The sun rose over Campillos with anticipation in the air as the first official day of competitive running got underway at the opening round of the 2025 FIA Karting European Championship. With Friday featuring Qualifying Practice followed by the opening heats for both OK and OK-Junior, drivers were thrust straight into the heart of the competition, with no room for hesitation.
Qualifying Practice Sets the Benchmark
The day kicked off with crucial Qualifying Practice sessions that would determine starting grids for the heats. At the top of the OK field, it was Chiara Battig (ITA) who stunned the paddock with a blistering lap to take pole position and earn the newly-designed Maxxis Racing Pole Position Award. She was followed closely by heavy hitters Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL), Thomas Pradier (FRA), Dries Van Langendonck (BEL), and Jindřich Pešl (CZE) — all proving early that the fight at the front would be tight.
In the Junior ranks, it was Iskender Zulfikari (TUR) who rose to the occasion, claiming the Maxxis Pole Award with a superb qualifying effort. Right behind him, Dean Hoogendoorn (NLD), Henry Domain (GBR), William Calleja (AUS), and Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) filled out a top five stacked with talent and potential.
First Heats Bring the Fire
Once the qualifying order was set, the first wave of Qualifying Heat races took to the track — and the pressure turned up fast.
Among the senior OK contenders, the early form continued with Ramaekers, Van Langendonck, and Pešl all taking strong results in their opening heats, delivering calculated and confident drives. Christian Costoya (ESP) also made his presence felt with clean, consistent pace, also claiming a heat win.
In Junior, after Ilie Crisan claimed the first win, the tone remained intense as Zulfikari converted his pole into a heat win, while Hoogendoorn and Domain each picked up victories of their own, proving that the top names in qualifying were ready to back it up in race trim. Calleja and Pizzonia remained well in the mix, putting in solid drives to keep themselves in contention going into Saturday.
With more qualifying heats to come on Saturday, and Sunday’s Super Heats and Finals waiting on the horizon, Day 2 made it clear: the field is tight, the pace is hot, and the 2025 European title fight is officially on.
