After an exciting first round in Portugal, the second round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program held in Spain proved just as interesting and exciting to follow. The Valencia circuit promised plenty of action, and there was no shortage of it in the three Mini 60, OK-N Junior and OK-N Senior categories, on a track that benefited from dry conditions throughout the two days of racing. At the end of the first two meetings, promoter RGMMC can already boast nine different winners. The rest of the 2025 season promises to be even more intense over the next four rounds, where there are still a few places up for grabs to join this innovative racing programme for drivers to race with the same equipment on an equal footing.

Suspenseful Mini 60 races
On both Saturday and Sunday, the Finals ended in some incredible duels. It's also worth noting that some of the U10 drivers proved just as competitive as their elders. It all started with pole position for Niccolo Perico (ITA), but he then crashed out in a heat. Wynn Godschalk (USA) took 1st place on the grid in Final 1. After an incredible fight in the last corners, Godschalk was the first to cross the finish line. But after defending too hard, he was penalised and dropped to 16th! Vicente Capela (POR) took his first victory after overtaking Zayne Burgess (USA), winner in the U10 category, Niccolo Perico and Teo Pelfrene (POR), who rivalled the best at the start of the race.

The following day saw more of the same drivers at the front. Godschalk, who took pole position, secured a magnificent victory this time after an incredible Final head to head with Perico in the last chicane. Also a winner in the U10 class, the American was just one hundredth ahead of his Italian rival! Capela ended his excellent weekend in 3rd place ahead of Burgess, ranked 2nd in the U10 class.

In the overall standings, Perico increased his lead, Mattis Brageot (FRA) having had his worst performance at the Spanish meeting.

Overall standings after Valencia
1 Niccolo Perico (ITA) 249 pts
2 Wynn Godschalk (USA) 185 pts, 1st U10
3 Vicente Capela (POR) 148 pts
4 Zayne Burgess (USA) 132 pts, 2nd U10
5 Achilleas Peruzzi (UAE) 128 pts
6 Mattis Brageot (FRA) 121 pts
7 Teo Pelfrene (POR) 110 pts
8 Ava Lawrence (UAE) 107 pts
9 Lorenzo Zucchetto (SUI) 99 pts
10 Aaron Mason (UAE) 90 pts
13 Benjamin Karajkovic (UAE), 3rd U10
24 Bruno Miranda Pacheco (CHI), 4th U10
25 Samar Chopra (UAE), 5th U10
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Equipment: Parolin / TM Kart

OK-N Junior: 4 races already and 4 different winners!
Leonidas Peruzzi (UAE) was the strongest on the first day of competition in Valencia, taking pole position, the lead at the end of the heats and victory in the Final. Nothing was easy for him, however. Didier Kreeft (NED), who set the fastest lap of the race, put the pressure on the United Arab Emirates driver, before dropping back to 13th following a penalty for an incorrectly positioned front fairing. A solid Huifei Xie (CHN) took the second step of the podium. Many Nuvolini (FRA) had a tough time of it to claim 3rd place, which was coveted by the two female drivers Vanesa Silkunaite (LTU) and Victoria Farfus (BRA). Ranked 6th and 7th, Kacper Rajpold (POL) and Albert Tamm (SUI) made spectacular gains of 12 and 19 places respectively. An incident led to a crash for Egon Pedrotti (ITA) and the disqualification of Conor Clancy (UAE).

Clancy took his revenge on Sunday. The second Final of the event saw a thrilling end to the race. Peruzzi had managed to overtake the leader on the penultimate lap, but Clancy hit back in superb style with just a few bends to go! Nuvolini climbed onto the third step of the podium for the third time this season, but it was only by the narrowest of margins, with a pack of six drivers less than 5 tenths behind him, led by Victoria Farfus and Angelina Simons Torres (ESP). Poleman in the morning, Nojus Stasionis (LTU) had to make do with 7th position.

Thanks to his consistency, Nuvolini is in the lead of the series, but the positions are extremely tight with Peruzzi, Clancy, Stasionis and Rajpold just a few points behind.

General standings after Valencia
1 Many Nuvolini (FRA) 185 pts
2 Leonidas Peruzzi (UAE) 178 pts
3 Conor Clancy (UAE) 170 pts
4 Nojus Stasionis (LTU) 166 pts
5 Kacper Rajpold (POL) 163 pts
6 Vanesa Silkunaite (LTU) 136 pts
7 Huifei Xie (CHN) 115 pts
8 Albert Tamm (SUI) 110 pts
9 Victoria Farfus (BRA) 108 pts
10 Didier Kreeft (NED) 101 pts
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Equipment: KR / IAME

Who can stop Markas Silkunas in OK-N Senior?
Leader in Qualifying and at the end of the two heats, Markas Silkunas (LTU) started from pole position in Final 1 ahead of Chiara Battig (SUI) and Ella Hakkinen (MON), but the latter two lost precious places at the start. While Silkunas cruised to victory, Martim Barros Meneses (POR) quickly moved up from P9 to P2 after an excellent start to the race. Wojciech Woda (POL) caught up with the Portuguese driver, but was unable to overtake him. 4th place went to Klara Kowalczyk (POL).

On Sunday, William Marshall (RSA) took pole position and it was Chiara Battig who came out on top in the Qualifying Heats ahead of Markas Silkunas and Klara Kowalczyk. The two women got off to an attacking start in Final 2, taking the top two places in the opening laps. Faster over a lap, Silkunas then went on the attack and overtook his two rivals, before taking a 4th consecutive victory as well as achieving an excellent result in the overall standings. Behind the Lithuanian, several drivers found themselves in with a chance of a podium finish. Chiara Battig won her duel with Kowalczyk, who had to watch Meneses all the way. Ella Hakkinen overtook Oskar Galan (POL) for 5th place.

In both OK-N Senior and OK-N Junior, it is worth highlighting the brilliant performance of the women included in the "F1 Academy Discover Your Drive" selection process, with podium finishes and numerous performances in the Valencia finals.

General standings after Valencia
1 Markas Silkunas (LTU) 299 pts
2 Wojciech Woda (POL) 197 pts
3 Chiara Battig (SUI) 180 pts
4 Marlon Bayer (SUI) 141 pts
5 Martim Barros Meneses (POR) 139 pts
6 Gabi Santos Teixera (POR) 128 pts
7 Klara Kowalczyk (POL) 114 pts
8 Oskar Galan (POL) 108 pts
9 Ella Hakkinen (MON) 89 pts
10 Signe Pejs Ornboll (DEN) 82 pts
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Equipment: KR / IAME

 Press Release © RGMMC