Starting in Valencia in May, the Champions of the Future Shifters ended on a high note at the magnificent Franciacorta circuit from 1st to 4th October. Drivers in the KZ, KZ2 and KZ2 Masters categories were able to enjoy the high-quality organisation from the RGMMC group. A great sporting success with a field of more than 200 drivers and exciting races, the event attracted a large audience on social media, as well as through live timing and live streaming. Spain's Pedro Hiltbrand won the KZ Final, but it was Dutchman Senna Van Walstijn who took the overall title. Maksim Orlov scored a double victory by winning both races in KZ2, while the Italian Angelo Lombardo dominated the KZ2 Masters category.
KZ: Hiltbrand and Van Walstijn the heroes of the day
The event got off to a perfect start for Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport) with pole position, but the Italian then had to let other drivers take centre stage... Giuseppe Palomba (Maranello Kart), Mattéo Spirgel (CPB Sport) and Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport) shared the three heats before Van Walstijn went on to win the Super Heat ahead of Pedro Hiltbrand (Birelart Racing). In the intermediate classification, Palomba took the lead before the Final, but was immediately overtaken by Hiltbrand after a few corners. A magnificent duel then began between Hiltbrand, Palomba and Van Walstijn, with David Trefilov lying in wait (Formula K SRP Factory Team).
As the laps went by, Senna Van Walstijn proved to be the fastest, confirming this with the best lap of the race. He overtook Palomba and then Hiltbrand to cross the finish line 1st after 24 laps. However, he was given a five-second penalty, leaving the victory to Hiltbrand. Behind them, Trefilov collided with Palomba while trying to secure his place on the podium and was also penalised. Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport), who had won his duel with Daniel Vasile (CL Racing Team) and then defended against Albanese's comeback, had the satisfaction of taking 3rd place. Jean Nomblot (CPB Sport) and Viktor Gustafsson (CRG Racing Team), who finished 6th and 7th respectively, also showed strong potential at Franciacorta. The list of retirements grew as the laps went by, including names such as Renaudin, Spirgel, Lorandi, Camplese, Pex, Ippolito and Denner.
Although he did not win this Final, Van Walstijn consoled himself with the 2025 Champions of the Future Shifters title ahead of France's Jean Nomblot and Italy's Giuseppe Palomba, who saved 3rd place by a few points ahead of Spirgel and Hiltbrand.
KZ Final classification
1 Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
2 Senna Van Walstijn (NED) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
3 Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
4 Danilo Albanese (ITA) KR / IAME / LeCont
5 Daniel Vasile (ROU) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
Final series standings: 1 Senna Van Walstijn (NED) 163 pts, 2 Jean Nomblot (FRA) 138 pts, 3 Giuseppe Palomba (ITA) 108 pts, 4 Mattéo Spirgel (FRA) 106 pts, 5 Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP) 104 pts…
KZ2: Maxim Orlov reigns supreme
The winner in Valencia, Maxim Orlov (CPB Sport) has been impressive since securing pole position in Qualifying. He had to retire from one heat due to a collision at the start, but regained the advantage over Markus Kajak (Formula K SRP Factory Team) and Timo Jüngling (CPB Sport) thanks to his success in the Super Heat. In the Final, Orlov got off to a perfect start. Kajak looked dangerous in the early laps, before having to let his opponent pull away to victory. A technical problem eventually forced Kajak to retire and Orlov took the chequered flag as the winner with the fastest lap of the race and a lead of almost five seconds.
There was plenty of action in the pack. Kimi Tani (LA Motorsport) took 2nd place on the podium ahead of a strong Simon Rechenmacher (Dörr Motorsport), who had already won one of the two Super Heats. A five-second penalty dropped Jayden Thien (CPB Sport) from 4th to 8th place. Having climbed up from 11th and 14th place respectively, the two British drivers Jüngling and Noah Wolfe (VAR by Birel) finished 4th and 5th ahead of one of the revelations of the weekend, Hungary's Menyhert Krozser (CRG Racing Team).
Already crowned FIA Karting European Champion, Orlov logically won the series with a comfortable lead over Germany's Max Schleimer and the Netherlands' Kasper Schormans, who finished just one point ahead of his compatriot Jayden Thien.
KZ2 Final classification
1 Max Orlov Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
2 Kimi Tani (FIN) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
3 Simon Rechenmacher (GER) KR / IAME / LeCont
4 Timo Jüngling (GBR) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
5 Noah Wolfe (GBR) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
Final series standings: 1 Max Orlov, 2 Max Schleimer (GER) , 3 Kasper Schormans (NED), 4 Jayden Thien (NED), 5 Kimi Tani (FIN)
KZ2 Masters: Angelo Lombardo makes the difference
Former KZ2 European Champion Angelo Lombardo (Maranello Kart) set a very fast pace in this competition for drivers aged 35 and over. Pole position, victories in the three heats, then in the Super Heat and in the Final, Lombardo logically climbed onto the top step of the podium. Anthony Abbasse (CPB Sport) kept the suspense going by getting off to a better start than the Italian. But after a few laps, the Italian resumed his triumphant march. The group behind Lombardo created the suspense. As determined as ever, Davide Fore (IPK Factory Team) successively overtook Riccardo Nalon (Erre Esse Motorsport), Daniel Bray (Modena Racing Team) and then Abbasse to settle permanently in 2nd place.
Manuel Cozzaglio then picked up speed to catch up with Abbasse. He tried his luck to earn a place on the podium, but the two drivers collided three laps from the finish. After setting the fastest lap of the race, Nalon regained 3rd place and held off Bray, who was very close behind, until the end. Kristijan Habulin (TB Kart Racing Team) drove at a high pace to move up to 5th place ahead of Alessio La Martina (KR Motorsport), who had been the star of the weekend.
KZ2 Masters Final classification and series standings
1 Angelo Lombardo (ITA) Maranello / TM Kart / LeCont
2 Davide Fore (ITA) IPK / TM Kart / LeCont
3 Riccardo Nalon (ITA) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
4 Daniel Bray (NKL) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
5 Kristijan Habulin (CRO) TB Kart / TM Kart / LeCont