The 202 drivers of the weekend inaugurated the Trinec track in the Czech Republic in good conditions at the second round of the FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and the first round of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy.

With rain forecast for the next few days, the Qualifying session benefited from a dry surface allowing the participants to fine-tune their skills on the 1223m long, twisty Czech track. Trinec is making an emphatic debut on the FIA Karting calendar. The weather was quite cloudy and temperatures were around 15°.

MG Tyres is the supplier of the "Prime" tyres for the OK category, while Vega supplies the "Option" tyres for the OK-Junior category and the Academy Trophy.

Wherrell the fastest in OK-Junior

The Briton Lewis Wherrell of the Forza Racing team set the fastest time of the 77 participants in the FIA Karting European Championship - Junior present in Trinec - 52''848 - in the second session, a tenth ahead of the leader of the provisional ranking, the Belgian Thibaut Ramaekers, while Christian Costoya (ESP) was 3rd. Belgium's Dries van Langendonck was the fastest in the first session in 52'954 against Tobias Szecsenyi (CZE) and Maria Gerrmano Nieto (PRT). In the third session, Ukrainian Oleksandr Bondarev, 2nd in the ranking, dominated the third session with his second-fastest lap of 53''117, closely followed by Zac Drummond (GBR) and Jack Iliffe (USA).

Results of the OK-Junior Qualifying Practice

1- Lewis Wherrell (GBR)

2- Dries van Langendonck (BEL)

3- Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR)

4- Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL)

5- Tobias Szecsenyi (CZE)

6- Zac Drummond (GBR)

Gomez makes the difference in OK

The current leader in the provisional standings of the FIA Karting European Championship - OK, the Brazilian Gabriel Gomez, driving under an Italian licence, was more than three tenths ahead of his rivals in the second session with a time of 51''654. Mark Dubnitski (EST) and Luka Sammalisto (FIN) completed the top three. In the third session, the second-placed Rene Lammers (NLD) was just ahead of Tomass Stolcermanis (LVA) and Ean Eyckmans (BEL). Danish driver David Walther was the fastest in Session 1 against Alex Powell (JAM) and Fionn Mc Laughlin (IRL).

Results of the OK Qualifying Practice

1- Gabriel Gomez (ITA)

2- Rene Lammers (NLD)

3- David Walther (DNK)

4- Mark Dubnitski (EST)

5- Tomass Stolcermanis (LVA)

6- Alex Powell (JAM)

Close battle between Barry-Berg and Broughan in the Academy

The 2023 FIA Karting Academy Trophy at Trinec involves 45 young drivers between the ages of 12 and 15 driving identical Exprit/Vortex karts drawn at random. Qualifying Practice was a close race between Marius Barry-Berg (NOR), the poleman on 53''867, and Arthur Broughan (NZL), leader of the second session, who followed him by a thousandth of a second. Markas Silkunas (LTU) finished second in Session 1, three tenths behind the poleman, and Hugo Marti (ESP) took third place. In the second session, Sebastian Garzon (COL) took second place 0.180" behind the leader and ahead of Max Walton (AUS).

Results of the Academy Qualifying Practice

1- Marius Barry-Berg (NOR)

2- Arthur Broughan (NZL)

3- Markas Silkunas (LTU)

4- Sebastian Garzon (COL)

5- Hugo Marti (ESP)

6- Max Walton (AUS)

Poland's Klara Kowalczyk, representing the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, was 12th, while France's Lisa Billard was 16th.

Provisional programme for the Třinec event

Saturday 20th May

08:30 - 09:56: Warm-up

10:02 - 18:57: Qualifying Heats

Sunday 21st May

08:30 - 09:40: Warm-up

09:45 - 10:20: Academy Qualifying Heats

10.25 - 12.00: OK and OK-Junior Super Heats

13:15 - 15:50: Finals

The Třinec event can be followed on the official FIA Karting Championship app for mobile devices and on the website www.fiakarting.com.