There's been a trend within the Champions Of The Future Academy Program in 2026: sending drivers to new, uncharted terrain to test their ability to learn and adapt, and this weekend continues that trend. This week we visit the third circuit on the calendar to make its debut in the series, heading to Aspar, just a stone's throw from the series-opening circuit, Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero.
A clockwise circuit of 1,647m in length with limited run-off area, Aspar will ensure all drivers respect racing room. Much like Circuit 27 in Greece, Aspar has very little history in the international karting scene, meaning there's no pre-existing data or footage for drivers to compare against, a fresh face, if you will.
The Brits have been strong, but Hong Kong has always been there
Across the previous four finals, all wins have gone the way of a Brit, Ilyas Sami, Chester Forkes and Mayson Hibbert. Sami and Hibbert have earned themselves comfortable top-3 seats in the series standings as a result, but Maximilian Schilling has been a constant presence when it comes to the crucial moments. For Schilling, this has made him the thorn in the side of both Sami and Hibbert, the closest chaser for the standings lead, but also the obstacle standing in the way of Hibbert's P2. Klinkers now looks to be permanently out of the picture for the drivers chasing big points at this penultimate round in the series, following a mid-season switch to the Junior category, but Joonas Tamm looks to get involved this week and claim his first final win of the year.
Perico out of the picture
After a guest appearance in Italy where Niccolo Perico stole the show and gave no other OK-N Junior driver a chance, he now moves out of the picture in Spain and hands the baton to someone else. Who that someone else could be remains to be seen, given how many shining stars have emerged in the 2026 field. Atiqa Mir and Axel Nocom could be highlighted as main protagonists, having gone head-to-head in Greece in quite the spectacle. Even that, though, hasn't matched the points haul Zoltan Coigny has racked up this year, which currently gives him the upper hand in the standings lead.
Chopra, Zajac and Detroja make it difficult
There's been little room for anyone other than Veer Chopra, Jagrat Detroja or Michal Zajac to make waves in the Senior class, with all three having taken final wins at some stage. As a result, they occupy the top of the current points leaderboard, with Chopra leading with only four days of racing left in the season. The Aspar circuit, however, is unknown for this leading trio, and there's no data on how the OK-N machinery will handle the track, meaning all three will need to develop their driving styles during Friday's free practice sessions to adapt. At first glance, it's fair to say Aspar doesn't compare to any track raced on before, especially in its surface, which will force the senior category to nurse their tyres if they want to stand a chance in the finals.
Back to where it started for the penultimate event on the calendar, but not the dying stages. Many drivers are only just getting started, and with four points-scoring days still to come, things will most definitely change.
The last of the summer sun will turn up the heat on Aspar as testing begins Friday, with two separate race days on Saturday and Sunday. Watch live on the official Champions Karting Academy YouTube channel, and let Aspar put you on the edge of your seat.