[Translated with ChatGPT]

The Italian driver inaugurates the Academy Senior with a victory and first place in the championship

Riccardo Ferrari claimed the first victory in the FIA Karting Trophy in Portugal during the OK and OKJ European Championship event, which also marked the start of the new Academy Senior for the first of three rounds in 2025. It was a hard-fought success, coming at the end of a very difficult race due to the rain that had made the asphalt of the Portimão circuit particularly slippery just before the Final. However, Riccardo Ferrari emerged as one of the main protagonists of the event, securing a sensational result representing Italy.

The Academy Senior race saw the participation of 36 drivers, all on Exprit-Vortex technical packages supplied by OTK Kart Group with Maxxis tyres, each representing their own country as is customary in the FIA Karting Trophy, which this year saw the debut of the Senior class in addition to the traditional Junior, which will start on May 18 in Spain in Valencia. The next round of the Senior will take place in Viterbo on June 8.

Riccardo Ferrari’s success
Riccardo Ferrari started well with the eighth fastest time in qualifying, 0.789 from pole position, and then moved up to third at the end of the 3 heats. The Final was highly contested, with several position changes from the start, and ended in a sprint finish with Ferrari in fourth place. However, he was promoted to second due to 5-second penalties given to Colombian Amador Martinez Saenz and Japanese driver Yuzuki Sato. But the final twist came after the podium ceremony, when Dutch driver Devon Hagelen, initially declared the winner, was disqualified. The victory thus went to Riccardo Ferrari, with Martinez second and Sato third.

Riccardo Ferrari’s comment at the end of the Final: “It was the most challenging race of the weekend. The situation was really tough because the track was still a bit wet. We ran with slick tyres, but we made the right choice. In the end, a great result came. I’ll try to always do my best in the next rounds.”

Raffaele Giammaria’s congratulations, President of the ACI Sport Karting Commission: “My congratulations and those of ACI Sport for this success in the new Senior class introduced by the FIA, with an Italian driver, Riccardo Ferrari, as protagonist, who has already shown in the past that he is one of the key drivers in the various races he has taken part in. It’s a great result that bodes well, especially looking ahead to the Italian round in Viterbo.”

Academy Senior Portimão:

1. Riccardo Ferrari (ITA) 20 laps
2. Amador Martinez Saenz (COL) +4.139
3. Yuzuki Sato (JPN) +4.779

Academy Senior standings after round one:

1. Riccardo Ferrari (ITA) 69 points
2. Yuzuki Sato (JPN) 63 points
3. Niklas Vejen (DEN) 51 points
4. Amador Martinez Saenz (COL) 50 points
5. Mio Olert (SWE) 34 points

Academy Senior Calendar
May 4: Portimão (POR)
June 8: Viterbo (ITA)
August 3: Rodby (DEN)

Academy Junior Calendar
May 18: Valencia (ESP)
July 20: Mulsen (GER)
September 28: Cremona (ITA)

Results of the second round of the OK and OKJ European Championship:
At Portimão, round two of the European Championship, in OK, the winner was Spanish driver Christian Costoya (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart), ahead of British driver Noah Wolfe (VAR by Birel/Birel Art-TM Kart) and Scottish driver Zac Drummond (Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame).

In OKJ, the winner was Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn (Prema Racing/KR-Iame), ahead of his teammate, British driver Noah Baglin, and Canadian Ilie Crisan (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex).

Among the Italians, in OK the best result came from Filippo Sala (Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart) in 13th place. In OKJ, Brazilian with Italian license Antonio Pizzonia (Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame) finished seventh, and Ludovico Mazzola (Birel Art Racing/Birel Art-TM Kart) came 14th.

OK European Championship after two rounds (Campillos, Portimão):

1. Christian Costoya (ESP - Parolin / TM Kart / Maxxis) 144 points
2. James Anagnostiadis (AUS - KR / IAME / Maxxis) 121 points
3. Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL - KR / IAME / Maxxis) 115 points
4. Zac Drummond (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis) 102 points
5. Dries Van Langendonck (BEL - KR / IAME / Maxxis) 100 points

OKJ European Championship after two rounds (Campillos, Portimão):

1. Noah Baglin (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis) 168 punti
2. Dean Hoogendoorn (NED - KR / IAME / Maxxis) 149 points
3. William Calleja (AUS - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis) 111 points
4. Henry Domain (GBR - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis) 102 points
5. Iskender Zulfikari (TUR - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis) 84 points

Info and standings: https://www.fiakarting.com/page/home

 Press Release © ACI Sport