The 24-year-old Frenchman capped off a flawless weekend by claiming his first FIA European KZ title, seven years after his breakthrough success in KZ2 in 2019. It was a bitter ending for Viktor Gustafsson, who, without the incident at Genk, would likely have secured the premier-class crown. In KZ2, Kimi Tani delivered a perfect, mistake-free weekend, holding off Matheus Morgatto all the way to the finish to earn a fully deserved championship and become the first Finnish driver ever to win a European KZ2 title.
Published: 06 July 2026
Columns: Races
Following Emilien Denner’s penalty for moving before the start in the first of yesterday’s Qualifying Heats, it was Viktor Gustafsson that started the KZ Super Heat on pole position – but the Swede’s advantage did not last long. By virtue of a superior getaway when the lights went out, Denner was in front by the time the field arrived at Turn One, thereafter comfortably controlling proceedings throughout to deservedly earn himself the top spot on the grid for the Final.
There, another lightning-fast launch propelled the Formula K SRP Factory Team star into an immediate lead, and by the end of the opening lap alone, he was already over a second clear of his closest pursuer. Like he has done so often this weekend, Denner then managed the race to perfection, and his reward was not only victory, but – against all odds, having entered the event sitting just seventh in the points – the 2026 European Championship trophy. “I didn’t know I was champion until afterwards!” he confessed, overcome with emotion once the chequered flag fell. “I was just really focused on winning the race – that already made me really happy, as we have been through quite a difficult time as a team.
There, another lightning-fast launch propelled the Formula K SRP Factory Team star into an immediate lead, and by the end of the opening lap alone, he was already over a second clear of his closest pursuer. Like he has done so often this weekend, Denner then managed the race to perfection, and his reward was not only victory, but – against all odds, having entered the event sitting just seventh in the points – the 2026 European Championship trophy. “I didn’t know I was champion until afterwards!” he confessed, overcome with emotion once the chequered flag fell. “I was just really focused on winning the race – that already made me really happy, as we have been through quite a difficult time as a team.
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Gustafsson starred at Sarno but ultimately finished third in the championship, 12 points behind Denner. The outcome of the Genk round undoubtedly played a decisive role in the Swede's European title campaign
“We’ve worked so hard and I’ve come close to either a European or World Championship title so many times, so to win the European Championship is just amazing. Hopefully now, our bad luck is gone and we can continue in this way.” Reigning champion Matteo Spirgel made it a French one-two and was another driver to defy expectations. The Sodikart star finished an excellent third in the Super Heat despite having to contend with older tyres than the majority of his front-running rivals, and in the Final, he then swiftly overhauled Viktor Gustafsson to make second place his own.
On home soil, Giuseppe Palomba rounded out the rostrum in third after emerging on top of a fierce multi-kart battle, pulling off impressive passes on Gustafsson, Daniel Vasile and Jean Nomblot as he scythed through the pack. Nomblot finished fourth ahead of Gustafsson, who was ultimately unable to convert his front row starting slot into a successful title tilt, while the three pre-eminent championship protagonists arriving at Sarno – Stan Pex, Adrian Malheiro Suñe and Danilo Albanese – all similarly saw their championship hopes evaporate.
The Italian – the points leader in the title hunt going into the last day of the season – came closest, taking the chequered flag eighth in the Final to secure the runner-up spoils in the overall standings behind Denner, with Gustafsson winding up third ahead of Pex, Vasile and Malheiro Suñe.
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Tani was outstanding throughout the weekend, securing the first-ever European KZ2 title for both Finland and Parolin
KZ2
Kimi Tani might have only been fifth in the championship classification heading into the weekend, but the ice-cool Finn expertly handled the heat to master the Circuito Internazionale Napoli in the KZ2 category from the moment racing began. The story was no different on Sunday. After confidently keeping title rival Matheus Morgatto at bay in the first of the two Super Heats to extend his winning run, the talented teenager fended off an early challenge in the Final prior to stretching his legs, going on to take the chequered flag almost three seconds to the good – in so doing, becoming not only the first of his countrymen but also the first Parolin driver ever to claim a European KZ2 crown.
“I don’t know what to say!” a speechless Tani commented afterwards. “I struggled a bit in the first round at Genk, but we managed to finish third in the final and now here, we dominated throughout. Honestly, I’ve never felt like this before.” Morgatto ultimately secured the runner-up position in the championship classification at the conclusion of a weekend during which he was a leading protagonist from the outset. The Brazilian kept Tani on his toes towards the end of the pair’s Super Heat on Sunday, and after initially falling to fifth in the Final, he went on to get the better of Sem Knopjes and – following a prolonged duel – Qualifying Practice pace-setter, Maximilian Schleimer.
That earned Morgatto the last podium spot, pipped to second place in the race by Genis Civico Espona, which secured the Spaniard fourth position in the title table, 11 points adrift of Tony Kart team-mate Schleimer in third, with the German crossing the finish line fifth in the Final behind Knopjes. The top two in the standings arriving in Italy – Elie Goldstein and Arthur Lehouck – slipped to fifth and seventh in the end. The Belgian found himself tipped into a spin in his Super Heat prior to stopping on the last lap, before fighting through from 20th to ninth in the Final, while the Frenchman was never truly in the mix at Sarno, taking the flag in a distant 30th position.
“I don’t know what to say!” a speechless Tani commented afterwards. “I struggled a bit in the first round at Genk, but we managed to finish third in the final and now here, we dominated throughout. Honestly, I’ve never felt like this before.” Morgatto ultimately secured the runner-up position in the championship classification at the conclusion of a weekend during which he was a leading protagonist from the outset. The Brazilian kept Tani on his toes towards the end of the pair’s Super Heat on Sunday, and after initially falling to fifth in the Final, he went on to get the better of Sem Knopjes and – following a prolonged duel – Qualifying Practice pace-setter, Maximilian Schleimer.
That earned Morgatto the last podium spot, pipped to second place in the race by Genis Civico Espona, which secured the Spaniard fourth position in the title table, 11 points adrift of Tony Kart team-mate Schleimer in third, with the German crossing the finish line fifth in the Final behind Knopjes. The top two in the standings arriving in Italy – Elie Goldstein and Arthur Lehouck – slipped to fifth and seventh in the end. The Belgian found himself tipped into a spin in his Super Heat prior to stopping on the last lap, before fighting through from 20th to ninth in the Final, while the Frenchman was never truly in the mix at Sarno, taking the flag in a distant 30th position.
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