AN UPHILL WEEKEND FOR MATTIA BUCCI AT VALLELUNGA

The Abruzzo rider concluded the second Sprint round fighting until the last lap

The second round of the Sprint series of the Italian GT Championship was held from May 22nd to 24th, where we witnessed Mattia Bucci embark on a dramatic comeback weekend. The Bucci-Agoglia duo, after a strong start in Qualifying 1, where they were battling for pole position, were relegated to eleventh place overall and eighth in their class due to technical issues. The team was again hampered by further issues that complicated Qualifying 2 and compromised Race 1, finishing in thirty-seventh place. But their tenacity prevailed: in Race 2, the drivers mounted an exceptional comeback, finishing fifteenth overall and eighth in their class, demonstrating indomitable character.

“It wasn’t the weekend we expected,” said Mattia. “Unfortunately, due to technical problems, we weren’t able to take part in the second qualifying session, and more importantly, it also compromised our first session and Race 1. However, I’m very satisfied with the work done in Race 2 and with the team, which allowed us to compete at our best in this race: we managed to climb from thirty-eighth to fifteenth place. I’m only disappointed that these problems arose, because we had shown great potential in the first qualifying session: almost at the finish line, twenty meters from the line, Pietro lost his gear; if that hadn’t happened, we would have started on par with the others. But, unfortunately, this is also the world of motorsport and we have to accept it. Now we turn the page and think about the next race, hoping to be able to fight for what we deserve, especially there, and to confirm and improve on the result obtained in the Endurance series.”

The second race weekend of the Endurance Series will take place in Monza over the weekend of June 19-21. The three free practice sessions will be held on Friday at 11:22 a.m. and 2:14 p.m., and on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Qualifying will take place at 1:42 p.m., 2:22 p.m., and 3:02 p.m. The race will take place on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The events will be available to follow on the official Aci Sport channel (http://www.youtube.com/@ACISportTVofficial), on Sky channel 228, and on Tivùsat channel 52.

Mattia invites you to stay connected and follow him in this new chapter through his, Minardi Management, team, and championship social media pages:
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_official; Facebook: Mattia Bucci – Racing Driver
• Instagram: @minardi_management; Facebook: Minardi Management
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_fanclub
• Instagram: @dlracing.official
• Instagram: @cigranturismo; Facebook: Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo

The press officer, Federica Moccia

ANTONELLI WINS AGAIN IN CANADA AHEAD OF HAMILTON AND VERSTAPPEN, RUSSELL RETIRES

Kimi Antonelli claimed yet another victory, securing his fourth consecutive win after another outstanding performance. The Bologna-born driver continues his remarkable run of form and is increasingly establishing himself as the leading figure of the championship. It was a frustrating race, however, for George Russell, who was forced to retire with a technical issue while leading the race and battling Antonelli for victory. Lewis Hamilton also delivered an excellent performance, engaging in a thrilling fight with Max Verstappen and securing his second podium for Ferrari after a strong and hard-fought race. It was instead a hugely difficult weekend for McLaren. A strategic error completely ruined the British team’s race, leading to the retirement of Lando Norris, while Oscar Piastri was left attempting a difficult recovery drive far from the leading positions. A disappointing day also for Charles Leclerc, who could manage only eighth place after receiving a twenty-second penalty that severely compromised his final result. Finally, special mention must go to Franco Colapinto, who produced an excellent drive to finish in a superb fifth place.

DAG’S RATING
This Grand Prix was far more entertaining than the previous rounds, largely thanks to the battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The circuit did not particularly favour overtaking, yet the pair still produced an intense duel that could easily have had a different outcome had the British driver not suffered a technical failure.
There were also positive performances from Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, with the Ferrari driver producing a superb overtake on the Dutchman. McLaren, however, endured a complete disaster, heavily penalised by an entirely incorrect strategy call.

MERCEDES – 9
The Brackley-based team continues to dominate, despite not delivering a flawless weekend and failing to bring both cars to the finish. Kimi Antonelli was almost faultless and also benefited from a little fortune at key moments: 9/10.
George Russell earns an 8/10. The retirement was certainly not his fault, but under maximum pressure he did not appear entirely composed and made a few small mistakes. The upgrade package introduced in Canada appears to have returned Mercedes to the front of the field.

FERRARI – 8
Ferrari has made significant progress. In Canada, the Scuderia confirmed itself as the second strongest team in the championship, thanks largely to a superbly in-form Lewis Hamilton, whose brilliant overtake earns him a 9/10.
A more subdued race instead for Charles Leclerc, who never truly looked competitive and often struggled for pace. Nevertheless, the Monegasque driver still did enough for a satisfactory performance.

RED BULL – 9
The Anglo-Austrian team appears to have taken an important step forward, returning consistently to the podium positions. Max Verstappen drove brilliantly to secure third place: 9/10.
A strong performance also from Isack Hadjar, awarded a 7/10, finally demonstrating that Red Bull may now be able to rely on a competitive second driver as well.

McLAREN – 5
A disastrous weekend for McLaren. The team completely misjudged the strategy by opting for intermediate tyres at the start of the race.
The drivers were unable to recover the situation, although Lando Norris carries relatively little blame and deserves a 7/10, helped by an excellent start. Much more disappointing was Oscar Piastri’s race, earning a 5/10 after a costly mistake that also compromised Alexander Albon’s race.

ALPINE – 7
A superb race for the French team, which appears to be making clear progress. Pierre Gasly receives a 6.5/10 after a solid race that was nonetheless affected by an underwhelming qualifying performance.
Franco Colapinto, meanwhile, delivered an outstanding drive worthy of a 7.5/10, once again confirming himself as the stronger driver of the pairing. The recent event in Argentina appears to have given him greater confidence and belief.

HAAS – 7
The American team returned to the points thanks to Oliver Bearman, who earns a 7/10.
Esteban Ocon, however, was comfortably below standard after a very disappointing weekend well below the level expected in Formula 1. Haas should perhaps begin seriously considering introducing a younger rookie driver with greater motivation.

WILLIAMS – 6
Important points also for Williams. Carlos Sainz Jr. finished in the points, benefiting in part from McLaren’s disastrous weekend: 7/10.
Alexander Albon, on the other hand, was unfortunate to become involved in the incident with Piastri and receives a 5/10. Qualifying was not ideal for the team, which showed several weaknesses throughout the weekend.

RACING BULLS – 7
Following Arvid Lindblad’s impressive qualifying performance, worthy of a 6/10, the Faenza-based team further confirmed its progress.
A technical problem unfortunately prevented the rookie from fighting for stronger positions. Liam Lawson instead brought home valuable points after producing a highly consistent race across all 68 laps, earning the New Zealander a 7/10.

CADILLAC – 5.5
Cadillac appears to be making slight progress, although major doubts remain regarding the driver line-up.
Valtteri Bottas, rated 5/10, once again finished near the back without showing any particularly encouraging signs. Sergio Pérez receives a 6/10, attempting to make an impact before a technical problem forced him into retirement.

AUDI – 6-
Audi remains one of the teams struggling the most on the grid and appears to be improving less than its rivals.
Gabriel Bortoleto gave everything despite narrowly missing out on the points, earning a 6/10 for a committed drive in an uncompetitive car. Nico Hülkenberg, meanwhile, endured a weekend similar to Ocon’s and well below expectations, resulting in a 5/10.

ASTON MARTIN – 4
At the back of the field sits Aston Martin, which continues to suffer through difficult weekends and repeated mistakes.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, both rated 5/10, attempted to extract more from the package, but with such an uncompetitive car the task remains extremely difficult.
The car appears to suffer from major structural issues, further compounded by engine-related problems. Numerous strategic mistakes also arrived this weekend from the team. Perhaps the focus should already begin shifting towards 2027.

Author: Gabriele Bovio

DEV PREETHAM TRIUMPHS AT KARTOPIA, STRONG PROGRESS IN THE ITALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP AT VALLELUNGA

It was another busy race weekend for four DAG Management drivers. The GT cars took to the track at Vallelunga for Round 2 of the ACI Italian GT Sprint Championship, while the karting action unfolded at Lonato in the ROK Italy Series and at Kartopia in the Meco Meritus Cup.

Mia Zanki – P24 – ROK Italy Series Round 4 – Lonato
The first DAG Management driver on track in the ROK Italy Series was Mia Zanki, competing at the Lonato circuit during a weekend that delivered mixed emotions. The weekend began positively, with encouraging performances in the early sessions that suggested strong potential. However, a number of technical issues gradually affected the kart’s performance, making each stage of the event increasingly difficult to manage. Despite the setbacks, Mia continued to work tirelessly, doing everything possible to maximise every opportunity and never giving up, even when circumstances prevented her from showing her full potential.
She eventually finished P24 in the Final — a result that does not fully reflect the pace she demonstrated during parts of the weekend, but nevertheless provides a solid foundation to build upon. The focus now shifts to recharging and preparing for the next round of the season, with the aim of returning stronger and once again fighting at the front.

Mattia Bucci – ACI Italian GT Sprint Championship Round 2 – Vallelunga – GT Cup
Race 1: P32 Overall / P12 Class
Race 2: P15 Overall / P8 Class
Mattia Bucci returned to action at Vallelunga for the second round of the Italian GT Cup Championship, facing a challenging weekend that also highlighted his determination and fighting spirit. The young driver and his team had to deal with several issues throughout the weekend, often forcing them to start from the back of the grid. Nevertheless, Race 2 saw Bucci produce a remarkable comeback drive: starting from P36, he gained 21 positions, delivering one of the standout performances of the weekend.
Mattia and the team once again demonstrated impressive speed, resilience and racecraft, showing highly competitive pace and exceptional recovery ability during the races. There remains some disappointment over a less-than-ideal qualifying session, which could have allowed the Italian driver to fight much closer to the podium positions.

Miguel Garcia – ACI Italian GT Sprint Championship Round 2 – Vallelunga – GT3
Race 1: P26 Overall / P6 Class
Race 2: P24 Overall / P6 Class
Miguel Garcia was also in action in the Italian GT Championship, enjoying a very positive weekend at Vallelunga. After securing P8 in class during qualifying, Miguel significantly improved his performance across both races, achieving two strong P6 finishes that further confirm the steady progress being made by both the young driver and the team. The result came thanks to consistent race pace, strong management of on-track situations and increasingly effective teamwork throughout the weekend.
Garcia showed notable maturity and competitiveness, maintaining a strong rhythm and edging ever closer to the front-running positions in the category. The encouraging signs from Vallelunga represent another important step forward in a development path that is becoming increasingly evident race after race. A podium finish now stands as the clear objective for the remainder of the season. Given the continuous improvements and competitiveness shown in recent outings, Miguel and the team appear to have all the ingredients needed to challenge for the top positions very soon.

Rivaan Dev Preetham – P1 – Meco Meritus Cup Round 2 – Kartopia, Bangalore – OKJ Category
Round 2 of the Meco Meritus Cup at Kartopia saw Rivaan Dev Preetham deliver another outstanding weekend, further confirming his exceptional form this season. The young driver dominated virtually every session, displaying impressive speed, consistency and flawless race management throughout the event. The only minor setback came in qualifying, where he narrowly missed out on pole position, but that did little to stop him from producing a top-class performance over the remainder of the weekend.
With an authoritative drive, Rivaan secured his second victory of the season, strengthening his lead in the championship standings. Round after round, Rivaan and the team are putting together a championship campaign of the highest level, maintaining excellent consistency and results. The ultimate objective remains the championship title, a target that looks increasingly realistic considering the performances delivered so far this season.

Author: Gabriele Bovio

JULIA ANGELARD EIGHTH IN THE OPENING OF THE POLISH KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

  • The inaugural round of the Polish Karting Championships, held last weekend at Kartodrom Bydgoszcz, was marked by changeable weather conditions and strong competition in each age category.
  • Fourteen-year-old Julia Angelard, after qualifying sixth in the OK Junior category, started Friday’s competition with a solid fourth place. Unfortunately, a bit of bad luck in subsequent races meant that the ORLEN Motorsport Academy protégé ultimately after four races was classified in eighth place, only one point behind the competitor ahead of her.
  • There are still three rounds ahead of the KMP (Kartingowe Mistrzostwa Polski) participants – in June at the Poznań Circuit, in August at the Autodrom Słomczyn and in September at the facility in Biłgoraj.

Karting competition in Poland last weekend has entered its main phase – the competitors have begun their fight for the title of best and fastest. It was at Kartodrom Bydgoszcz on May 15-16 that the inaugural round of this year’s Polish Karting Championships and the Children and Youth Sports Competition kicked off. The inaugural round’s undoubted success was the surprising, large turnout – Bydgoszcz hosted both drivers who normally compete in Poland and stronger fields competing in Italy or European karting series. Most categories were full – which undoubtedly demonstrates how popular motorsport is becoming in Poland, and the Polish elite consists of top European drivers. Among the drivers who entered the competition in the highly competitive OK Junior category there was also Julia Angelard, a member of the Junior National Team and participant of the ORLEN Motorsport Academy.

Solid qualifications and a good Friday
During Friday’s qualifying practice, in which drivers managed between two and six laps, Julia Angelard improved her time lap by lap, closing the gap to the fastest driver on track. As a result, the sixth and final lap of the session proved crucial – Julia’s time of 58.416 seconds placed her sixth in the 28-driver field of OK-Junior drivers, a promising sign for the rest of the race weekend.

In the first race of the inaugural round of KMP, taking place in rainy conditions, Julia confirmed her potential, moving up two places to finish fourth. However, the second race scheduled for Friday had to be moved to Saturday due to weather conditions, leaving Julia Angelard fourth in the field on the first day of competition.

Demanding Saturday and TOP8 at the end of the round
Saturday’s competition, unfortunately, did not go entirely according to the Polish competitor’s expectations – considering the KMP regulations, according to which the results of one race determine the start of the next, an unfortunate result of one of them could affect the entire racing weekend.

Finishing eleventh, twelfth and tenth on Saturday, Julia Angelard ultimately collected 28 points, placing eighth in the individual competition standings and just one point behind her rival.

Julia Angelard: I was hoping for more
“Eighth place is a really good result, although I was hoping for more. Both qualifying and Friday’s race showed that I have the pace to fight among the very top. However, motorsport is unpredictable, and the regulations of the Polish Karting Championships punish those who, for random reasons, even beyond their control, finish lower in individual races, being carried off the track by a rival, or being involved as a passenger in a collision. Well, that’s life, and the rules apply to everyone – I’m happy with eighth place in the overall standings and I hope that the next rounds will allow me to climb higher,” emphasizes the driver of Minardi Management powered by Dag Ltd.

The teenage competitor now has a week off from racing, after which she will have an intense period of competition in the Champions of the Future Academy, Champions of the Future and FIA Karting European Championship series, before taking part in the second round of the Polish Karting Championship, scheduled for June 19-21 at the Poznań Circuit.

MATTIA BUCCI IS READY FOR VALLELUNGA

The Abruzzo driver will take part this weekend in the second round of the Sprint series of the Italian Grand Touring Championship

From May 22nd to 24th, we’ll see young Mattia Bucci return to the track at Vallelunga. After the events at Imola, the Bucci-Agoglia duo is ready to tackle this weekend, capitalizing on their experience with the #163 Lamborghini, which they’ve already raced for two weekends.

“I can’t wait to get back on track. The Misano weekend helped us a lot to better understand the car, our potential, and the right strategies, especially after Imola, which didn’t go as we’d hoped. But now we have the chance to make up for it at Vallelunga. So, heads up and focused on the goal,” said Mattia.

The two free practice sessions will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. Qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 9:25 a.m along with Race 1 at 2:00 p.m.. Race 2 will take place on Sunday at 10:10 a.m. The events will be available to follow on the official Aci Sport channel (http://www.youtube.com/@ACISportTVofficial ), on Sky channel 228, and on Tivùsat channel 52.

Mattia invites you to stay connected and follow him in this new chapter through his, Minardi Management, team, and championship social media pages:
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_official; Facebook: Mattia Bucci – Racing Driver
• Instagram: @minardi_management; Facebook: Minardi Management
• Instagram: @mattiabucci_fanclub
• Instagram: @dlracing.official
• Instagram: @cigranturismo; Facebook: Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo

The press officer, Federica Moccia

VICTORY IN SPAIN AND PODIUM IN VARANO: MALIK AND QUONDAMCARLO IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Another weekend full of satisfaction for our drivers, who stood out across Spain, Poland, and international competitions. With victories, podiums, and high-level performances, the positive signs continue to grow race after race.
From the steady development of the youngest drivers to the confirmations of those becoming increasingly competitive, the weekend highlighted talent, determination, and a strong ability to adapt in highly competitive environments.
Another important step forward for the entire group, which continues to work with great intensity and to collect increasingly encouraging results.

Manuel Quondamcarlo – P2 – Ligier Italian Trophy – Round 2, Varano (Italy)
Second round of the Ligier Italian Trophy at Varano with Manuel once again among the main protagonists. The weekend started off very positively right from FP1, where he secured an excellent second place, immediately showing a strong feeling with both the car and the track.
In qualifying, Manuel further raised his performance level, securing a brilliant pole position thanks to an extremely competitive lap.
In Race 1 he fought strongly for the win, once again demonstrating speed and determination. However, a contact during the race prevented him from taking victory, forcing him to settle for a still excellent second place.
Manuel once again confirms himself as one of the leading contenders in the trophy, achieving yet another strong result despite a bit of bad luck that denied him a victory that seemed within reach.

Brodi Cooper Dowling – P5 – Formula K Raceway – Northern Regions Championship, Round 2 – Junior MAX Category
Brodi returned to the track, delivering a very positive weekend from the very first sessions. The young driver started in the best possible way, taking P1 in the warm-up, immediately confirming strong pace and excellent feeling with the circuit.
He maintained a high performance level in qualifying as well, finishing with a solid P4 that allowed him to start near the front. In the heats he continued his strong form, also securing a brilliant P2 and consistently remaining among the most competitive drivers in the field. In one of the races, however, an incident occurring ahead of him forced him to lose several positions, partially compromising the work done up to that point. Despite this, Brodi still managed to finish the weekend with a positive P5 overall.
In his first year in the Junior category, Brodi continues to show strong progress. His performances throughout the weekend highlight speed, maturity, and increasingly strong competitiveness. The front positions were well within his reach, further confirming the great potential he is showing race after race.

Julia Angelard – Polish Championship, Bydgoszcz (Poland), Round 1 – Junior OK Category
RACE 1: P4
RACE 2: P11
RACE 3: P12
RACE 4: P10

A positive weekend for Julia in the Polish Championship, an extremely competitive environment full of high-level opponents. The young driver got off to a very strong start already in qualifying, securing a solid P6 that immediately put her in the spotlight.
In the races, Julia managed to improve further, finishing with an excellent fourth place thanks to a consistent, intelligent, and highly combative performance. Notably, her ability to stay ahead of very strong drivers confirmed the progress she has made in recent outings.
Saturday was not easy, with a few additional issues and difficulties that complicated the work on track. Despite this, Julia showed maturity and determination, continuing to fight until the very end.
Julia is improving significantly, and the strong performances shown this weekend against high-caliber opponents are yet another confirmation. A weekend that brings very encouraging signals for the future.

Nilas Malik – P1 – CEK Hyundai 2026, Round 2
Nilas returned to racing in the CEK Hyundai series in Spain, delivering a near-perfect weekend from the very first sessions. The young driver started strongly in qualifying, securing a brilliant P6 that immediately confirmed his excellent form.
Throughout the heats, he remained consistently in the leading positions, demonstrating great speed and consistency. Solid performances allowed him to secure an excellent P3 in the Super Heat, further consolidating his status as one of the weekend’s main protagonists. In the final, Nilas was flawless. Perfect race management, competitive pace, and strong determination allowed him to take a brilliant victory as a true standout performer.
Nilas continues to improve race after race and is showing a completely transformed level compared to last season. This extremely positive start to the championship confirms his growth and the great potential he is finally managing to express consistently.

Author: Gabriele Bovio

BERGONZINI GT ITALIANO ENDURANCE ROUND 1 MISANO CIRCUIT

Weekend dal potenziale importante ma concluso anzitempo per Matteo Bergonzini e il suo equipaggio composto da Dimitris DeVerikos e Max Abbati nel Campionato Italiano GT Endurance.

Fin dalle prove libere, il trio ha mostrato un ottimo passo, chiudendo le sessioni con una terza posizione in FP1, la prima posizione in FP2 e nuovamente la terza posizione in FP3, confermando subito una  competitività concreta nella categoria GT Cup AM.

Il weekend di gara ha iniziato però a complicarsi durante le qualifiche del sabato. Nella Q1, Dimitris DeVerikos non è riuscito a completare il proprio giro lanciato a causa di un’incomprensione con un’altra vettura, situazione che ha compromesso pesantemente la sessione. In Q2, Max Abbati ha invece effettuato un ottimo lavoro riportando la vettura in seconda posizione di categoria, mentre nella Q3 Matteo Bergonzini è riuscito a segnare un tempo competitivo poi cancellato per un track limits.

La somma delle problematiche e la mancata registrazione di un tempo utile nella prima sessione hanno costretto l’equipaggio a partire dall’ultima posizione assoluta su 53 vetture, oltre che dal fondo della categoria AM.

La gara di domenica è scattata sotto una pioggia intensa, arrivata puntualmente pochi minuti prima del via delle tre ore endurance. Lo start è stato effettuato da Dimitris DeVerikos in condizioni estremamente difficili, con pista bagnata e regime iniziale di Safety Car.

Non appena la gara è entrata nel vivo, l’equipaggio ha iniziato una straordinaria rimonta. Grazie a un ottimo ritmo, DeVerikos è riuscito rapidamente a recuperare numerose posizioni fino a portare la vettura in testa alla categoria GT Cup AM dopo pochi giri.

La corsa del team si è però interrotta poco prima della fine del primo stint. Un contatto con un’altra vettura ha causato danni molto pesanti alla macchina, terminata anche contro le barriere di protezione. Nonostante questo, la vettura è riuscita a rientrare ai box, dove i meccanici hanno tentato per oltre 40 minuti di effettuare le riparazioni necessarie per tornare in pista e provare a conquistare punti importanti per il campionato.

I danni riportati si sono però rivelati troppo estesi, costringendo il team al ritiro definitivo dalla competizione prima che Matteo Bergonzini e Max Abbati potessero prendere parte ai propri stint di gara.

“C’è sicuramente grande rammarico – racconta Bergonzini – perché il potenziale per fare molto bene c’era tutto. Nonostante la partenza dall’ultima posizione stavamo recuperando in maniera importante e avevamo già conquistato la leadership di categoria. Dispiace non aver potuto dare il mio contributo in gara, ma questi episodi fanno parte dell’endurance. Ora dobbiamo guardare avanti e concentrarci sulla prossima tappa.”

Tutte le attenzioni sono ora rivolte al prossimo appuntamento stagionale di Monza del 21 giugno, dove l’obiettivo sarà tornare subito competitivi e rilanciarsi nella lotta di campionato.

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JULIA ANGELARD STARTS THE POLISH KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP

  • After competing in several international karting series, Julia Angelard will begin competing at the national level in just a few days.
  • The first round of the Polish Karting Championships, scheduled for May 14-16, 2026, will be held on the track in Bydgoszcz.
  • As the teenage Pole, a member of the ORLEN Motorsport Academy and the PZM Junior Team, emphasizes, returning to Polish tracks is always a nice change.

After two rounds of the European Karting Championship, Polish drivers are set to compete in the championship – this time, however, from the comfort of their own homes. In just a few days, on May 14-16, 2026, the top karting competitors will arrive in Bydgoszcz to compete in the first of four editions of the Polish Karting Championship in the 2026 season. Among the competitors who will take up the challenge in the OK-Junior category is also Julia Angelard.

From Spain to Poland for a new beginning
Although Julia Angelard competed in the FIA ​​Karting European Championship just a few days ago, from May 8-10, 2026, at a track near Valencia, the return to Poland represents a fresh start for the driver. Both during the previous round, when, despite showing solid pace in the heat races, she narrowly missed advancing to the semifinals, and in earlier rounds of the European Karting Championship and the Champions of the Future series, the teenage Polish driver competed for the Birel ART team.

Similar to the COFTA series in which Julia competes, competitors draw a random engine for their kart. PFriday’s session, known as qualifying practice, provides the starting grid for the first of four equal races. The starting order for the remaining three races is determined by the positions achieved by the drivers in the last race. Victory in a given round is determined by the total points earned by the drivers throughout the weekend, with two additional points for the fastest lap.

Julia Angelard: time to catch up
“Last year I missed the Polish Karting Championship round in Bydgoszcz, so it’s time to catch up this season. Returning to Polish tracks is always a nice change from competing on European and world tracks, where the field is several hundred competitors in one category. I can’t wait to compete in the OK-Junior – this will be my last Polish Karting Championship in this age category, and I intend to give it my all. I’m looking forward to it. I encourage you to visit Kartodrom Bydgoszcz at 116 Fordońska Street and support me this weekend – admission is free, and the competition runs from 12 to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday” – emphasizes the protégé of Minardi Management powered by Dag Ltd.

Julia Angelard’s start schedule in the OK-Junior category
Friday, 15.05.2026
12:50-12:56 – Qualifying training
14:35-14:55 – Final 1
16:40-17:00 – Final 2

Saturday, 16.05.2026
09:50-09:58 – Warm-up
12:25-12:45 – Final 3
14:55-15:15 – Final 4

Saturday’s competition during the third and fourth races of the round will be broadcast live on the PZM YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHk6eaNWiXs.

THE SECRET TO RIVAAN’S SUCCESS

Chennai is home to some of India’s eminent motorsport athletes. Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, both of whom have been F1 Racers in the past, put the city on the motorsports map. But the next generation is destined to elevate the city’s reputation, as their performances have raised eyebrows. One such performance is by Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSPORT. He pulled off a brilliant double by winning both the point scoring Super Heat and Final races in the OK-Junior Class of the Indian Karting Academy Trophy 2026 karting competition at the Meco Kartopia circuit in Bengaluru on Sunday. The event, many believe, is a good preparation for the Meco FMSCI National Karting Championship set to happen later this month.

After failing to top in the practice sessions, qualifying and heats, Rivaan delivered it when it mattered the most, as he finished first in the race. “This is my first year in the junior category and I enjoy the power and speed of the junior engine, but it’s also heavier and much more physical which I’m getting used to,” said an elated Rivaan after the win.

Regular practice at Meco Kartopia in Bengaluru, CoASST Coimbatore, and MIKA in Chennai and inputs from team principal Armaan Ebrahim helped him perform well. “My coaching team comprises Armaan Ebrahim who is the team principal. His feedback and experience is invaluable for me. Rakesh Ramkumar works with me as my personal driving coach. My dad, Preetham Dev Moses, a multiple national champion racer himself, is the best coach I can ask for. He knows exactly how to help me get an edge , wherever I am racing,” explained 13-year-old Rivaan, the first Indian to have a top ten finish in the Rotax Grand finals in Bahrain last year.

Consistency and focus led him to drive to his full potential. “Working through the year consistently is the only way to maintain momentum and fight for the win. Workout, nutrition and seat time leads to a good race weekend. My team — my team principal, coaches and family made it possible. This is an arrive and drive program so we just have to trust the process of engine and equipment being almost equal. I have been driving the regular junior kart from the beginning of the year so that helped me adjust to handling this equipment as well,” he said.

Rivaan’s instincts help him stay ahead of them. “Many of the drivers on the grid have been racing the junior category for a year or more already so they have more experience. Rehan (Khan Rasheed), Rishik (Rohit Reddy), and I began racing at around the same time so we know each other well and they push me to become better and stay ahead. We keep learning from every race, every lap, every practice. The international exposure helps immensely because there is ruthless competition all the way!,” he shared.

Following his win, Rivaan said that he is pleased to see drivers from Tamil Nadu excel. “I’m always happy to see more interest in motorsport for a change and always extremely proud of representing my city and state which has been supportive of us. I would love to follow in the footsteps of Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok from Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Rivaan will be taking part next in Round 2 of the Indian Karting academy trophy in two weeks. Then, he will take part in Round 2 of the Champions of the Future Academy Program in Greece from May 29 to 31.

Ashok Venugopal

IN A RAIN-HIT ROUND, DUDU SALAMONDE FACES TOUGH CHALLENGES AT THE EUROPEAN KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP

The second round of the FIA European Karting Championship put drivers’ adaptability and mental strength to the test at the Lucas Guerrero Karting Circuit in Valencia, Spain. Among those who took on the challenge was Brazilian driver Dudu Salamonde (Minardi Management powered by DAG / EXA Tecnologia / Vero Coco / DKR / RL Eng. Design / Casa Barô / SOMA Blindados / Team: Parolin Racing / Coach: Gianluca Beggio), who endured a weekend defined by persistent rainfall and extremely demanding conditions in the OK category, within a competitive field of 83 drivers.
From the very first free practice sessions, the Spanish round showed signs of being a gruelling weekend. The Valencia region was hit by severe weather instability throughout the event’s activity days, including hailstorms, which significantly limited track time for several teams ahead of the official programme.
“It was a very tough week because of the weather. There was hail during free practice and we ended up missing some sessions before the official schedule began. We already know that the qualifying heats will likely be held in wet conditions, so it’s going to be a real fight,” said the São Paulo native, even before the official activities got underway.
In qualifying, Dudu Salamonde was placed in Group E of his category, setting out the path he would follow across the five qualifying heats of the event. Despite the challenging circumstances, the Brazilian put in consistent performances throughout the opening heats and showed the ability to respond under adversity.
In the first two heats, Salamonde demonstrated strong pace and carved his way through the field, gaining a combined total of eight positions across both races. His aggressive driving style and capacity to adapt to the ever-changing conditions of the Spanish circuit drew attention throughout the paddock.
The second day of qualifying heats brought even more drama for the Parolin Racing factory driver. Dudu returned to the track for three further races, with Heat 4 standing out as the highlight of his weekend. The Brazilian pulled off ten overtakes during the race — a performance that underlined his raw potential even in the most difficult of conditions.
In the final heat of the programme, with the track having dried out, Dudu was unable to complete the opening lap after the start. The incident directly impacted the points tally he needed to progress in the event and cut short a recovery drive that had been steadily building throughout the weekend in Spain.
Salamonde concluded his participation just three points shy of a Super Heat berth, bringing his campaign at the second round of the European Karting Championship to an earlier-than-expected end. Even so, his competitive performances amid such adverse conditions provided encouraging signs for the next stages of his international season.
“We came so close to making the Super Heat, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of effort or commitment — from me or from the entire team. Everyone worked incredibly hard during these days in Valencia, especially with track conditions that were changing every single lap. Now it’s about staying focused, because we still have a lot ahead of us,” said the driver from São Paulo.
With little time to dwell on what has passed, Dudu Salamonde is already looking ahead to his next continental assignment. The Brazilian will travel to Mülsen, Germany, where he will compete in the third round of the FIA European Karting Championship from June 11 to 14.
The races will take place at the Motorsport Arena — a circuit located just over 80 kilometres from Leipzig — in yet another important milestone in the Parolin Racing driver’s international journey.

Press Office: Kako Marques / KMCom Press
Follow Dudu Salamonde on Instagram: @eduardosalamonde