr.2)
3 Anagnostiadis, James (AUS) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 58.543 (Gr.3)
4 Gustafsson, Viktor (SWE) CRG / TM Kart / Maxxis - 56.655 (Gr.1)
5 Craigie, Kenzo (GBR) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 56.810 (Gr.2)
6 Klemetsen, Vegard (NOR) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 58.718 (Gr.3)
7 Turney, Joe (GBR) KR / IAME / Maxxis - 56.678 (Gr.1)
8 Kornder, Luke (GER) LN / TM Kart / Maxxis - 56.851 (Gr.2)
9 Sharp, Aston (GBR) Birel Art / TM Kart / Maxxis - 58.725 (Gr.3)
10 Krutoholov, Lev (UKR) Energy / IAME / Maxxis - 56.708 (Gr.1)
...

Mio Olert the first poleman in the Senior Academy Trophy

The 36 drivers in this new FIA Karting category qualified in a single group, all using the same equipment - an Exprit / Vortex package supplied by OTK Kart Group - and Maxxis tyres, in the 'rain' version for Qualifying. Mio Olert (SWE) will go down in history as the first driver to take pole position in this Senior Academy. Olert gradually built up performance as the laps went by, as the 16-year-old admitted.

"My mechanic chose a tyre pressure that allowed me to be quick at the end of the session. I concentrated, I was well placed not to be hindered in traffic and it paid off."

Beaten by Yuzuki Sato (JPN) on the penultimate lap, Devon Hagelen (NED) managed to regain 2nd place from his rival, by 16 thousandths. Simon Antonio Bulbarella (ARG) was 4th fastest ahead of Neil Russell (SUI). Wojciech Woda (POL), who finished 6th in the 2023 FIA Karting Academy Trophy for Juniors, was 6th ahead of Harrison Whitticombe (GBR), who won the FIA Karting World Cup in OK-N last September.

Qualifying Practice rankings - Senior Academy

1 Olert, Mio (SWE)
2 Hagelen, Devon (NED)
3 Sato, Yuzuki (JPN)
4 Bulbarella, Simon Antonio (ARG)
5 Russell, Neil (SUI)
6 Woda, Wojciech (POL)
7 Whitticombe, Harrison (GBR)
8 Ferrari, Riccardo (ITA)
9 Hoang, Arthur (BEL)
10 Birinci, Ates (TUR)
...

Provisional programme for the Portimao Competition

Saturday 3rd May 08.45 - 10:11: Warm-up
10.25 - 18.00: Qualifying Heats

Sunday 4th May
08.30 - 09.40: Warm-up
09.50 - 10.05: Final Qualifying Heat - Academy
10.10 - 11.45: Super Heats - Junior & OK
13.00 - 16.10: Finals and podiums

You can follow the Portimão Competition via live streaming and live timing on the fiakarting.com website.