Emiliano Hernandez has just had 10 very important days in his career as a young Mexican motorsport hopeful. Competing in only his first season in Junior in FIA Karting, the 13-year-old driver proved himself capable of competing with the world's best. Competing for Spanish team DPK Racing, equipped with a Fernando Alonso Kart chassis and now supported by Aston Martin F1, he delivered two top-level performances in the space of a week: both in the Champions of the Future Euro Series and then in the World Championship at the Kristianstad circuit in Sweden, with front row starts, victories in Qualifying Heats and fastest laps. Emiliano Hernandez is definitely a driver to watch closely and support in the future...
Proven competitiveness
"A year ago, Emil (his nickname) was still racing in Mini," recalls Jonathan Thonon, his driver-coach and former top-level driver. "He won a lot of races and the National Championship in Mexico, and was eager to come to Europe to compete against the world's best drivers. He only took part in two National OK-N Junior (WSK Final Cup) events at the end of 2024, before launching himself onto the international stage in OK-Junior at the start of the season. He quickly found himself up against drivers who already had two (or three) seasons experience in the category, proving himself to be fast, consistent and determined. Of course, his karting training is not over yet. Emil knows he needs to gain even more confidence when the battle is raging in the pack. That's normal, he's only 13 years old and we need to continue working to complete his training."
Pole position in the Champions of the Future Euro Series
Organised over five rounds a week before the major FIA Karting events, on the same circuits, this extremely difficult and competitive series ended on a positive note for Emil Hernandez. After P2 in his group in Qualifying (P4 overall), he achieved brilliant results in the Qualifying Heats: P1, P3, P8, P1 and P2, frequently leaving the favourites in the category behind him. At the wheel of his KR/IAME kart, he took pole position for his Super Heat on Sunday morning. In the Final, a few collisions forced him to drop back to 13th position, but his opponents learned that they would have to be wary of the talented Mexican.
A successful World Championship
A week later at the World Championship, Emil continued in the same vein, working effectively with the DPK Racing team, with whom he feels very comfortable. Despite the large number of drivers present (109), he managed to qualify in 2nd position in his group and 7th position overall. In each of his seven Qualifying Heats, the Mexican was able to start from the front row, with the media and television cameras focused on him. He took advantage of this to add to his collection of fastest laps in the race. Consistent and effective in the Qualifying Heats, always finishing in the top 10, he was unlucky in the Super Heat, during one of the rare moments of the competition when rain made an appearance, receiving a race contact that left him out. The subsequent retirement, unfortunately, saw him drop to 34th on the starting grid for the Final. He made an excellent start and climbed back up to 25th (27th after a bumper penalty) but could have hoped for much better given his speed and lap times, had a few incidents during the race not slowed his progress.
"The two races Emil has just competed in Sweden show his potential. The last races of the season in OK-Junior (WSK Final Cup) and the next season 2026, in which he plans to compete in at the higher level, OK-Senior, will allow him to improve," added Jonathan Thonon.
With Emiliano Hernandez's driving skills and ambitions, his list of achievements is set to grow even further, with the support of his partners and sponsors, to whom Emil warmly thanks for supporting him and having confidence in him in his rise to the top.