The Kristianstad circuit crowned two promising young motorsport talents at the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - OK & Junior. No stranger to the podium at major international events, Belgium's Thibaut Ramaekers claimed the top spot this afternoon. A year after losing the title on the last lap, Britain's Noah Baglin bounced back in OK-Junior, dominating his rivals at the decisive moment of the competition.
On Sunday, the weather preoccupied the drivers and teams. In the morning, the Super Heats saw changing conditions, leading to a few twists and turns with the occasional use of rain tyres, as well as the use of slicks on a tricky track. While some favourites dropped back, other drivers took advantage to gain a few places on the starting grid for the Final. In OK, James Anagnostiadis (AUS) remained in the lead before the big showdown thanks to his victory in Super Heat A, while Super Heat B went to Lev Krutoholov (UKR). In OK-Junior, the top two from the Qualifying Heats confirmed their positions, with Noah Baglin (GBR) winning Super Heat A and Dean Hoogendoorn (NED) winning Super Heat B. Finally, the skies cleared and the two Finals were able to take place with Maxxis slick tyres, in the "option" version in OK-Junior and "prime" in OK, with temperatures of around 18°C.
FIA Karting President Akbar Ebrahim and Vice-President John Ryan were in attendance at the Åsum Ring, where the Kristianstad Karting Klubb provided high-quality organisation. Broadcast via live streaming, the event thrilled a large international audience.
OK: Thibaut Ramaekers Crowned Champion
Starting from pole position in the Final, James Anagnostiadis (AUS) did not hold onto his lead for long, quickly being overtaken by Zac Drummond (GBR). The leading group remained compact, with Daniel Kelleher (IRL) and Lev Krutoholov (UKR) lying in wait. Close behind, Joe Turney (GBR) and Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) launched their attack. As Anagnostiadis lost valuable places, Drummond found himself under pressure. At the end of the first third of the race, Turney and Ramaekers found an opening. A magnificent head-to-head battle ensued between the two drivers, demonstrating experience (Turney is 24) versus the next generation (Ramaekers is 15)! Slightly faster, the Belgian got the better of the Briton to clinch the coveted FIA Karting World Championship title, finishing seven tenths ahead of his rival at the chequered flag.
Behind them, Krutoholov won the duel for third place on the podium against Anagnostiadis. Ranked 57th in Qualifying and 14th on the grid for the Final, 2024 OK-Junior World Champion Kenzo Craigie (GBR) climbed up to fifth place ahead of Drummond. Aston Sharp (GBR) made the most progress in the Final, gaining 22 places to finish eighth behind Zac Green (GBR). Kelleher had a difficult end to the race, while Thomas Pradier (FRA) and Noah Wolfe (GBR) did not achieve the success they had hoped for. Although he set the fastest lap, 2025 European Champion Christian Costoya (ESP) had too many mishaps during the competition to hope for a podium finish. Oliver Kinnmark was the best Swedish driver in 17th place.
Top 12 in the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - OK
1- Ramaekers, Thibaut (BEL - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
2- Turney, Joe (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
3- Krutoholov, Lev (UKR - Energy / IAME / Maxxis)
4- Anagnostiadis, James (AUS - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
5- Craigie, Kenzo (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
6- Drummond, Zac (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
7- Green, Zac (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
8- Sharp, Aston (GBR - Birelart / TM Kart / Maxxis)
9- Burnett, Jensen (CAN - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis)
10- Sala, Filippo (ITA - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis)
11- Martinese, Iacopo (ITA - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
12- Stiller, Peter (ITA - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
OK-Junior: Noah Baglin leads from start to finish
With a perfect start and a particularly fast first lap that quickly gave him a lead of more than a second, Noah Baglin left his rivals to battle it out among themselves during the Final. He had a flawless race, triumphing at the end of the 21 laps with a lead of more than four seconds! Evan Purcell (GBR) tried to hold back the chasing pack, but then fell down the rankings. The title of Vice-World Champion was contested between Valerio Viapana (ITA), Dean Hoogendoorn (NED), who took pole position in qualifying, and the revelation Leonardo Gorski (POL). Viapana made the difference at the halfway point, before holding off Hoogendoorn to the finish, while Gorski had fallen behind.
Ilie Crisan (CAN) was hoping to play a more important role, starting from third place, before getting boxed in at the start. He bravely moved up to fifth place ahead of Gianmatteo Rousseau (PAN), who made a brilliant comeback from ninth on the grid. Behind Will Green (GBR), who finished seventh, Manuel Miguez (ESP) also made an impressive comeback, moving up 18 places. Henri-Constant Kumpen (BEL), a well-known name in motorsport, made it into the top 10, as did Luka Scelles (FRA), who finished with a fastest lap faster than all the drivers ahead of him! Only his compatriot Matéo Rivals was faster. Turner Brown (USA) was clearly the unluckiest driver.
Top 12 in the FIA Karting World Championship Mondokart.com - OK-Junior
1- Baglin, Noah (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
2- Viapiana, Valerio (ITA - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
3- Hoogendoorn, Dean (NED - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
4- Gorski, Leonardo (POL - Henza Kart / IAME / Maxxis)
5- Crisan, Ilie (CAN - Tony Kart / Vortex / Maxxis)
6- Rousseau, Gianmatteo (PAN - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis)
7- Green, Will (GBR - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
8- Miguez, Manuel (ESP - CRG / IAME / Maxxis)
9- Kumpen, Henri-Constant (BEL - Tony Kart / Vortex / Maxxis)
10- Scelles, Luka (FRA - KR / IAME / Maxxis)
11- Walle, Oskari (FIN - Parolin / TM Kart / Maxxis)
12- Manach, Benjamin (ESP - Exprit / TM Kart / Maxxis)
Find the complete results of the Kristianstad event on www.fiakarting.com and follow the evolution of the International Karting Ranking (IKR) after the Swedish event.
The next event will be held in Italy at the Cremona circuit from September 25th to 28th, 2025, for the FIA Karting World Cup - OK-N and ON-N Junior, as well as for the third and final competition of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy - Junior.