Italian driver Valerio Viapiana has gained the primary ever FIA Karting Shootout (Junior) after 4 days of in depth analysis and evaluation in Valencia. The Shootout was designed and funded by the FIA to place the rising stars of motor sport by way of 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 over the past yr. The FIA Karting Shootout has been fastidiously crafted to evaluate drivers based mostly on a number of standards because the governing physique for motor sport seems to be to help, recognise and reward well-rounded and promising racers who embody the way forward for the game.
The week started with classes within the health club, simulator and classroom, the place judges evaluated drivers on their energy, agility, velocity, and resilience, key attributes important for fulfillment on monitor. Utilising the world-class services of Campos Racing, the drivers have been additionally launched to the simulator for the primary time as they started to introduce knowledge, metrics and detailed insights into their racing preparation and evaluation.
The shootout rivals moved to Aspar Circuit on Thursday and Friday driving in equivalent karts offered by Parolin Motorsport on tyres provided by LeCont. Laying down laps throughout the two days of working, the drivers acquired technical suggestions from Parolin’s driver trainers who have 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 outstanding promise and potential all through the week. Combing by way of the suggestions and knowledge from the on-track and off-track evaluation, the judging panel deliberated intensively and at last reached a call on Friday night, deciding on Italian driver Viapiana because the 2025 FIA Karting Shootout Junior Winner.
Saying the winner, FIA Karting Fee President, Akbar Ebrahim, stated:
“Valerio displayed unbelievable 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.
“The entire junior contributors 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 may proceed to shine in our sport and carry ahead the dear 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’s going to assist me for subsequent season in OK-Senior and making the World Championship. I discovered a lot within the first two days and likewise 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, gas and entries for as much as 5 FIA Karting occasions in 2026 plus a monetary contribution to an FIA Karting workforce of 6,000 euros per occasion.
The runners-up have been introduced as Troy Ferguson from the USA in second place who got here to Valencia contemporary 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, gas and entries for as much as 5 FIA Karting occasions in 2026 plus a monetary contribution to an FIA Karting workforce of three,000 euros per occasion.
The complete listing of entries to the 2025 FIA Karting Shootout (Junior) have 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 Method 4 vehicles in what will likely be a significant milestone of their racing journeys. A senior winner will likely be introduced on Sunday 7 December the winner receiving a transformational prize of 250,000 euros in direction of a Method 4 championship.
