Six titles, unforgettable battles: Viterbo delivers a spectacular IAME Warriors Final

Six champions, last-lap drama and fiercely contested podiums: the 2026 IAME Warriors Final delivered all the excitement that has made it a highlight of the international karting calendar. At Viterbo’s Leopard circuit, every category produced compelling racing, showcasing the performance and competitive spirit of IAME engines. Favourable weather ensured that all six Finals unfolded on a dry track, while IAME, RGMMC and the circuit team delivered an event worthy of the occasion. From Wednesday’s vibrant drivers’ presentation to Saturday’s decisive races, IWF26 lived up to its promise.

Belgium’s Bran Vanderveken claimed the X30 Senior title, with Britain’s George House victorious in X30 Junior. Italy’s Michael Paparo triumphed in S125 Senior, Algeria’s Roslan Sryer Aissa won S125 Junior, Argentina’s Franco Crivelli prevailed in X30 Master, and Britain’s Mayson Hibbert took the honours in X30 Mini.

X30 Senior: Vanderveken withstands the final charge

As ever in X30 Senior, the battle for supremacy remained wide open throughout the event. Qualifying, the Qualifying Heats and the two Super Heats produced several different leaders before Ruben Moya (ESP) secured pole position for the Final. He led at the end of the opening lap, but his rivals were already closing in. Bran Vanderveken (BEL) was the first to find a way past and quickly built an advantage, leaving Matéo Rivals (FRA) to lead the pursuit. In the closing stages, Rivals reeled in the Belgian, bringing Benjamin Westwood (MLT) and Toby Gale (THA) with him.

Under intense pressure, Vanderveken defended with precision to secure the title. Westwood snatched 2nd from Rivals in a final flourish, while Gale finished 4th ahead of Moya. Wednesday’s pole-sitter Jesse Saarinen (FIN) led the next group home in 6th, followed by fellow Finn Otto Pyykönen and Dan Allemann (SUI). For Manuel Scognamiglio (ITA), who had started 4th, the first-corner scramble proved costly.

X30 Senior

Fastest lap: Edgar Jorge (GBR) 53.624

X30 Junior: House seizes victory in a breathtaking finale

Christian Coby (IRL) set the initial benchmark with pole position, but the balance of power shifted repeatedly during the heats. Team-mates Niccolò Perico (ITA) and Oleksandr Legenkyi (ITA) eventually emerged as the leading contenders, finishing 1st and 2nd after the Qualifying Heats before each winning a Super Heat. The Final began dramatically, with Nuvola Morales Mendez (ESP), starting 3rd, running off the track. Priam Bruno (BEL) led the opening laps before Perico and Legenkyi restored their advantage, pursued by George House (GBR) and Téo Policand (FRA).

The decisive moment came on the final lap. After a prolonged duel, Legenkyi challenged Perico for the lead, but contact between the two opened the door for House. The Briton seized his opportunity with a stunning move past both karts. Perico retained 2nd, while Ludwig Granquist (SWE) and Policand also passed Legenkyi. A post-race penalty for Granquist settled the podium order: House was crowned champion ahead of Perico and Policand. Aaron Buhofer (SUI) completed an excellent recovery, gaining 11 places to finish 5th ahead of fellow Swiss drivers Rares Pascu and Aurelio Longhitano.

X30 Junior

Fastest lap: Niccolò Perico (ITA) 54.905

S125 Senior: Paparo takes the title after a tense duel

Alexis Genolet (SUI) entered the Final with a perfect record: pole position, five Qualifying Heat victories and another win in the Super Heat. He made an equally assured start to the decisive race, opening a lead of a few tenths over Michael Paparo (ITA). Paparo resisted pressure from behind as his pursuers fought amongst themselves, then turned his attention to the leader. For much of the race, Genolet appeared to have the gap under control, but Paparo drew closer as the finish approached. On lap 21 of 24, the Italian attempted to pull alongside. Genolet’s defensive move forced Paparo off the track, and although their positions remained unchanged at the chequered flag, a subsequent penalty for the Swiss driver handed Paparo the title.

The closely matched field provided another showcase for the S125 Senior engines, supplied by IAME and allocated by random draw, as in S125 Junior. The remaining podium positions were also fiercely contested. Sofia Povazhnaia (ITA) judged her race superbly to secure 2nd, while the experienced Matteo Zanchi (ITA) emerged from a tightly packed group to complete an all-Italian podium. Gauthier Sanjuan (SUI), Elvis Krasauskas (LTU) and Leopold Maier (SUI) followed close behind.

S125 Senior

Fastest lap: Gauthier Sanjuan (SUI) 53.121

S125 Junior: Sryer Aissa makes history for Algeria

Success at the IAME Warriors Final demands both speed and the ability to build momentum throughout the week. Roslan Sryer Aissa (ALG) demonstrated both qualities, progressing from 12th in Qualifying to 10th after the Qualifying Heats and 7th after the Super Heat. An excellent start to the Final put him amongst the leading contenders, including Alonso Gonzalez (DOM), Elia Nützi (SUI) and Leonidas Peruzzi (UAE). Mitansh Jain (UAE), who started 4th, was caught in an opening incident but recovered to finish 5th.

Another dramatic moment on lap 12 of 20 cost Peruzzi and Nützi valuable time. Sryer Aissa remained perfectly placed behind Gonzalez, then made his move with two laps remaining. He held firm under pressure to secure Algeria’s first IWF victory. Nützi resisted Peruzzi to complete the podium, while Zack Zhu (FRA), who had briefly led the race, ultimately finished 6th ahead of Evan Achard (FRA) and Dilan Roman Fricker (SUI).

S125 Junior

Fastest lap: Jain Mitansh (UAE) 54.234

X30 Master: Crivelli strikes with three corners remaining

Close competition and mutual respect defined the racing at the front of the 30+ category. Franco Crivelli (ARG) claimed pole position, won three of the five Qualifying Heats and added victory in the Super Heat. Yet Lucca Croce (BRA), winner of the other two heats, John Norris (IRL), Gary Edwards (IRL) and Jari Malila (FIN) all remained firmly in contention. The Final delivered the anticipated showdown. Norris passed Crivelli and Croce in the opening stages, then broke away with the Argentine as the chasing pack disputed the final podium place.

Victory was decided on the last lap. With just three corners remaining, Crivelli spotted a gap in Norris’s defence and made the decisive move to claim the IWF title. Behind them, Croce eventually shook off Edwards to secure 3rd. Antti Ollikainen (FIN) finished strongly in 5th, followed by Thierry Delré (BEL), who narrowly held off Toni Vilander (FIN).

X30 Master

Fastest lap: Crivelli Franco (ARG) 54.296

X30 Mini: Hibbert times his winning move to perfection

The youngest competitors delivered some of the event’s most captivating racing, with positions changing constantly from the opening Qualifying Heat to the closing stages of the Final. Nahyl El Gahoudi (MAR) took pole position in Qualifying, Zayne Burgess (USA) led the standings after the Qualifying Heats, and Bodhi Batch (GBR) secured the front spot on the Final grid after the Super Heats. With as many as five drivers in contention for victory, the decisive race remained wide open. Mayson Hibbert (GBR) chose his moment perfectly in the closing laps, taking the lead as the battle intensified behind him and building the advantage he needed to secure the title.

El Gahoudi narrowly passed Burgess for 2nd, but a post-race penalty returned the American to that position. Dimitar Uzunov (GBR) was rewarded for a superb comeback with the final podium place. Leo Devahive Garcia (ESP), still running 2nd with three laps remaining, lost ground in the closing exchanges and finished 6th behind Batch and Theo Steindal (NOR). For Batch, the podium remained frustratingly close after a fiercely contested Final.

X30 Mini

Fastest lap: Davidson Alfie (GBR) 1:01.002

Find the full results at www.iame-motorsport.com.