In the United Arab Emirates, numerous drivers took part in the fifth and penultimate round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program, confirming the success of the series and its "arrive and drive" concept. The objective of complete sporting fairness was once again achieved, allowing drivers to make their mark in a high-level competition, organised with rigour and professionalism by RGMMC.

As was already the case in 2024, the Al Ain Raceway International Kart circuit produced races of rare intensity, with nail-biting suspense that lasted until the last lap of the Finals. No fewer than 15 drivers ascended the podium in the Abu Dhabi sun. Markas Silkunas (LTU) in OK-N Senior, Conor Clancy (UAE) in OK-N Junior, Niccolo Perico (ITA) in Mini 60 and Wynn Godschalk (USA) will arrive in Al Forsan as leaders, where the final round of the series will be held from 1st to 3rd December 2025.

Mini: Perico and Godschalk winners

After competing in an Italian event on Sunday, Niccolo Perico (ITA) quickly acclimatised to the climate of the United Arab Emirates and the time difference, as two days later he dominated the first day of competition: pole position, victory in both Qualifying Heats and in Final 1 with a large lead and the fastest lap in the race. Behind him, the positions changed with every lap. Already having made some brilliant comebacks in the heats after a disappointing Qualifying session, U10 driver Wynn Godschalk (USA) narrowly won his duel with Baptiste Augustin (FRA) and Mayson Hibbert (GBR) to take the highly coveted 2nd place. Hibbert was penalised with a five-second penalty, allowing Atiqa Mir (IND) to move up to 4th place. Starting from the front row, Ava Lawrence (UAE) did not achieve the success she had hoped for.

The brilliance of the U10 drivers was confirmed the following day. Three of them finished in the top three places in Qualifying: Godschalk ahead of Josh Bergman (USA), who was making his debut in the series in Abu Dhabi, and Francesco Lisignoli (UAE). Godschalk won Race 1 ahead of Lisignoli, then Bergman won the next race. Niccolo Perico joined the battle between these young drivers in Final 2, before losing ground shortly after the halfway point. In the end, Godschalk defended perfectly against pressure from Lisignoli and had the last word at the chequered flag. 6th in Final 1, Achilleas Peruzzi had the satisfaction of climbing onto the third step of the podium after overtaking Bergman with two laps to go. Ranked 5th, Perico remains a solid leader in the Mini 60 overall standings. The final round at Al Forsan promises to be decisive in the U10 category between the two Americans, Wynn Godschalk and Zayne Burgess, who have exactly the same number of points!

Overall standings after Al Ain
1 Niccolo Perico (ITA) 501 pts
2 Wynn Godschalk (USA) 452 pts, 1st U10
3 Zayne Burgess (USA) 394 pts, 2nd U10
4 Achilleas Peruzzi (UAE) 297 pts
5 Mattis Brageot (FRA) 280 pts
6 Lorenzo Zucchetto (SUI) 271 pts
7 Teo Pelfrene (POR) 258 pts
8 Vicente Capela (POR) 251 pts
9 Ava Lawrence (UAE) 226 pts
10 Jan Gardzielik (POL) 194 pts

3rd U10: Samar Chopra (UAE)
4th U10: Ronald Venter (RSA)
5th U10: Benjamin Karajkovic (UAE)

Equipment: Parolin / TM Kart

OK-N Junior: Strong performance from Connor Clancy

In a very lively leading pack, Conor Clancy (UAE) proved to be the strongest over the two days of racing. He may have conceded pole position to Leonidas Peruzzi (UAE) on Tuesday and Nathan Kappen (UAE) on Wednesday, but he won all the Qualifying Heats, finished P3 in Final 1, and then went on to win Final 2. This brilliant performance allowed him to take over from Many Nuvolini (FRA) at the top of the series, as the latter was unable to perform as expected in Al Ain, finishing P9 and then P10 in the two Finals.

In Final 1, Angelina Simons Torres (ESP) took the chequered flag ahead of Didier Kreeft (NED), Arhaan Koreishi (IND) and Axel Nocom (PHI). However, Simons Torres and Nocom were penalised by the stewards, while Kreeft also dropped down the rankings due to an incorrect front fairing position. Koreishi, the seventh different winner of the season, took the win ahead of Huifei Xie (ITA) and Clancy, who narrowly beat Victoria Farfus (BRA) on the final lap. Julia Angelard (POL) completed the top five.

In Final 2, Koreishi led for a long time ahead of Clancy and Kappen. Clancy took a chance a few corners from the finish and was successful. Kappen took advantage of this to slip into his slipstream and take 2nd place. Koreishi lost time in this battle and was overtaken by Mitansh Jain (IND) by just 8 thousandths of a second! However, he regained 3rd place after a sporting decision ahead of Simons Torres and Albert Tamm (SUI).
 

Overall standings after Al Ain
1 Conor Clancy (UAE) 464 pts
2 Many Nuvolini (FRA) 425 pts
3 Angelina Simons Torres (ESP) 306 pts
4 Didier Kreeft (NED) 272 pts
5 Victoria Farfus (BRA) 257 pts
6 Huifei Xie (CHN) 243 pts
7 Nathan Kappen (UAE) 239 pts
8 Kacper Rajpold (POL) 231 pts
9 Leonidas Peruzzi (UAE) 218 pts
10 Nojus Stasionis (LTU) 211 pts

Equipment: KR / IAME

OK-N Senior: Silkunas wins then loses by 1 thousandth!

As in the other categories, the OK-N Senior class produced some thrilling races. The competition began with Chiara Battig (SUI) on pole position, who went on to win Heat 1 ahead of Kacper Rajpold (POL). In Heat 2, Markas Silkunas (LTU) fought back to beat Oskar Galan (POL). These drivers were logically neck and neck in Final 1, which saw Silkunas take the lead over Galan and Battig. Wojciech Woda (POL) moved up from 11th to 4th place ahead of a trio consisting of Vanesa Silkunaite (LTU), Rajpold and Diniiar Islamov.

Silkunas started Wednesday at a fast pace, taking pole position and winning both heats. Two drivers then gave him a hard time in Final 2: Islamov at the start of the race, then Woda in the final laps. Rayan Koreishi (IND) joined in this superb battle. In the end, a collision eliminated Islamov and Koreishi on the final lap, while Woda attempted to overtake Silkunas. Silkunas fought back, but Woda managed to hold on to first place by the smallest of margins: 1 thousandth of a second! Galan secured his second consecutive podium finish ahead of Rajpold, Radek Vavra (CZE) and Ta Alekseeva. In the overall standings, Silkunas further increased his lead ahead of the final round at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort circuit.

Overall standings after Al-Ain
1 Markas Silkunas (LTU) 627 pts
2 Wojciech Woda (POL) 449 pts
3 Chiara Battig (SUI) 445 pts
4 Oskar Galan (POL) 319 pts
5 Klara Kowalczyk (POL) 292 pts
6 Ella Hakkinen (MON) 287 pts
7 Marlon Bayer (SUI) 238 pts
8 Kacper Rajpold (POL) 222 pts
9 Guido Bruno Bidoli (NAM) 164 pts
10 Signe Pejs Ornboll (NOR) 147 pts

Equipment: KR / IAME

6th and final round: 1-3 December, Al Forsan – UAE