Kristianstad Hosts Thrilling Champions of the Future Euro Series Finale, Crowning Craigie and Baglin as Champions
Kristianstad, Sweden, was the setting for the fifth and final round of the 2025 Champions of the Future Euro Series, held on September 7, 2025. The event, organised by RGMMC, brought together 204 of the best young international hopefuls and top teams for three days of intense competition on the largely dry Asum Ring. Tillotson Racing was the carburettor of choice for all competitors on the podium!
OK Category: Kelleher Triumphs in Final, Craigie Secures Series Title
In the OK category, Britain’s Kenzo Craigie (Prema Racing) arrived in Kristianstad as the series leader, closely pursued by Spain’s Christian Costoya (Parolin Motorsport) and Belgium’s Thibaut Ramaekers (VDK Racing). These three drivers dominated timed practice, with Craigie ultimately taking pole position.
Ramaekers emerged from the Qualifying Heats in the lead, securing four wins, while Costoya and Craigie each claimed three. Sweden’s Oliver Kinnmark (Koski Motorsport) and Ireland’s Daniel Kelleher (KR Motorsport) also impressed with two wins apiece, and Ukraine’s Lev Krutoholov (Energy Corse) added one win, finishing 6th. The intensity heightened in the Super Heats, where Craigie won the first, followed by Kinnmark and Ramaekers. Ramaekers then won the second, ahead of Britons Joe Turney (KR Motorsport) and Scott Marsh (DPK Racing).
The Final saw Ramaekers initially hold his lead, though Costoya and Kinnmark lost significant ground early on. On lap 11 of 25, Craigie seized an opportunity to pass Ramaekers, bringing Kelleher with him. A dozen laps later, Kelleher continued his charge, taking the lead and ultimately racing to a superb victory. Despite Kelleher’s win, Craigie’s performance secured him the Champions of the Future Euro Series title for 2025, a year after his compatriot Joe Turney achieved the same feat.
Ramaekers finished 3rd on the podium in Kristianstad, placing him three points ahead of Costoya for the runner-up spot in the series. Other notable finishers in the final included Britain’s Turney (KR Motorsport) in 4th, followed by his team-mates Jacob Micallef (Malta) and Iacopo Martinese (Italy). Britons Zac Drummond and Jesse Phillips (Fusion Motorsport) finished 7th and 8th respectively. Indonesia’s Qarrar Firhand (Ward Racing) and Italy’s Gino Rocchio (Monster K Factory Team), who also set the fastest lap, completed the top 10.
The final OK series standings show Kenzo Craigie (GBR) as champion with 333 points, followed by Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) with 277 points and Christian Costoya (ESP) with 274 points. Daniel Kelleher (IRL) finished 4th with 238 points, and Joe Turney (GBR) was 5th with 234 points. All competitors in this category used Maxxis tyres.
OK-Junior Category: Baglin’s Double Victory Secures Series Title
In the OK-Junior category, the series standings before Kristianstad were tight, with Australia’s William Calleja (Forza Racing) leading on 271 points, followed by Canada’s Ilie Crisan (Tony Kart Racing Team) with 259 points, and Britain’s Noah Baglin (Prema Racing) with 240 points. Britain’s Evan Purcell (RFM) took pole position, ahead of American Michael McGaughy (Koski Motorsport).
McGaughy dominated the Qualifying Heats, winning all five and taking the lead in the standings after this stage, ahead of Emiliano Hernandez (DPK Racing). Other winners in the heats included Baglin, Crisan, Purcell, Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn (Prema Racing), Valerio Viapana (Koski Motorsport), and Argentina’s Martin Bertolaccini (Ward Racing).
McGaughy continued his strong form by winning the first Super Heat ahead of Frenchman Luka Scelles (VictoryLane). Finland’s Oskari Walle (Parolin Motorsport) confirmed his rise by winning the second Super Heat, ahead of Turkey’s Iskender Zulfikari (Forza Racing).
In the Final, Baglin executed his strategy perfectly. Starting 2nd behind McGaughy on the first lap, he seized the lead on the second lap and eventually pulled away from American Devin Walz (KR Motorsport) and Walle, who tried to keep pace. With Calleja failing to score points and Crisan finishing 12th, Baglin secured a double victory, winning the Final and being crowned the Champions of the Future Euro Series OK-Junior champion, succeeding Belgium’s Dries Van Langendonck. He finished ahead of Calleja and Crisan in the overall standings.
Dean Hoogendoorn made an impressive climb from 18th to 2nd place in the Final, but a penalty relegated him to 8th. After McGaughy crashed out in 10th, Walz won the battle for 2nd place on the Kristianstad podium, ahead of Walle and Scelles. Zulfikari finished 5th, while Zdenek Babicek (Tepz Racing Team) made an exceptional gain of 15 places. Bertolaccini and Frenchman Matéo Rivals (Tony Kart Racing Team) also finished in the top 10, in 8th and 9th positions respectively.
The final OK-Junior series standings show Noah Baglin (GBR) as champion with 309 points, followed by William Calleja (AUS) with 271 points and Ilie Tristan Crisan (CAN) with 265 points. Henry Domain (GBR) was 4th with 213 points, and Dean Hoogendoorn (NED) 5th with 178 points. All competitors in this category also used Maxxis tyres.
