Italian driver Valerio Viapiana has gained the primary ever FIA Karting Shootout (Junior) after 4 days of intensive analysis and evaluation in Valencia. The Shootout was designed and funded by the FIA to place the rising stars of motor sport via their paces, difficult the younger drivers intensely and in the end crowning a junior karting winner of the winners for 2025.
Out of 1217 driver entries throughout the 2025 FIA Karting season, simply eight junior drivers earned a spot on the inaugural Karting Shootout because of their success within the FIA’s karting cups, championships and trophies during the last yr. The FIA Karting Shootout has been rigorously crafted to evaluate drivers based mostly on a number of standards because the governing physique for motor sport appears to be like to assist, recognise and reward well-rounded and promising racers who embody the way forward for the game.
The week started with classes within the gymnasium, simulator and classroom, the place judges evaluated drivers on their energy, agility, pace, and resilience, key attributes important for achievement on monitor. Utilising the world-class amenities of Campos Racing, the drivers had been additionally launched to the simulator for the primary time as they started to introduce information, metrics and detailed insights into their racing preparation and evaluation.
The shootout rivals moved to Aspar Circuit on Thursday and Friday driving in similar karts supplied by Parolin Motorsport on tyres equipped by LeCont. Laying down laps throughout the two days of operating, the drivers acquired technical suggestions from Parolin’s driver trainers who had been monitoring their enhancements and the drivers’ responsiveness to technical suggestions.
By this morning, solely tenths of a second separated the sphere on monitor leaving the judges to spend the afternoon analysing the finer particulars that distinguish excellence amongst a gaggle of drivers who had all demonstrated exceptional promise and potential all through the week. Combing via the suggestions and information from the on-track and off-track evaluation, the judging panel deliberated intensively and eventually reached a call on Friday night, choosing Italian driver Viapiana because the 2025 FIA Karting Shootout Junior Winner.
Saying the winner, FIA Karting Fee President, Akbar Ebrahim, stated:“Valerio displayed unimaginable uncooked expertise and racing potential throughout the 4 days of evaluation. His perseverance and adaptableness to a brand new kart and unfamiliar monitor, his consistency throughout all evaluation standards and his constructive engagement with the technical suggestions displayed all of the qualities of a promising future champion.
“All the junior individuals of this yr’s FIA Karting Shootout approached the occasion with an admirable dedication to studying, growing and rising within the sport – one thing they need to all be extremely pleased with. I’m assured they are going to proceed to shine in our sport and carry ahead the precious classes gained right here into their racing careers subsequent season.”
Valerio Viapiana, 2025 FIA Karting Junior Shootout Winner, stated: „Profitable means a lot to me as a result of it’ll assist me for subsequent season in OK-Senior and making the World Championship. I realized a lot within the first two days and in addition on monitor so I am very pleased with this.“ Valerio Viapiana earned his spot within the shootout after ending second within the 2025 FIA Karting World Championship (OK-J) and can obtain a prize of free tyres, gasoline and entries for as much as 5 FIA Karting occasions in 2026 plus a monetary contribution to an FIA Karting staff of 6,000 euros per occasion.
The runners-up had been introduced as Troy Ferguson from the USA in second place who got here to Valencia recent from his victory within the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup and Michele Orlando from Italy in third place.
Ferguson and Orlando will obtain free tyres, gasoline and entries for as much as 5 FIA Karting occasions in 2026 plus a monetary contribution to an FIA Karting staff of three,000 euros per occasion.
The complete record of entries to the 2025 FIA Karting Shootout (Junior) had been:
Tomasz Cichoracki (POL)Troy Ferguson (USA)Gioele Girardello (ITA)Maël Le Marchand (FRA)Michele Orlando (ITA)Nojus Stasionis (LIT)Oiva Vettenranta (FIN)Valerio Viapiana (ITA)
Tomorrow, Saturday 6 December, will see the seven FIA Karting Senior Shootout rivals take to the monitor in Formulation 4 vehicles in what will probably be a serious milestone of their racing journeys. A senior winner will probably be introduced on Sunday 7 December the winner receiving a transformational prize of 250,000 euros in the direction of a Formulation 4 championship.
