Noah Wolfe (VAR by Birelart) got his weekend off to a perfect start by setting the 3rd fastest time in his group during the Timed Qualifying sessions in the OK category, which was the 9th fastest time overall. He confirmed this performance in the heats with several top-three finishes. Unfortunately, an incident in the Super Heat compromised his chances, relegating him to 19th place on the starting grid for the Final. He then made a remarkable comeback, gaining numerous positions by avoiding collisions at the start and then steadily progressing to 7th place (+11), without however being able to catch up with the group fighting for 3rd place.

Vladimir Ivannikov had an even better start to Qualifying, with a very close 2nd place in his group and 4th place overall. His progress was then hampered by incidents in the heats and Super Heat, although he demonstrated his speed by taking 2nd place in his first heat on Thursday afternoon. Starting from 26th position in the Final, he managed his race well, gaining places from the start and avoiding the pitfalls of the pack to finish 11th, having gained 15 positions.

Toby Gale, back in competition after a break, arrived in Rødby highly motivated. He finished 5th in his group in Qualifying, placing him 13th overall. Fighting hard in the heats, he was involved in an accident on the first lap of his Super Heat, which eliminated nearly half the field. Determined to bounce back in the Final, he gained 11 positions to finish 19th.

Another source of satisfaction for Birelart was Joel Pohjola, who returned to international competition this season and managed to qualify for the Final despite a long absence, a promising performance for the future.

Other drivers such as Aston Sharp, Vilmer Svahn, Skye Parker and Austin Gale failed to qualify despite their efforts.

Jordon Lennox, head of the Junior and Senior programme, commented:

"This circuit differs from the tracks in Southern Europe in that it has a much smoother surface, but we think the team adapted very well. There were frequent incidents in the early laps and, without that, we believe that both Wolfe and Ivannikov had every chance of aiming for the podium. In any case, we are leaving with a lot of valuable data to prepare for the final round of the European Championship next weekend."

Birelart Racing will be back on track this weekend in Rødby for the FIA Karting European Championship final in the OK and OK-Junior categories.

About Birelart

Birelart is an Italian manufacturer of kart chassis that combines long experience and a keen sense of innovation with a boundless passion for motor sport.

Founded in 1959 by Umberto Sala, whose precise nickname was Birel, the company has played a pioneering role in the development of karting around the world since its very beginnings. The demand for quality has always been part of the DNA of the Lissone-based brand through its quest for success in competition. Over more than 60 years, Birelart has won 26 world titles, countless European titles and numerous national championships.

Birel has accompanied the careers of many great racing drivers, including Riccardo Patrese, Keke Rosberg, Stefano Modena and Emanuele Pirro, as well as the more recent Formula 1 stars Mika Hakkinen and Juan Pablo Montoya, Robert Kubica, Jenson Button and George Russell. Robert Kubica, Daniel Ricciardo and more recently Charles Leclerc have called on Birelart's expertise to launch their own chassis ranges.

Three generations have succeeded one another at the helm of Birel. Today, Ronni Sala, the founder's grandson, presides over Birel's destiny. In 2014, he ushered in a new era by joining forces with ART Grand Prix, a famous team on the single-seater scene, thanks to its association with Nicolas Todt and his partners. Birelart was born.

Ronni has contributed to the creation of an ambitious new project that will be at the forefront of the karting industry, thanks to original sporting, marketing and communication initiatives that will benefit the brand, the dealer network and, of course, Birelart's customers.

Birelart has built on its prestigious heritage to enter the 21st century and make full use of technology in terms of R&D, production, logistics and communication. Its area of expertise, based on high-level competition, has been extended to include production quality control for a large number of competitors around the world, as well as the leisure sector with its Rental range with both internal combustion and electric engines. The factory at its original site in Lissone, near Monza and within easy reach of Milan, has undergone constant modernisation.

Birelart's high level of expertise, with its well-balanced blend of tradition and innovation, is reflected in the results it has achieved in racing, offering fans around the world the opportunity to become real drivers or to have fun and experience the thrill of adrenaline on the track.