The third season of the Champions of the Future Academy International Series gets underway this week in Spain, with the opening round hosted at the technical and demanding Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero. At 1,428 metres, the Chiva circuit is long enough to reward bravery, technical enough to challenge drivers and wide enough to encourage ambition into Turn 1.
The weekend format is clean and purposeful. Thursday and Friday are dedicated to official testing for all three categories: Mini 60, OK-N Junior and OK-N Senior. From there, the serious business begins, with two full and separate race days across the weekend, each streamed live. No overtake, defensive posture or ambitious lunge will go unnoticed.
The Machinery
Parity remains central to the Academy’s philosophy.
Mini 60: TM engines, Parolin chassis and Vega tyres. Identical equipment, very small drivers, very big intentions.
OK-N Junior & OK-N Senior: IAME engines, Kart Republic chassis and Vega tyres, machinery that demands precision and rewards patience.
With healthy grid sizes across all three classes, the emphasis is clear: remove the excuses, leave it to the racing.
A refreshed visual identity also marks the start of 2026, with FreeM now supplying all driver race suits and RGMMC clothing. Revised kart liveries and updated race suits will give the paddock a fresh feel for the 2026 season.
The Bigger Picture: F1 Pathways
Now in its third year, the Academy has firmly established itself as one of the most credible stepping stones in international karting. In 2025, performances here translated directly into Formula 1 opportunities.
Chiara Battig earned selection to the Red Bull Racing programme, while Ella Hakkinen secured backing from McLaren, both off the back of standout Academy campaigns. In Mini, Wynn Godschalk narrowly missed the championship but still secured a coveted Red Bull Junior place, underlining a simple truth: results here are noticed.
Support continues to expand. F1 Academy has renewed and broadened its backing of the Champions of the Future Academy for 2026 through its DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE initiative. Nine drivers will again be supported across the International Initiative (three per age category), with up to nine more backed through new National Initiatives.
Among those names backed for 2026 are Khloe McGill, Anna Makolm, Sofia Rudenko, Julia Angelard, Mia Sanki, Andie Stewart, Venesa Silkunaite, Angelina Simons Torres and Amelia Wyszomirska, further evidence that the Champions of the Future Academy Program is not simply a championship. It is a reference point.
The Valencia Factor
Chiva’s circuit rewards rhythm. Long, flowing sectors are interrupted by heavy braking zones that invite risk. Slipstream battles down the straight are inevitable; tyre management across two race days will prove decisive.
Valencia itself rarely disappoints in early-season February conditions, cool mornings, increasing grip, and just enough unpredictability to keep mechanics honest.
The 2026 curtain-raiser carries familiar themes: identical equipment, ambitious drivers, and Formula 1 teams watching quietly from the background. The Champions of the Future Academy Program may still be young as a championship, but its influence is already established.
Drivers to Watch
Mini 60
The youngest drivers on the grid rarely lack confidence.
Sofia Rudenko arrives with momentum after an eye-catching pole position in the UAE at the final round of the 2025 international series, arguably the biggest moment of her career so far. She will be tested by Wynn Godschalk, now a Red Bull Junior, who fought relentlessly for the 2025 title and returns with unfinished business.
Alongside him, younger brother Zev Godschalk makes his series debut as one of the youngest drivers in the field. Don't underestimate him, his resume to date suggests he will not be here to spectate older brother Wynn.
OK-N Junior
Axel Nocom’s 2025 campaign was defined by steady progression. Racing under the Philippine flag, he closed last season in strong form in the UAE with some of his best career results. Expect continuation rather than reinvention.
Benjamin Poulsen is another compelling name. Son of Kristian Poulsen, he represents the next chapter of a family deeply embedded in international motorsport. Since 1971, Poulsen Motorsport has claimed victories at Le Mans and world titles in touring cars, a heritage that will sharpen expectations. Motorsport is in his DNA, and it is the Intentional Series where the Poulsen family have decided to show it.
OK-N Senior
Kacper Rajpold transitioned from Junior to Senior in 2025 and settled with impressive composure. A year of adaptation behind him, he enters this season as a potential front-runner.
Vanesa Silkunaite arrives with a pedigree of her own, having won the final at Champions of the Future Macau. With her brother Markus graduating out of karting, the family mantle could remain trophied.
Oskar Galan, meanwhile, built a reputation for consistency throughout 2025. With several front-runners moving on, the opportunity to become one of the category’s main names is very real.