Now accustomed to hosting major FIA Karting events, the Lucas Guerrero International Circuit was the setting for some intense battles in all three categories and a high-quality competition, marked by faultless organisation from the Chiva Karting Club. The weekend was graced by the presence of a number of VIPs: John Ryan, CIK-FIA Vice-President; Manuel Aviñó, President of the Spanish ASN (RFEdA) and FIA Vice-President for Sport; Nacho Aviñó, President of the Spanish Karting Commission and Burcu Cetinkaya, President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.

KZ: Pedro Hiltbrand celebrates with the Spanish anthem

Hailing from Blanes in the Girona region, Pedro Hiltbrand showed incredible motivation and determination to triumph on home soil and climb to the top of the podium. The Birelart chassis, TM Kart engines and Dunlop tyres worked perfectly for Hiltbrand, who spent most of the competition in the lead. Even when he was passed at the start of the race by his rivals, he responded immediately. Winner of the Super Heat on Sunday morning, the Spaniard was surprised at the start of the Final by Giuseppe Palomba (ITA). From the second lap onwards, Hiltbrand resumed his attack and went on to win, increasing his lead lap after lap.

The show came from behind. Adrian Malheiro Suñe (ESP), a private driver entered as a Wild Card, created a surprise by moving up to second place. He had quickly overtaken David Trefilov (GER), Cristian Bertuca (ITA) and then Giuseppe Palomba, before containing Bertuca's comeback in the closing laps, when he set the fastest time of the race. Palomba and Trefilov rounded off their very consistent Spanish performances in the top five. Viktor Gustafsson (SWE) made up six positions to finish sixth. A race incident dashed the hopes of Jean Nomblot (FRA), who started on the front row.

KZ Final Results

1- Hiltbrand, Pedro (ESP - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
2- Malheiro Suñe, Adrian (ESP - CRG / TM Kart / Dunlop)
3- Bertuca, Cristian (ITA - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
4- Palomba, Giuseppe (ITA - Maranello / TM Kart / Dunlop)
5- Trefilov, David (GER - IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
6- Gustafsson, Viktor (SWE - CRG / TM Kart / Dunlop)
7- Spirgel, Matteo (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
8- Vasile, Daniel (ROU - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
9- Leuillet, Tom (FRA - Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop)
10- Denner, Emilien (FRA - IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
...

KZ2: Maksim Orlov unshakeable!

Having won the last round of the 2024 Mondokart.com FIA European Karting Championship - KZ2, which he finished in third position, Maksim Orlov was clearly one of the favourites this season. Over three days, he did not disappoint. Leader after Qualifying Practice and winner of his three Qualifying Heats, he left the Super Heat to Markus Kajak (EST) because of a penalty for moving during the start procedure. That didn't stop him from starting from pole position in the Final, getting off to a perfect start and leading from start to finish. His Sodi / TM Racing / Dunlop package from the CPB Sport team proved unbeatable at this key moment in the weekend.

Kasper Schormans (NED) suffered a start penalty at the worst possible moment in the competition. Having come second at the chequered flag with the fastest lap of the race, Orlov's team-mate eventually dropped back to fifth. Ranked 15th after Qualifying, Tigran Bunatyan climbed a place after some superb attacking runs. Just a few places behind, Maximilian Schleimer (GER) won his duel with Elie Goldstein (BEL) to complete the top three. Paavo Tonteri (FIN), who started in sixth place, soon retired, with Corentin Rousseau (FRA) taking the place after making steady progress since he made his debut in the category in 2022. A difficult start to the race pushed Juho Valtanen (FIN) out of the top 10. Behind Markus Kajak (EST) and Jay Urwin (NZL), Samuel Luyet (SUI) rose from 19th to ninth place, while Noah Wolfe (GBR) gained 19 positions to reach the top ten.

KZ2 Final Results

1- Orlov, Maksim (Sodi / TM Racing / Dunlop)
2- Bunatyan, Tigran (IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
3- Schleimer, Maximilian (GER - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
4- Goldstein, Elie (BEL - TB Kart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
5- Schormans, Kasper (NED - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
6- Rousseau, Corentin (FRA - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
7- Kajak, Markus (EST - IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
8- Urwin, Jay (NZL - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
9- Luyet, Samuel (SUI / Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
10- Wolfe, Noah (GBR - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
...

Academy-Junior Trophy: Maël Le Marchand wins against Nojus Stasionis

Three years after the victory of Frenchman Arthur Dorison, will his compatriot Maël Le Marchand (FRA) be the future winner of the Academy-Junior Trophy? The 13-year-old is dreaming of it after a faultless Sunday. Eighth in Qualifying, fifth in his first heat, fourth in the second and first in the third, he made a brilliant recovery. He was third on the grid for the Final behind Julian Rivera Salas (ECU) and Erik Poulsen (SWE). Just after the lights went out, he tried his luck under braking by diving to the line. Once settled at the front of the field, Le Marchand didn't make the slightest mistake and never gave his rivals a chance.

Rivera Salas was the first to lead the chase. Once past Poulsen, Nojus Stasionis (LTU) moved up to second place, was the fastest on the track and closed to within two tenths of Le Marchand, without however being in a position to attack against the confident Frenchman. Behind him, Rivera Salas lost out to Poulsen, who took third place on the podium. Hernan Rodriguez Fuente (ESP) moved up four places to 5th in the Final behind Tudor Ioan Jercan, one of the leading lights in Valencia.

The Exprit / Vortex karts from the OTK group, fitted with LeCont tyres and selected at random before the competition, gave a very satisfactory performance.

Academy-Junior Final Results

1- Le Marchand, Maël (FRA)
2- Stasionis, Nojus (LTU)
3- Poulsen, Erik (SWE)
4- Rivera Salas, Julian (ECU)
5- Rodriguez Fuente, Hernan (ESP)
6- Jercan, Tudor Ioan (ROU)
7- Bernd, Emilio (GER)
8- Lines, Finlay (GBR)
9- Nunez, Luis Fer (MEX)
10- Vettenranta, Oiva (FIN)
...