OK-Junior: Marques Da Silva and Mazzola well established

In the OK-Junior class, Gustavo Marques Da Silva qualified 6th in his group, just ahead of team-mate Ludovico Mazzola. Both put in solid runs, regularly finishing in the top 10, with Marques Da Silva scoring several top three finishes. He then finished 6th in his Super Heat, while Mazzola was 8th. In the Final, Marques Da Silva crossed the line in 12th position and Mazzola could have finished 11th had it not been for a spoiler penalty.

OK: Gonzalez in the spotlight on his debut

On his first appearance in the European Championship, Eloi Gonzalez made his mark by setting the 5th fastest time in his group in Qualifying, before going on to win a heat. Unfortunately, a collision at the start of the Final forced him to retire.

Noah Wolfe, racing with VAR by Birel, experienced difficult conditions during Qualifying in the rain. However, he recovered in the heats to finish 5th in his Super Heat. He too saw his Final come to a premature end after an incident.

Vladimir Ivannikov shone in the heats with a 2nd place and two other top 10 finishes. But his two retirements prevented him from reaching the Final, as did Aston Sharp and Skye Parker, who were also affected by bad luck.

A formative weekend ahead

"After a Friday marked by rain, our young drivers reacted well and made some fine comebacks," emphasised team manager Jordon Lennox. "If it hadn't been for a few unfortunate incidents in the race, we could have had several top five finishes, or even a podium finish. Having said that, everyone has gained experience in demanding conditions and we've collected some valuable data with the Maxxis tyres. I'd like to thank all the team members for their hard work and competitive spirit."

Next up for Birelart Racing: Portimão, Portugal, with the second round of the FIA Karting European Championship scheduled for 4th May. As part of its preparation, the team will also take part in the Champions of the Future Euro Series event a week earlier.

About Birelart

Birelart is an Italian manufacturer of kart chassis that combines long experience and a keen sense of innovation with a boundless passion for motor sport.

Founded in 1959 by Umberto Sala, whose precise nickname was Birel, the company has played a pioneering role in the development of karting around the world since its very beginnings. The demand for quality has always been part of the DNA of the Lissone-based brand through its quest for success in competition. Over more than 60 years, Birelart has won 26 world titles, countless European titles and numerous national championships.

Birel has accompanied the careers of many great racing drivers, including Riccardo Patrese, Keke Rosberg, Stefano Modena and Emanuele Pirro, as well as the more recent Formula 1 stars Mika Hakkinen and Juan Pablo Montoya, Robert Kubica, Jenson Button and George Russell. Robert Kubica, Daniel Ricciardo and more recently Charles Leclerc have called on Birelart's expertise to launch their own chassis ranges.

Three generations have succeeded one another at the helm of Birel. Today, Ronni Sala, the founder's grandson, presides over Birel's destiny. In 2014, he ushered in a new era by joining forces with ART Grand Prix, a famous team on the single-seater scene, thanks to its association with Nicolas Todt and his partners. Birelart was born.

Ronni has contributed to the creation of an ambitious new project that will be at the forefront of the karting industry, thanks to original sporting, marketing and communication initiatives that will benefit the brand, the dealer network and, of course, Birelart's customers.

Birelart has built on its prestigious heritage to enter the 21st century and make full use of technology in terms of R&D, production, logistics and communication. Its area of expertise, based on high-level competition, has been extended to include production quality control for a large number of competitors around the world, as well as the leisure sector with its Rental range with both internal combustion and electric engines. The factory at its original site in Lissone, near Monza and within easy reach of Milan, has undergone constant modernisation.

Birelart's high level of expertise, with its well-balanced blend of tradition and innovation, is reflected in the results it has achieved in racing, offering fans around the world the opportunity to become real drivers or to have fun and experience the thrill of adrenaline on the track.