Sprint Qualifying was used for the first time at an FIA Karting event to set the initial grids, a fresh and innovative format that randomises the driver groups to reward strong racing performances in addition to pure pace. After the Junior and Senior drivers each contested two Sprint Qualifying races, a points system determined the starting order for the heats, with Kacper Turoboyski topping the Senior standings and Blazej Kostrzewa leading the Junior class to both take pole positions on home soil in Poland.

Senior

Following a randomised draw, Polish driver Oskar Hildebranski started the day at the front of the first Sprint Qualifying race, looking to build a gap out front during the eight-minute session to bank maximum points. The all-new format means a reversed grid for the second Sprint Qualifying session for each group, which put Hildebranski at the back of the grid and demanded from all the drivers two distinct race strategies to try and maximise points across the two sessions.

After an initially positive start, Hildebranski succumbed to a challenge from both his compatriot Kacper Turoboyski and British driver Maayan Patel, who occupied the leading positions in the opening stages. As the clock ticked down, Bernardo Pinto laid down a fastest lap time in his attempt to challenge to Hildebranski, but the earlier pole-sitter successfully defended his position to maintain third spot.

The first Senior Sprint Qualifying session concluded with a last lap push from Patel, who continued to demonstrate strong pace over the weekend, stealing the lead from Turoboyski and banking maximum points. Elsewhere, 2026 Academy Trophy driver Oliver Kurg picked up places from the back of the grid to cross the line in sixth position.

The second pool of Senior drivers went out for their first Sprint Qualifying led by Marcos De Dios Gutiérrez, who lost position to Yam Pinto during the opening lap before falling back into the mid pack and ultimately ending the race in tenth position. Adrian Potepa completed his early lurch up the standings to take the race lead in the final minutes, a gain of six spots and the strongest Polish performance of the morning. Fellow Polish driver Lukasz Jezierski also showed signs of promise with a gain of six positions setting him up nicely for the second and final Sprint Qualifying session.

The afternoon's reversed grids also featured reverse weather conditions as the morning sunshine turned into an afternoon deluge that presented the young drivers with an additional challenge to navigate.

Oliver Kurg and Kiaan Shah initially tussled at the front of the pack in the first of the afternoon Sprint Qualifyings, with Shah the ultimate beneficiary as he built a steady advantage in the lead. After Kurg fell back in the order and retired from the race, Turoboyski sliced through the midfield to close in to within half a second on Shah after starting in ninth position, and performed a crucial overtake in the dying seconds of the session to secure victory.

Turoboyski's win netted him provisional pole after he leapfrogged Maayan Patel in the standings, who had won the first Sprint Qualifying contest and finished third in his reverse grid session.

In the second of the reverse grid Sprint Qualifying Roberto Albiztegui, who had started in P1, quickly fell to the back of the pack as four Polish drivers occupied the top four positions by half distance. Potepa, with a gain of four places, put in the strongest performance of the home drivers to snatch provisional pole from his compatriot Turoboyski by a single point.

However, a late push by Colin Wazny took the race lead from Potepa who duly fought back but, in the melee, opened a gap for Yam Pinto to take second position and hand pole position back to Turoboyski, with Sprint Qualifying winner Wazny securing second overall in the classification.

Senior polesitter, Kacper Turoboyski (POL), said:

"I'm very happy about this, but tomorrow is more important than today. It was the first time that the sprint races were happening, but it was very nice feeling, I did a very good job on the wet tyres. We'll see, let's have fun!"

In the first of the Qualifying Heats, Yam Pinto fell victim to a first corner collision to stall his weekend's momentum, while Potepa snatched the lead from polesitter Tuboyski as three Polish drivers occupied the top spots to continue their dominant performance at the Autodrom Słomczyn circuit. However, a post-heat penalty to Potepa handed the ultimate victory to Turoboyski.

View Senior Results

Junior

Stanislaw Grabowski started the day at the front of his Sprint Qualifying pool group of 11 drivers as he set off from the line in front of a home crowd. In the early phase Dilan Roman Fricker unleashed his racing potential, surging eight spots and into the race lead by the midpoint of the first ever Junior Sprint Qualifying.

A late push from John Foley Jr on the last lap was resisted by Fricker, who crossed the line to take the first Sprint Qualifying win and maximum points after starting the race down in tenth position. Julia Montlaur, who had dropped a spot to fourth, reclaimed her third position as Stanislaw Grabowski who had started on in first position crossed the line in fourth position.

In the second group, Karol Szajkiewicz was gifted the early advantage of starting at the front of the 10-strong field. A poor start damaged Szajkiewicz's ambitions to hold position, with Rui Martins from Portugal capitalising to take the early Sprint Qualifying lead, which he converted into victory. Andie Stewart, who struggled off the line, recovered to retake her position in the top three, while Blazej Kostrzewa excited the local crowd to climb from ninth to second position.

As the grids were reversed for the second Sprint Qualifying races, previous winner Fricker struggled to repeat his performance in the afternoon's wet conditions, and sat in 10th and last spot for much of the race, subsequently picking up two five-second penalties. Ivan Charneha took the first reverse grid win, but it was both Foley Jr and Montlaur who gained the most after showing signs of the crucial consistency required across both races to secure a Sprint Qualifying advantage. Foley Jr's second and fourth place finishes gave him provisional pole position before the second Junior group went out to challenge his lead.

The final Junior Sprint Qualifying session saw a two-way tussle between this morning's winner Rui Martins and second place Kostrzewa who both now occupied the leading places in the reverse heat. Rui Martins' charge to claim a second win was however halted by a dominant Andie Stewart who denied Martins the top three finish and the points he needed to seal provisional pole.

Kostrzewa meanwhile had successfully navigated past Vernhardur Ravnaas to take the lead of the race and maximum points to secure pole position for the first Junior Arrive and Drive Continental Championship.

Junior polesitter, Blazej Kostrzewa (POL), said:

"Yeah, I'm really happy. I drove before on this track and we know some setup for the rain. All good and tomorrow is the final so we'll see!"

In the first of the qualifying heats, Kostrzewa held on to his advantage to build a three-second gap across the line, with Andie Stewart gaining a spot behind to take second position. John Foley Jr struggled significantly and fell back 13 places from his front-row start, requiring a recovery heat tomorrow morning to stay in contention this weekend.

View Junior Results

Tomorrow will see the conclusion of the qualifying phase with the final two heats to set the grid for the afternoon final races. All of the action is available to watch LIVE and FREE on the FIA Karting YouTube channel from 10:10 CEST.