In Sweden, the Champions of the Future Euro Series ended on a high note with an exciting fifth and final round. The 204 best young international hopefuls and the biggest teams competed for three days in a highly competitive environment. The series, organised by RGMMC, once again demonstrated its quality and appeal. On the Asum Ring, which remained dry for almost the entire competition, Britain's Noah Baglin scored a double victory in OK-Junior, winning the Final and taking the series title. In OK, Ireland's Daniel Kelleher made the difference at the end of the race. Britain's Kenzo Craigie secured 2nd place, which means he will be crowned Champions of the Future Euro Series champion in 2025.
OK: Victory for Kelleher, title for Craigie
Britain's Kenzo Craigie (Prema Racing) arrived in Kristianstad as the series leader, but he was not the only one aiming for the title, with Spain's Christian Costoya (Parolin Motorsport) and Belgium's Thibaut Ramaekers (VDK Racing) well placed behind him. The fastest times in the three Timed Practice groups were set by these three drivers, with Craigie taking pole position. Ramaekers took the lead after the Qualifying Heats with four wins, compared to three for Costoya and Craigie. Sweden's Oliver Kinnmark (Koski Motorsport) stood out with two wins, as did Ireland's Daniel Kelleher (KR Motorsport). Ukraine's Lev Krutoholov (Energy Corse) won once and finished in 6th place. The intensity between these drivers increased even further in the Super Heats. Craigie won the first one ahead of Kinnmark and Ramaekers, then Ramaekers won the second ahead of Britons Joe Turney (KR Motorsport) and Scott Marsh (DPK Racing).
In the Final, Ramaekers held on to his lead in the first lap, which saw Costoya and Kinnmark lose more than 15 places. On the 11th of the 25 laps, Craigie found an opening in front of Ramaekers and took Kelleher with him. A dozen laps later, Kelleher continued his push and took the lead, before racing to a superb victory. For Craigie, this did not change the outcome of the Champions of the Future Euro Series, which the Briton won in style, a year after his compatriot Joe Turney. By finishing 3rd on the podium in Kristianstad, Ramaekers finished three points ahead of Costoya for the runner-up spot. While the fast Frenchman Louis Cochet (VictoryLane) missed out on a probable top-five finish, Britain's Turney (KR Motorsport) completed his progress in 4th place ahead of his team-mates Jacob Micallef (Malta) and Iacopo Martinese (Italy). Both from the United Kingdom and the Fusion Motorsport team, Zac Drummond and Jesse Phillips finished wheel to wheel in 7th and 8th positions. The top 10 was completed by Indonesia's Qarrar Firhand (Ward Racing) and Italy's Gino Rocchio (Monster K Factory Team), who set the fastest lap.
OK series standings after the final round in Kristianstad (5/5)
1- Kenzo Craigie (GBR) KR / IAME 333 pts
2- Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) KR / IAME 277 pts
3- Christian Costoya (ESP) Parolin / TM Kart 274 pts
4- Daniel Kelleher (IRL) KR / IAME 238 pts
5- Joe Turney (GBR) KR / IAME 234 pts
6- Iacopo Martinese (ITA) KR / IAME 217 pts
7- Thomas Pradier (FRA) Tony Kart / Vortex 154 pts
8- Lewis Francis (AUS) KR / IAME 107 pts
9- Roman Kamyab (GBR) LN / TM Kart 90 pts
10- Noah Wolfe (GBR) Birelart / TM Kart 77 pts
All with Maxxis tyres
OK-Junior: Baglin turns the tables
After the previous round in Rodby, Denmark, Australia's William Calleja (Forza Racing) had 271 points, compared to 259 for Canada's Ilie Crisan (Tony Kart Racing Team) and 240 for Britain's Noah Baglin (Prema Racing). But it was another Briton, Evan Purcell (RFM), who took pole position ahead of American Michael McGaughy (Koski Motorsport). With five wins out of five in the Qualifying Heats, McGaughy took the lead in the standings after the Qualifying Heats ahead of Emiliano Hernandez (DPK Racing). The Mexican revelation was among the race winners, along with Baglin, Crisan, Purcell, Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn (Prema Racing), Valerio Viapana (Koski Motorsport) and the surprising Argentine Martin Bertolaccini (Ward Racing).
The first Super Heat was won by McGaughy ahead of Frenchman Luka Scelles (VictoryLane), before Finland's Oskari Walle (Parolin Motorsport) confirmed his rise to prominence by winning the second Super Heat ahead of Turkey's Iskender Zulfikari (Forza Racing). However, Baglin was biding his time. In 2nd place behind McGaughy on the first lap of the Final, he took the lead on the second lap. American Devin Walz (KR Motorsport) and Walle tried to stay close to the leader, but Baglin eventually pulled away. With Calleja failing to score any points and Crisan settling for 12th place, Baglin succeeds Belgium's Dries Van Langendonck as the Champions of the Future Euro Series OK-Junior champion ahead of Calleja and Crisan.
Starting 18th, Hoogendoorn made a tremendous effort to climb from 18th to 2nd place, before a penalty pushed him back to 8th. After McGaughy crashed out in 10th position, Walz finally won the battle for 2nd place on the podium in Kristianstad ahead of Walle and Scelles. Behind Zulfikari in 5th, Zdenek Babicek (Tepz Racing Team) gained no less than 15 places! Bertolaccini and Frenchman Matéo Rivals (Tony Kart Racing Team) also had the honour of finishing in the top 10 in 8th and 9th places.
OK-Junior series standings after the final round in Kristianstad (5/5)
1- Noah Baglin (GBR) KR / IAME 309 pts
2- William Calleja (AUS) Exprit / TM Kart 271 pts
3- Ilie Tristan Crisan (CAN) Tony Kart / Vortex 265 pts
4- Henry Domain (GBR) Exprit / TM Kart 213 pts
5- Dean Hoogendoorn (NED) KR / IAME 178 pts
6- Iskender Zulfikari (TUR) Exprit / TM Kart 176 pts
7- Michael McGaughy (USA) KR / IAME 154 pts
8- Devin Walz (USA) KR / IAME 139 pts
9- Luka Scelles (FRA) KR / IAME 135 pts
10- Dan Allemann (SUI) Tony Kart / TM Kart 105 pts
All with Maxxis tyres