The 2025 season was a landmark yr for FIA Karting, outlined by on-track battles, the emergence of a brand new technology of motor sport stars and the introduction of recent competitions and codecs that ushered the self-discipline right into a daring new period. The FIA Karting Awards in Paris this night, 10 January 2026, offered a fittingly grand backdrop to have a good time an iconic yr for karting because the champions, winners and standout opponents gathered at Place Vendôme within the coronary heart of the French capital.
Reflecting on a yr of exceptional development for FIA Karting, visitors had been addressed by Akbar Ebrahim, FIA Karting Fee President and Alberto Villarreal, FIA Common Supervisor, who each celebrated the 25% enhance in driver entries recorded from 2024 to 2025. 1217 drivers from 86 nationalities entered FIA Karting occasions final yr, a testomony to the continued success of the FIA’s International Karting Plan and the dedication set out by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to broaden karting and develop the bottom of the motor sport pyramid.
Kicking off the awards ceremony, the workforce championship trophies had been awarded to Prema Racing, Sodikart, CPB Sport and Maranello Kart who all celebrated a triumphant yr on monitor having powered an action-packed karting season throughout the FIA Karting World Championships and Cups.
The primary driver award of the night went to a rising star who actually made his mark in FIA Karting final yr. Expectations had been excessive as James Anagnostiadis moved to the OK class and he actually didn’t disappoint, claiming pole within the Mondokart.com World Championship ultimate and an eventual fourth place he will be extremely pleased with. His spectacular season has rightly earned him FIA Karting Rookie of the 12 months – OK and solidified his place as a driver to look at over the 2026 season.
The hotly-contested FIA European Championships offered a dramatic begin to the 2025 season. 5 European Champions, every of various nationality, all acquired their trophies this night together with congratulations from their fellow drivers, groups and members of the Worldwide Karting Fee who assembled to honour the celebs of the game.
The FIA Karting Academy Trophy, which expanded final yr to incorporate a senior class, continued to supply a world platform for the champions of tomorrow to shine. Within the junior class, Oiva Vettenranta clinched victory throughout a memorable ultimate lap showdown in Cremona, while Yuzuki Sato conquered the difficult circumstances of Rødby, ending 31 factors forward of his nearest rival to be declared the primary FIA Karting Academy Trophy senior winner.
Sato would go on to finally win the primary FIA Karting Senior Shootout in Valencia in December, securing a transformational prize of 250,000 euros in direction of an FIA-certified Method 4 championship, rounding off an unimaginable yr of success for the younger Japanese racer.
Within the OK-N and OK-NJ classes, two Italian drivers claimed World Cup glory on house soil in Cremona. Manuel Scognamiglio (OK-N) and Gioele Girardello (OK-NJ) each delivered commanding and seemingly unstoppable performances, securing victories that introduced the partisan Italian crowd to its toes in September.
Franciacorta as soon as once more hosted a spectacular weekend in direction of the tip of the season within the gearbox KZ classes. With packed grandstands, a 250-strong entry record and seamless organisation the weekend will dwell lengthy within the reminiscence, and was this night fittingly awarded Finest Occasion of the 2025 FIA Karting Championship season, an award collected by Raffaella Giacomini, Franciacorta Circuit Supervisor.
Throughout that weekend, Maksim Orlov memorably reclaimed his lead throughout the finals of the KZ2 race to win the FIA Karting World Cup, while the conflict between Italians Angelo Lombardo and Davide Fore performed out with an intense head-to-head monitor battle, finally gained by Lombardo, securing him the Worldwide Masters Tremendous Cup KZ2 trophy.
Consideration throughout tonight’s ceremony then turned to the standout new occasion of the 2025 FIA Karting season – the inaugural FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup, held in Malaysia. A landmark occasion on the 2025 calendar, it introduced collectively 107 opponents from 50 nations in a brand new reasonably priced, accessible format championed by the FIA to widen participation and scale back the obstacles of entry into motor sport.
The LYL Worldwide Circuit hosted an unforgettable weekend of racing with the junior ultimate gained by Troy Ferguson, who started his penultimate lap in sixth place earlier than delivering a blistering ultimate couple of laps to win the primary FIA Karting Junior Arrive and Drive World Cup. In the meantime within the senior class it was Zach Tucker who delivered an assured efficiency to maintain his kart forward regardless of the torrential Malaysian climate, securing the FIA Karting Senior Arrive and Drive World Cup.
Lastly, the 2025 FIA Karting World Champions acquired essentially the most prestigious honours of the night. They arrived in Paris recent from the FIA Awards in Tashkent, the most important night time in world motor sport, the place they joined 2025’s World Champions from throughout the FIA’s seven World Championships.
Noah Baglin, who bounced again from the heartbreak of his final-lap drama in 2024 to dominate the OK-Junior class with a profitable margin of over 4 seconds, Thibaut Ramaekers, who surged from fifth on the grid to grab the OK title and Senna van Walstijn, who saved his composure to assert his first FIA Karting World Championship crown in KZ, every took to the stage in Paris to be honoured by the worldwide karting group.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, stated:
“2025 was an unimaginable yr for world karting improvement as we superior our FIA International Karting Plan and delivered new funding. Congratulations to everybody who made the yr successful and to all Champions and award winners.
As we glance forward, the FIA is dedicated to constructing on our progress, empowering the subsequent technology with FIA Karting occasions in areas around the globe, new continental Arrive and Drive Championships and an expanded FIA Karting calendar. Collectively, we’ll make 2026 a golden yr of karting.”
Akbar Ebrahim, FIA Karting Fee President, stated:
“The FIA Karting Awards this night had been a becoming celebration of the distinctive performances, willpower and sacrifice that made 2025 an iconic yr for karting. My congratulations to all of the champions and winners who’ve all displayed nice expertise and promise. As we glance to the upcoming 2026 season I’m assured this yr can be a transformational yr for FIA Karting.”
The 2026 FIA Karting season will characteristic an expanded calendar, together with new FIA Karting Arrive and Drive Continental Championships and the FIA Karting World Championship (OK, OK-J) hosted in Bahrain. The season will start in Italy over 10 -12 April 2026 for the primary spherical of the FIA Karting European Championship on the iconic La Conca Circuit.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact FIA Sport Communications Supervisor, Omar Sharif: osharif@fia.com
