Franciacorta is ready to host its first FIA European Karting OK and OKJ Championships

There have been few steps that the Castrezzato (BS) track has had to face between 2021 and 2022, a long path that has led the circuit and the staff to perfect themselves race after race, already hosting international and national events with success and a lot of experience gathered for the big summer event.

On the weekend now approaching, the FIA Karting Circus will officially land on the circuit for the first time, on the occasion of the last round on the calendar which, thanks also to a spectacular season, will award the European Champion titles in both categories. A historic first time for the circuit and immediately decisive that will bring the venue to be remembered and decisive in a new chapter of the sporting history of international karting.

At the beginning of the year on the occasion of the RGMMC Winter Series and a fortnight ago with the RGMMC Champions Of The Future, Franciacorta was able to carry out the "general tests" with the same protagonists of the European Championship on the track with a format very similar to that of the continental competition.

Coming to the sporting side, as anticipated, it will be a weekend not to be missed with the fight for the title in OK Senior contested by Tony Kart driver Joe Turney and direct rivals Kean Nakamura Berta (Kart Republic) and Alex Powell (Kart Republic). All eyes are on Turney, author of two victories in the first part of the season and fresh winner at Franciacorta of the Champions Of The Future general classification. The English driver, however, will have to watch his back from those who aim to emerge at the decisive moment, namely the Japanese Nakamura-Berta, already World Champion of the last OKJ season, and constantly lurking with constant podium placings. Probably a tougher mission but not a foregone conclusion for Alex Powell, who is back in the running after his splendid victory in the previous round in Sweden.

In the OKJ category too it will be battle right from free practice with the two main drivers vying for a place in the Olympus of karting. In fact, the Briton Nathan Tye (Sodi Kart) and Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin) will compete in a duel to the last braking. Tye was able to charm everyone with his driving skills and victory in Spain, where Khavalkin himself was forced to skip the event due to bureaucratic problems. Despite the “zero points” in the classification,Khavalkin had the great ability to cancel out the disadvantage by dominating the previous weekend far and wide, bringing his gap to just four points. In addition to Tye and Khavalkin not to be forgotten is Dmitry Matveev, currently third in the standings and still in the running as the other outsiders in the category.
Great expectations for the finals on Sunday 10 July, anticipated by a real show before the starting grid. On the Franciacorta Karting Track, besides the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the circuit's second birthday, with the presence of the local authorities, there will be several components of a unique and unmissable show. Mameli's anthem will be sung by the splendid young voices of the Coro del Sorriso di Montello (BG), directed by Mariantonia Sarasin, a reality now well established in the area and beyond. There will then be a performance by the Cus Bergamo Dance Section, another reality of the territory that combines creative dance, classical, modern, hip hop and cheerdance. Closing in beauty with an aerial performance by the Skyteam Cremona Parachuting School. The show will be coordinated by Par. Nozza Massimiliano, President of the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia sez. Valcavallina (BG), with  his colleague and President of the Aviosuperfice, Costa Volpino and pilot Bonafini Giovanni. There will be nine parachutists to launch (seven with open-wing trailing flags and two practising canopy). A sixty-square-metre tricolour flag carried by parachutist Verzeroli Vilmer will be present, while the other six smaller flags representing the organizations will be associated with the parachutists: Bassi Nicola, Tavola Arnaldo, Cereda Vincenzo, Leonardo Bruno, Piana Giovanni Maria, Bonati Claudio, and the two canopyists Carlini Renzo and Di Donato Ciro.

The weekend's timetable is confirmed, starting on Thursday 7 July with the first unofficial free practice sessions, and then moving on to the heart of the weekend from Friday 8 July.

Friday 8 July
09:00 - 11:55: Free Practice
12:05 - 13:31: Qualifying Practice
14:40 - 17:55: Qualifying Heats

Saturday, 9 July
09:00 - 10:13: Warm-up
10:20 - 17:55: Qualifying Heats

Sunday 10 July
09:00 - 10:05: Warm-up
10:10 - 11:45: Super Heats
13:15 - 14:40: Finals

*On Saturday and Sunday, the entire race program will be streamed on fiakarting.com and on the FIA Karting YouTube channel.