On 23rd September at Kristianstad in Sweden, Marcus Amand really made his mark on the international scene by finishing just shy of the top 5 at the wheel of his KR/Parilla in the most important race of the season. The directors of French karting took notice of this performance. Marcus who is studying and training in the FFSA Academy, the Federation’s training centre at Le Mans, was officially elected a top-level athlete by the French Ministry of Sports.

What does this mark of recognition really mean? The registrations are made on proposal of the sporting federations involved according to performance criteria validated by the Ministry’s top level sports commission. Marcus was registered in the Senior category, a designation that doesn’t necessarily correspond to a pre-determined age group. It’s worth remembering that this former French champion is only 12 years old!

A quick look at the French Ministry of Sports web site tells you that the Senior category concerns the “sports person who has achieved a significant performance at the Olympic Games, in World and European Championships…or scored an outstanding result either individually or as a member of a French team…”

Non-Olympic sports such as motor racing “can also enhance the image of France” and thus be recognised as fulfilling top level criteria. For this they must have a universal character; namely, a considerable number of nations taking part in benchmark world championships so that it is both logical and natural to take the sporting result into account.” With 113 drivers entered representing 26 nationalities and six continents the CIK FIA Junior World Championship fitted this definition perfectly.

To be competitive in today’s world of kart racing it’s necessary to take part in many major events. After the World Championship the best Junior drivers competed in the WSK Final Cup, an international series in Italy. At Lonato, Marcus won a heat and then his prefinal but met with less success in the final. But he had laid down a marker. Three weeks later in Castelletto he again won his pre-final and this time he transformed his pole position on the grid into a stunning victory against very tough opposition. He is currently lying second in the championship, hot on the heels of the leader before the final round in Adria. But he won’t be going to Venetia as on 25-26 November the Franco-Finnish will already be at the International Paladino circuit in the east of Brazil!

He will be aiming for his second victory in the Rotax Grand Final at Conde-Paraiba after clinching his first last year in Portugal! Rendezvous in South America between 24th November and 1st December.