TWICE ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE PODIUM GREAT PERFORMANCE BY JULIA ANGELARD IN VITERBO!

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  • Julia Angelard had a very good racing weekend during the 3rd round of the international Champions of the Future Academy series in Italy.
  • The talented Polish driver took a high fourth place in both finals of the OK-N Junior category, confirming her place among the top competitors and adding a lot of points to her overall series standings.
  • After three rounds of the prestigious series, the protégé of the ORLEN Motorsport Academy and the More Than Equal program is 6th in the season’s general classification.

Last weekend brought a lot of excitement for karting enthusiasts. Julia Angelard, representing Poland in the international Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) series, showed excellent form during the third round of the season held at the Italian track in Viterbo. Competing in the tightly contested OK-N Junior category, the ORLEN Motorsport Academy participant and representative of the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive and More Than Equal programs narrowly missed the podium twice, finishing both Saturday and Sunday’s races in a sensational 4th place in the finals.

Saturday marked by precision and minimal losses

Julia started the competition at the Italian track with a bang, securing 5th place in Saturday’s qualifying. In the qualifying heats, the Polish driver maintained a consistent, solid pace, finishing in P5 and P6, respectively. These results gave her a commanding 4th position heading into the grand finale. After a fierce battle on the track, Julia Angelard defended her spot, crossing the line in fourth place, just 0.543 seconds off the podium for third place.

Sunday’s show of character and a great promotion in the colors of the F1 Academy

Sunday’s weekend provided an even greater dose of adrenaline. After once again securing P5 in qualifying, the first race brought significant complications – Julia was classified only 18th due to a penalty for a fallen bumper. However, the Polish driver showed tremendous fortitude and demonstrated her skill in the second heat, finishing in a fantastic second place, having led for part of the race.

Both of these results ultimately resulted in a 7th-placestart for Sunday’s final. In the decisive heat, Julia – representing the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive all weekend in her racing suit as one of three participants in the OK-N Junior category – delivered a brilliant performance, overtaking several rivals and crossing the checkered flag for the second time this weekend in an excellent 4th place.

Strong position in the general classification

The last COTFA round was played under “arrive and drive” rules – each driver had the same kart and an identical engine, drawn anew each day. Furthermore, instead of an entire team, a driver had only one mechanic at their disposal, ensuring that all participants compete on the same, equal terms, where victory is determined not by the team’s or driver’s budget, but by their skill.

Two consistent and high-scoring days in Italy allowed Julia Angelard to solidify her place at the top of the series. After three of the five rounds, the Polish representative holds a respectable 6th place in the overall championship standings with 178 points, just a few points behind her higher-ranked rivals.

The form she demonstrated in Viterbo bodes well for her upcoming Champions of the Future Academy campaigns. The next rounds are scheduled for September in Valencia (Aspar Circuit) and in November at the well-known Franciacorta track. Before that, however, Julia Angelard will soon be taking a summer break to recharge her batteries and return ready to compete in the next round of the Polish Karting Championships at the Autodrom Słomczyn.

Julia Angelard: I’ve been liking this 4th place finish

“I’ve been liking this 4th place finish a bit too much lately – this is the third time in a row, including Thessaloniki, that I’ve finished this way in the COTFA series. However, I have to admit that the pace was really good, and thanks to it, we’re gaining more points towards the overall championship standings. Two fourth-place finishes on such a difficult, technical track as Viterbo, among the best drivers from around the world, is a solid boost of points, but also proof that our hard work is paying off. Sixth place overall provides a great base for fighting in the upcoming rounds. I’d like to thank my mechanic for the brilliant preparation of my equipment, and all the fans, PZM and the ORLEN Motorsport Academy for their constant support!” emphasizes the Minardi Management powered by Dag Ltd. protégé