Round 3 of the Champions of the Future Academy Program continued on Sunday at the historic Pista Azzurra in Jesolo. A brand-new day with a fresh Timed Qualifying, two more Qualifying Heats, and a second Final for each category. Threatening clouds hung over the circuit for the second part of the day, but the feared rain never arrived, with the track staying dry at around 27–29°C, ideal conditions for a dramatic weekend conclusion.
With valuable championship points on the line, Sunday offered drivers a chance to bounce back after Saturday’s first round of Finals, where Burgess, Kreeft, and Woda had claimed the top step of the podium. Across Sunday’s results, Perico’s dominant performance, Clancy’s second win of the season, and Micallef’s strong final push confirmed just how intense the fight for the titles will be as the program heads toward its final rounds.
Mini60: Perico’s Perfect Sunday
Niccolò Perico had a stellar Sunday, delivering a perfect day of racing. He topped Time Qualifying, then confidently controlled both Qualifying Heats from the front.
In the Final, Perico converted pole into a flawless victory while setting the fastest lap. Mattis Brageot held on to second after an early challenge, followed by Lorenzo Zucchetto, who made up three places in the Final. Vicente Capela and Jan Gardzielik completed the top five, the latter producing a stellar drive to gain six positions. Guido Ebergenyi took U10 class honors in P17.
OK-N Junior: Clancy Doubles Up
The Junior field was as close as ever on Sunday, with Julia Angelard putting it on pole ahead of Benjamin Westwood and Angelina Simons. Angelard carried that speed into Heat 1 with a composed win to secure pole for the Final, but Conor Clancy struck back in Heat 2 after a red-flag interruption.
In the Final, Clancy was unstoppable, taking the lead from Angelard on lap 3 and setting the fastest lap on his way to becoming the first two-time winner in the OK-N Junior category this season. Angelard earned her season-best finish in second after a race-long scrap with Kacper Rajpold, who claimed third, while Simons and Nathan Kappen completed the top five.
OK-N Senior: Micallef Strikes Back
Wojciech Woda was the class of the field in Sunday’s qualifying, but in Heat 1 it was Klara Kowalczyk who seized victory with a decisive move on lap four. Heat 2 then went Micallef’s way after he made a clean move early and managed the race from the front, with Kowalczyk and Bättig completing the top three.
In the Final, Kowalczyk led the opening seven laps before Micallef executed a precise overtake on lap 8 to take the lead, then held on to win by just 0.667s after 20 tough laps. Kowalczyk kept him under pressure and finished second, with Chiara Bättig third, making two-thirds of the podium for Discover Your Drive Initiative drivers. Guido Bidoli and Sebastian Ng Degracia rounded out the top five, the latter climbing from eighth on the grid.
With Round 3 concluded, the championship is now at its halfway point as attention shifts to the Slovak Karting Centre from September 19–21, where the battle for the Academy Program title will only intensify.
