Baglin and Anagnostiadis Triumph in Thrilling Campillos Karting Opener
The Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship OK & OK Junior roared into life at the demanding Campillos circuit in Spain, delivering a weekend of intense battles, dramatic overtakes, and unexpected twists across both the OK Junior and OK categories. The opening round witnessed the emergence of new frontrunners and underlined the fierce competition that characterises this prestigious championship. Despite an initial soaking of the track, the Andalusian sun eventually shone on a spectacular display of karting prowess, culminating in captivating finals that saw Noah Baglin of Great Britain (Prema Racing) secure victory in the OK Junior class and Australia’s James Anagnostiadis (Prema Racing) emerge triumphant in the senior OK category after a nail-biting race.
Tillotson Carburettors on Pole
The weekend commenced with Time Qualifying, a crucial session that would determine the starting order for the Qualifying Heats. In the OK Junior class, it was Iskender Zulfikari of Turkey who, representing his nation, laid down the gauntlet, securing pole position. Zulfikari, showcasing impressive pace for his Forza Racing team, set the benchmark and signalled his intentions for a strong start to the championship. Meanwhile, in the senior OK category, it was Switzerland’s Chiara Battig who stole the headlines with a blistering lap time, earning her the coveted pole position. Battig’s achievement was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time in over 25 years that a female driver had secured pole position in an FIA European direct drive class. Driving for the VictoryLane team, her performance on the Friday hinted at a potentially groundbreaking weekend.
The Qualifying Heats
The Qualifying Heats, comprising a total of 30 races across the two categories, then unfolded over Friday and Saturday, providing a relentless stream of action and reshuffling the initial order. A brief rain shower on Friday afternoon did briefly impact one of the OK heats, forcing drivers onto wet tyres, but the track soon dried, allowing for the remainder of the heats to be contested in improving conditions. The 1,580-metre Campillos circuit proved to be a fantastic stage for racing, with overtaking a constant feature throughout the field in both categories. From the initial entry lists of 89 OK drivers and 84 OK Junior competitors, only the top 72 in each class would progress to the crucial Super Heats on Sunday morning.
In the OK Junior Heats, while Zulficari initially maintained a strong presence, winning four consecutive races, an incident in his final heat led to a retirement, dropping him to third in the intermediate rankings. Capitalising on this, Great Britain’s Noah Baglin, driving for the esteemed Prema Racing team, showcased remarkable consistency, securing three wins, a second place, and a third. This stellar performance propelled him to the top of the OK Junior standings after the heats, taking over the lead. Behind him, Spain’s Bosco Arias, competing on home soil, also demonstrated strong pace, securing two heat wins and positioning himself in second place in the intermediate classification. Henry Domain of Great Britain, representing the Energy team, and Australia’s William Calleja, driving for Exprit, also secured multiple heat wins and occupied fourth and fifth positions respectively heading into Sunday. However, Calleja’s progress was hampered by an incident during the heats. Conversely, Canada’s Ilie Crisan endured a difficult day, with two disqualifications causing him to plummet down the order. Notably, the heats also saw victories for drivers who had not featured prominently in qualifying, including Spain’s Benjamin Manach and Italy’s Giacomo Giusto.
The senior OK Qualifying Heats witnessed Chiara Battig continue her impressive form, securing five top-three finishes, including three victories. However, Belgium’s Thibaut Ramaekers, driving for VDK Racing, put in an almost identical performance, marred only by a significant loss of positions in one heat, placing him second in the intermediate rankings. A remarkable comeback story unfolded for Australia’s James Anagnostiadis, also representing Prema Racing. Starting down in 25th position after qualifying, Anagnostiadis executed five perfectly controlled runs, remarkably climbing 22 places to third in the intermediate standings.
Super Heats
Sunday dawned with anticipation for the Super Heats, the final opportunity for drivers to solidify their positions for the all-important Finals. In the OK Junior category, Noah Baglin further cemented his lead by winning his Super Heat. Joining him on the front row for the Final would be his Prema Racing teammate, Netherlands’ Dean Hoogendoorn, who also secured a victory in his Super Heat. The Super Heats whittled down the field to just 36 finalists in each category.
The OK category Super Heats saw Thibaut Ramaekers and James Anagnostiadis emerge victorious, setting up an intriguing front row for their Final, with Ramaekers starting ahead. Battig, unfortunately, was involved in a race incident during her Super Heat, impacting her starting position for the Final.
Finals
The stage was then set for the Finals, the culmination of the weekend’s racing. The OK Junior Final, contested over 16 laps, began with Noah Baglin starting from pole position alongside his Prema Racing teammate Dean Hoogendoorn. Despite the unfavourable outside line, Baglin executed a clean start, capitalising on an open track to establish an early advantage of around a second. Hoogendoorn, starting from the inside of the front row, found himself initially dropping back to fifth by the end of the first lap. Behind Baglin, Iskender Zulfikari slotted into second place despite the grid switch.
Throughout the race, Baglin maintained a composed and controlled lead, showcasing the pace and maturity that has marked him as a rising star. Behind him, a fierce battle for the remaining podium positions unfolded. Bosco Arias, enjoying the support of his home crowd, initially held second place, leading the chasing pack. However, Dean Hoogendoorn was determined to regain ground, steadily working his way back through the field, eventually reclaiming second position. The fight for third place intensified in the latter stages of the race, with Australia’s William Calleja mounting significant pressure on Arias. In a dramatic final lap, Calleja made a decisive move, overtaking the Spanish driver to snatch the final step on the podium.
At the chequered flag, it was Noah Baglin of Great Britain (Prema Racing) who secured a dominant victory, leading from start to finish despite strong competition. His Prema Racing teammate, Dean Hoogendoorn of the Netherlands, finished a strong second. Completing the podium in third place was William Calleja of Australia (Forza Racing), whose late-race heroics secured him a well-deserved trophy. While Baglin celebrated his triumph, it was revealed that he was under investigation for a potential infringement at the start, casting a temporary shadow over his victory. However, the final classification stood, confirming his win.
The senior OK Final, contested over 19 laps, promised a thrilling encounter with Thibaut Ramaekers starting from pole position alongside James Anagnostiadis. However, the start saw a shake-up, with Anagnostiadis making a strong getaway from the outside, briefly challenging Ramaekers for the lead. Behind them, Dries Van Langendonck of Belgium, also representing Prema Racing, slotted into third place. The early laps were characterised by intense battles throughout the pack, with several drivers making significant gains.
As the race progressed, James Anagnostiadis demonstrated impressive pace, eventually taking the lead from Ramaekers. Behind him, Dries Van Langendonck also moved into second place, establishing a Prema Racing one-two. Drama then unfolded further down the field. Italy’s Iacopo Martinese, driving for the Kart Republic factory team, staged a sensational comeback, climbing from 14th on the grid to second place, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process. However, his incredible drive was cruelly cut short in the closing laps when he suffered a puncture. This misfortune allowed Van Langendonck to reclaim second position.
The final laps witnessed further drama and retirements. Kenzo Craigie, another Prema Racing driver, was forced to retire. Great Britain’s Zac Drummond, who had been running strongly in the top five, also suffered a puncture, ending his race prematurely. In the chaotic final stages, Italy’s Filippo Sala (Forza Racing) initially crossed the line in third place. However, a five-second penalty for an incorrect front fairing demoted him to tenth position. This promoted Spain’s Christian Costoya, driving for Parolin Motorsport, who had started tenth and finished fourth, onto the final step of the podium.
At the finish, it was James Anagnostiadis of Australia (Prema Racing) who secured a hard-fought victory, marking a brilliant start to his senior European Championship campaign. His Prema Racing teammate, Dries Van Langendonck of Belgium (also known as Dre Van Langandon), finished in second place. Following the penalty to Sala, Christian Costoya of Spain (Parolin Motorsport) was elevated to third, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The opening round of the championship in Campillos has provided a clear indication of the talent and competitiveness within both the OK Junior and OK categories. After the weekend’s action, Noah Baglin of Great Britain (Prema Racing) leads the OK Junior championship standings with a significant 100 points. His teammate Dean Hoogendoorn (Prema Racing) and Spain’s Bosco Arias (LN / TM Kart) are tied for second place with 79 and 75 points respectively. In the OK category, James Anagnostiadis of Australia (Prema Racing) takes an early lead in the championship with 91 points. Belgium’s Dries Van Langendonck (Prema Racing) sits in second place, and Belgium’s Thibaut Ramaekers (VDK Racing) occupies third. In the team standings, Prema Racing has established a commanding lead in both categories, showcasing the strength and depth of their driver lineup.
Tillotson Carburettors on the podium & beyond
The top 5 drivers in OK Junior chose to use Tillotson as their fueling system. The HC-118 carb has become a firm favorite in the category. The senior class saw all drivers using HC-112, a trend that is continuing from the 2024 season.
Up Next
The Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship now looks ahead to its second round, which will take place in Portimao, Portugal. The thrilling events at Campillos have set the stage for another exciting chapter in this prestigious karting series, with drivers and teams already focused on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in Portugal. The victories for Baglin and Anagnostiadis, both representing academies affiliated with Formula 1 teams, underscore the importance of these championships in nurturing the next generation of motorsport talent.
