DUDU SALAMONDE FACES CHALLENGES IN THE EUROPEAN KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP AND TARGETS A COMEBACK IN SPAIN

Driver from São Paulo shows resilience against a highly competitive grid and already looks ahead to improvement in the next round of the continental championship.

Muro Leccese (ITA), April 13, 2026

Brazilian driver Dudu Salamonde (EXA Tecnologia / Vero Coco / DKR / RL Eng. Design / Casa Barô / SOMA Blindados / Team: Parolin Racing / Coach: Gianluca Beggio) began his campaign in the European Karting Championship during the opening round under challenging circumstances. Racing at the La Conca Karting Circuit in Muro Leccese, in the province of Lecce, Salamonde competed in the OK category, widely regarded as one of the most competitive classes in world karting, featuring a grid of 87 drivers from multiple nationalities and an extremely high technical level.

Representing Parolin Racing, Dudu showed from the very first practice sessions that he was ready to take on another major challenge this season. In qualifying, he posted a lap time of 46.907 seconds, placing him in Group C for the qualifying heats. The result highlighted his consistency and adaptation to the Italian circuit, already familiar to Salamonde, which demands precision and sharp track reading across every sector.

Throughout the qualifying heats, Dudu Salamonde delivered combative performances amid intense wheel-to-wheel battles. His best results included two 18th-place finishes across the five heats. Despite his strong on-track efforts, the driver received three penalties during the races, which ultimately proved decisive and compromised his chances of progressing to the final phase of the event.

“We knew it would be a very tough round, and unfortunately the penalties weighed heavily on the final result. It’s all part of the learning process, and we’ll keep working to come back even stronger.”

— Dudu Salamonde

The experience gained at La Conca further strengthens Dudu Salamonde’s development process in European karting. Competing at this level requires not only speed, but also strategy, discipline, and the ability to adapt quickly—qualities the Brazilian has been sharpening with each event this season.

Even in the face of adversity, the São Paulo driver’s performance reflects both technical and mental progress, especially while competing in demanding championships such as the WSK, Champions of the Future, and the European Karting Championship.

“It was a week of significant progress, and we can really feel that here as we build more mileage in Europe. This year is about gaining experience, improving, and growing. We are making steps forward. Now we head to Valencia to study the track carefully and push hard.”

— Dudu Salamonde

Parolin Racing also remains confident in Dudu’s potential, continuing to work on the necessary adjustments for the remainder of the championship. Team synergy and a deeper understanding of the equipment are key factors expected to improve as the season progresses.

The focus now shifts to the next round. The second event of the European Karting Championship will take place from May 7 to 10 in Valencia, Spain. Expectations are high for a new chapter, with increased experience and strong determination to turn lessons learned into solid results.

Text by Kako Marques / KMCom Assessoria
Follow Dudu Salamonde on Instagram: @eduardosalamonde