The 2025 FIA Karting World Championship - OK and Junior will take place in Sweden from 11th to 14th September at the Åsum Ring in Kristianstad. The Swedish circuit is no stranger to major events, as this will be the fourth World Championship to take place on this track, which is particularly popular with racers. The field will be substantial, with 109 drivers expected in OK-Junior and 108 in OK. Forty-five nations from five continents will be represented.
The Kristianstad Kart Klubb is renowned for the quality of its organisation and the welcome it gives to competitors. The FIA Karting World Championship is a single event and generates incredible sporting intensity every year, with suspense and surprises to be expected. In south-east Sweden, on the Baltic Sea coast, the weather can change very quickly in September, which could add uncertainty to the final result.
The OK-Junior category is for young talent aged 12 to 14 who are learning their craft as drivers at international level. Open to drivers aged 14 and over, the OK category represents the pinnacle of direct-drive karting. It is often the final stepping stone before moving on to single-seaters. The competition is intense between young rookies and experienced drivers who want to continue in karting. Every year, both categories produce future motorsport champions.
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The recent stars of the FIA Karting European Championship will obviously be among the favourites in Kristianstad. Christian Costoya, who won the title in his first year in the category, is highly rated. The Spaniard will face those who gave him a hard time during his European campaign, such as James Anagnostiadis (AUS), Zac Drummond (GBR), Filippo Sala (ITA) and Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL). After crashing out in the rain on the last lap of the 2024 World Championship Final while leading the race, Joe Turney (GBR) will be hungry for revenge. World Champion in OK-Junior in 2024 and already on the podium in OK this season, Kenzo Craigie (GBR) has shown that he is ready to cause an upset, especially in the rain! On home soil and already 21 years old, Viktor Gustafsson (SWE) will be able to use his experience, while his compatriots Elliot Kaczynski and Oliver Kinmark have a good knowledge of the Åsum Ring. However, the emergence of new talent from Oceania, Africa, Asia or the Americas cannot be ruled out. Several female drivers will be worth keeping an eye on, such as Chiara Battig (SUI), Luna Fluxa Cross (ESP) and Ella Hakkinen (MON).
OK-Junior: A very open competition
There is no shortage of contenders for the top title in OK-Junior. The FIA Karting European Championship set the tone for this uncertain season. Four different drivers won the four races counting towards the Championship and a total of 10 drivers managed to finish in the top five at least once. Nevertheless, the names Dean Hoogendoorn (NED), Noah Baglin (GBR), William Calleja (AUS), Ilie Crisan (CAN) and Luka Scelles (FRA) come up repeatedly when it comes to naming the favourites. Baglin led the FIA Karting World Championship Final for a long time in 2024 before being overtaken just before the finish line by Kenzo Craigie and ending up off the track after trying to defend. With 109 drivers on the grid, it will be important to have the best possible Qualifying session to avoid finding yourself in a difficult situation when it comes to the numerous Qualifying Heats.
Prema Racing leads the team championships
Two team titles will be awarded in Kristianstad. The points scored in this World Championship event will be added to those already earned in the four European rounds. In OK-Junior, the battle for first place will be between Prema Racing (ITA) with 561 points and Forza Racing (GBR) with 499. VictoryLane (FRA) will try to hold on to third place, particularly against Tony Kart Racing Team (ITA) and Ricky Flynn Motorsport (GBR). In OK, four teams still have a chance of winning: Prema Racing (ITA) with 382 points, KR Motorsport (ITA) with 310, Forza Racing (GBR) with 281 and Parolin Motorsport (ITA) with 268.
The FIA and Kristianstad welcome Esports
A rapidly growing discipline, Esports will be present for the very first time at an FIA Karting event, reflecting the FIA's commitment to broadening access to motorsport and forging links with new communities around the world. Organised by the Swedish ASN (Svenska Bilsportförbundet) during the World Championship in Kristianstad, this event will help to build new bridges between on-screen competition and on-track competition.
Open to anyone aged 14 and over with an international licence, the virtual competition will use the iRacing game. In line with the ambitions of most young karting drivers, the FIA F4 category has been chosen for the competition. Twelve racing simulators will be set up throughout the weekend of the event, so that all visitors and spectators tempted by an Esports experience can try out the simulators for free.
From 11th to 14th September 2025, the Kristianstad event (competitors, schedules, information, results and live coverage) can be followed on the fiakarting.com.