FIRST ROUND OF THE FIA KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP IN LA CONCA, BRODI DOWLING COOPER DOMINATES IN SOUTH AFRICA, F4 CEZ DEBUT FOR SILKUNAS AND OLERT

A race weekend that saw several drivers from the agency competing on some of the world’s top circuits. The first round of the FIA Karting European Championship took place in La Conca for our karting drivers. A sensational victory for Brodi Dowling Cooper in South Africa during Round 3 of the Regional KZN Championship. Finally, single-seater debuts in Formula 4 CEZ for Mio Olert and Markas Silkunas.

Benjamin Westwood – P84-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Junior Category
The first round of the FIA European Championship did not start in the best way for Benjamin Westwood. Unfortunately, several tire issues affected his performance, making the weekend more challenging than expected. Nevertheless, these difficulties represent an important opportunity for growth and learning.
Benjamin is a driver with great talent and speed. He has all the qualities needed to perform well and, with the right self-confidence, will be able to fully express his potential. Even in the toughest moments, staying focused and determined is key.
Now it’s time to turn the page, learn from the experience, and look ahead with energy and motivation. The championship is still long, and there will be many opportunities to prove his value.

Zack Zhu – P29-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Junior Category
A strong start to the weekend allowed Zack to maintain solid performance, securing a place in the final and finishing P29. Despite some difficulties during the heats that slightly slowed his progress, he reacted well and managed to qualify for the final. This marks Zack’s first FIA European Championship final, an important milestone.
Throughout the weekend, Zack proved to be a highly competitive driver with great talent and strong potential. Today’s result confirms he can compete with the best on the international stage. There is still room for improvement, but the motivation and ability are clearly there.

Jason Kosmopoulos – DNF-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Junior Category
Jason returned to the track in great form, securing a place in the final and standing out as one of the agency’s top performers of the weekend. The young Greek driver managed tire performance exceptionally well, finding strong consistency throughout the event.
After a difficult qualifying session, he showed great determination, climbing positions in all the heats. His performance in the super heats was outstanding, gaining nine positions and setting the fastest lap. Unfortunately, a collision in the final prevented him from finishing, but it does not take away from his strong performance.
Jason once again proves to be one of the agency’s most in-form drivers, reaching his first European Championship final and showing great promise for the future.

Julia Angelard – P82-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Junior Category
A tough weekend for Julia despite showing very good speed on track. The young Polish driver did not qualify for the final, but still delivered encouraging signs throughout the event, proving she has the pace to compete at a high level.
Her change in mindset and approach was evident: more determined, more aware, and ready to challenge herself. Even if the result wasn’t as expected, the work done marks an important step forward.
Julia keeps fighting with determination and resilience. With this attitude, results will come—it’s only a matter of time.

Maxime Noeppel – P77–FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Junior Category
A debut in the European Championship for Maxime, starting with a strong qualifying performance in P18—an excellent result for a rookie. The weekend continued solidly, as he managed to stay competitive and hold his ground, although he did not reach the final.
Maxime showed great potential and strong foundations. There is still significant room for growth, both physically and mentally, but his attitude and commitment are exactly what’s needed to improve.

Vladimir Ivannikov – P44-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Senior Category
The first senior driver on track, Vladimir Ivannikov, started the weekend positively with a strong P11 in qualifying. During the heats, he faced some challenges but still managed to qualify for the super heat, narrowly missing out on the final.
Overall, a slightly below his potential performance considering his ability to fight at the front. However, the weekend provided valuable lessons and clear areas for improvement. There is plenty of time to bounce back stronger.

Matteo Gallo – P74-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Senior Category
Matteo’s first race in the FIA Karting European Championship saw him miss out on both the super heat and the final. A challenging weekend, but also a valuable learning experience.
Despite the result, Matteo showed clear improvement, gaining confidence with the tires and demonstrating better race awareness. There are still areas to work on, but the direction is positive.

Nefeli Kosmopoulou – P80-FIA Karting European Championship, La Conca (Italy), Senior Category
Nefeli experienced a weekend marked by bad luck. During warm-up, she suffered a chassis failure, forcing her to reset everything and continue without references.
Despite the setback, she never gave up, showing strong determination and fighting spirit throughout the event. This mindset highlights her resilience and desire to improve. Even difficult weekends bring valuable lessons for the future.

Mio Olert – Formula 4 CEZ, Red Bull Ring (Austria)
Race 1: P23
Race 2: P16
Race 3: P29
A very positive debut in Formula 4 for Mio Olert at the Red Bull Ring. He started with an excellent qualifying result in P14, despite limited experience in single-seaters.
Race 1 was more challenging due to multiple red flags, while Race 2 saw a strong comeback with P16 overall and P3 in the rookie classification. He qualified for the final race, which unfortunately ended early due to a puncture.
Overall, Mio showed great speed, adaptability, and determination—an encouraging debut to build on.

Markas Silkunas – Formula 4 CEZ, Red Bull Ring (Austria)
Race 1: P7
Race 2: P9
Race 3: P8
Another F4 debutant, Markas Silkunas impressed with a strong qualifying result in P4. He maintained solid performances throughout the races, finishing P7, P9, and P8.
Some inexperience showed during key moments, particularly in race aggression and confidence when fighting for podium positions. However, his pace and competitiveness are undeniable.
With more confidence and determination, a podium finish is well within reach.

Brodi Cooper Dowling – P1-Regional KZN Championship, Round 3
The final driver of the weekend, Brodi Cooper Dowling, dominated the Regional KZN Championship in South Africa. He won every heat and secured overall P1 in a flawless performance.
Brodi proved to be one of the top drivers in the national scene, showcasing speed, control, and maturity. He has all the foundations to compete at an international level, and his current path is clearly the right one.

Author: Gabriele Bovio