SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS – Sticking to a simple no-risk plan, Benjamin Foucart extended his lead in the GK4 Kart Series with a strong second place on Saturday. The seventeen-year-old driver from Braine-le-Château finished second in the IAME X30 Senior National class during the third round of the championship.
“We secured pole for the final and managed to compete for victory. I think we pulled it off pretty well”, said a proud Benjamin. “I’d already won the first two rounds of the GK4, so the plan this weekend was simple: no risk, just bring the points home and keep the lead in the championship.”
That cautious plan was tested by the conditions, with lightning and heavy rain battering the Ardennes. “Because of the weather, there was no qualifying — it was a lottery — so it was pretty hard”, Benjamin explained. “The weather was unpredictable, so everything combined made for a real challenge. I was a bit worried, especially having to start from P15 in the second heat, but we confirmed that we’re on the pace.”
Despite the lottery, the heats went his way. “I got lucky in the first heat: I started fourth and finished second”, said Benjamin. “For the second heat, I started fifteenth, way at the back, and I made my way up to fifth.”
In the final, his plan came together. “I started from pole and finished second. You always want to win, and I should have overtaken, but it is what it is”, said Benjamin. “We still scored really good points. I think I extended my championship lead a bit.”
Doing all of that on an unfamiliar circuit made it even harder. “It was my first time on this track. I live in French-speaking Belgium, and I’d only ever driven at Genk and Mariembourg before, never at Spa”, he said. “The track is pretty narrow, which makes racing here even more difficult, but it’s a really fun track, a great experience in both wet and dry conditions.”
Benjamin’s result caps a remarkable personal story. “I started in 2022 with a birthday gift, a karting session. My cousin was racing in rental karts and offered me a session, and as soon as I got out, I told my dad: This is what I want to do”, he said.
From there, things moved fast, with one interruption. “In 2023, I began racing GK4 and the IAME Series Benelux in the Junior category, until I had to stop in 2025 because I didn’t have the budget for it anymore. So this is my first year back at the track after the break. In fact, this is only the eleventh race of my whole karting life.”
That history makes his current lead all the more meaningful. “I’ve never finished an entire championship before, so this year the goal is to do that and finish as high as possible, and with this start to the season, I hope to win it”, said Benjamin. “The budget is tight, but we’ve proved we can win even on a limited budget, and that makes me really happy.”
Benjamin’s next outing comes in July at the Mariembourg circuit, for the fourth round of the GK4 Kart Series. “A track I know well. It’s where I started racing rental karts back in 2022”, he said. “I like it a lot: it’s fast, with a lot of variety in the corners. Everything just works there!”
Benjamin Foucart would like to thank his father for everything from the very start — as his mechanic, and the one behind the funding and support — his mother for always being there, and his team SRS.
Benjamin is actively looking for sponsors. Interested parties can get in touch via Instagram or by email at benjaminfoucart65@gmail.com.
Benjamin Foucart is supported in his racing activities by D&Co R-M.