A big first for Mülsen in a decisive FIA Karting event
Located near the major German cities of Dresden and Leipzig, the Motorsport Arena-E circuit in Mülsen will host an FIA Karting event for the first time in its history from 17th to 20th July 2025. This complex in the Saxony region, opened in 2019, is set to award the Mondokart.com European Champion titles in KZ and KZ2. The second of three FIA Karting Academy Trophy - Junior competitions will round off the programme.
The Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship for KZ and KZ2 includes three events this season. It began in Valencia, Spain, and continued in Sarno, Italy. This final stage will be decisive, as all points scored by the drivers will be counted when determining the final classification. Several rounds of the German Championship have already taken place in the past on the 1,315-metre track in Mülsen, which has proven to be particularly suitable for gearbox categories.
The FIA Karting Academy Trophy - Junior also consists of three rounds, but we will have to wait until the Italian competition in Cremona in September to see how it ends. A total of 161 drivers from around 50 countries are expected by the organisers at the Arena-E in Mülsen, under the national authority of the DMSB (Deutscher Motor Sport Bund E.V.).
Following a recent decision by the FIA, LeCont will now supply "prime" tyres to the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship in KZ and KZ2. The Italian manufacturer will also distribute tyres to drivers in the Academy Trophy - Junior, but in an "option" version.
KZ: Advantage Pedro Hiltbrand
Crowned FIA Karting World and European Champion - OK in 2016 and winner of numerous major international events in his career, Pedro Hiltbrand has yet to add any major KZ titles to his impressive high-level career. After his victories in Valencia and Sarno, the Spaniard is close to achieving his European goal. Mathematically, three drivers can still stand in Hiltbrand's way, but all eyes will be on Mattéo Spirgel and Giuseppe Palomba. The young Frenchman became European KZ2 Champion in 2024 and has already shown that he is ready to win at the highest level. The Italian Palomba is the reigning World Champion in the category and has extensive experience at this level. Many will be looking to finish on a high note, starting with the Italian Cristian Bertuca, who has not given up hope of a podium finish in the Championship.
2025 FIA Karting European Championship - KZ standings before Mülsen*
1- Hiltbrand, Pedro (ESP - Birelart / TM Kart) 195 pts
2- Spirgel, Matteo (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart) 148 pts
3- Palomba, Giuseppe (ITA - Maranello / TM Kart) 138 pts
4- Bertuca, Cristian (ITA - Birelart / TM Kart) 105 pts
5- Trefilov, David (GER - IPK / TM Kart) 92 pts
6- Nomblot, Jean (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart) 84 pts
*The provisional championship standings remain suspended due to the appeal lodged by Trefilov's entrant in Valencia (the first competition of the championship).
KZ2: A significant lead for Orlov to manage
Maksim Orlov achieved the feat of scoring 201 points out of a possible 202 in the first two competitions in Valencia and Sarno. Only the point for the fastest lap eluded him in the Spanish Final. With a 75-point lead over his closest rival, Estonian Markus Kajak, Orlov can afford to control his opponents without losing focus and getting too carried away with thoughts of the Championship. In addition to Kajak, who finished second in Italy, three other drivers have also made it onto the podium this season: Tigran Bunatyan, Maximilian Schleimer (GER) and Samuele Leopardi (ITA). They hope to finish in the top three of this Championship, which currently includes Kasper Schormans (NED). Schleimer will be part of a large German delegation comprising 23 drivers out of the 86 registered in the KZ2 category.
2025 FIA Karting European Championship - KZ2 standings before Mülsen
1- Orlov, Maksim (Sodi / TM Racing) 201 pts
2- Kajak, Markus (EST - IPK / TM Kart) 126 pts
3- Schormans, Kasper (NED - Sodi / TM Kart) 105 pts
4- Bunatyan, Tigran (IPK / TM Kart) 82 pts
5- Rousseau, Corentin (FRA - Birelart / TM Kart) 78 pts
6- Schleimer, Maximilian (GER - Sodi / TM Kart) 73 pts
Junior Academy: Le Marchand arrives in Germany as leader
In May in Valencia, the Exprit / Vortex karts supplied by the OTK group gave 49 young drivers the opportunity to prove themselves in a fair sporting environment according to the "arrive and drive" principle. In Spain, after Mexican Luis Fer Nunez took pole position, Colombian Julian Rivera Salas took the lead in the standings at the end of the Qualifying Heats ahead of Sweden's Erik Poulsen. In the end, it was France's Maël Le Marchand, who started third, who made the difference in the Final by resisting pressure from Lithuania's Nojus Stasionis. The 2025 edition of the Trophy therefore looks very open, and the characteristics of the Mülsen track, which are very different from those of Valencia, could allow new drivers to shine. Germany's Emilio Bernd, seventh in Spain and local to the circuit, will be one to watch, as will South Africa's Emma Rose Dowling, selected by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.
2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy - Junior standings before Mülsen
1- Le Marchand, Maël (FRA) 69 pts
2- Stasionis, Nojus (LTU) 60 pts
3- Poulsen, Erik (SWE) 60 pts
4- Rivera Salas, Julian (ECU) 59 pts
5- Rodriguez Fuente, Hernan (ESP) 37 pts
6- Jercan, Tudor Ioan (ROU) 37 pts
Provisional schedule
Thursday 17th July
Sporting and technical checks, private testing sessions
Friday 18th July
09:00 - 15:55 Free Practice
16:00 - 17:21 Qualifying
Saturday 19th July
08:45 - 09:58 Warm-up
10:05 - 18:30 Qualifying Heats
Sunday 20th July
09:45 - 10:45 Warm-up
10:55 - 11:30 Conclusion of Academy - Junior Qualifying Heats
11:35 - 12:45 KZ / KZ2 Super Heats
13:45 - 16:40 Finals and podiums
From 17th to 20th July 2025, the Mülsen event (entrants, schedules, information, results and live coverage) can be followed on the fiakarting.com.