British karting celebrated one of its greatest ever days on the international stage as drivers from the British Kart Championships secured three FIA European Championship titles at Kristianstad in Sweden, underlining the exceptional strength and depth of the UK’s talent pathway.
The outstanding results saw Will Green crowned FIA European Champion in the OK Junior category – a title previously won by Lando Norris, George Russell and Sebastian Vettel – while last year’s Junior World Champion, Noah Baglin, claimed the FIA European Championship in OK and Albi Lapper lifted the prestigious FIA Karting Academy Trophy after a season of consistently impressive performances against the world’s best young drivers.
Both Green and Baglin are already on radars of F1 Teams – the former, aged 13, is a member of the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy; the latter, aged 14, is a Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy driver.
Adding to the British celebrations in Sweden, Zac Drummond finished second overall in OK (making it a British 1-2) after a strong campaign and Emerson MacAndrew-Uren, 13, claimed a sensational victory in the OK Junior Final.
In his first season competing in the Junior category, Emerson produced a superb drive to take the chequered flag, providing further evidence of the outstanding quality of emerging British talent competing at the very highest level of international karting.
Such had been their performances throughout the previous championship rounds in Italy, Spain and Germany that all three title contenders arrived in Sweden leading their respective standings. Green and Baglin secured their championships before their Finals, while Lapper clinched his European crown in style by winning his Final.
These stellar achievements represent a landmark moment for British karting. While British drivers have enjoyed notable success on the world stage in recent years, including FIA World Championship victories, securing three FIA European titles on the same day is a remarkable accomplishment and a powerful reflection of the continued strength of the domestic talent pathway.
A common thread unites each of the champions. All have developed their careers through the British Kart Championships, either currently competing in, or having graduated from, Motorsport UK’s premier karting series before progressing to success on the European stage.
The results are a testament not only to the outstanding talent, dedication and professionalism of the drivers, but also to the teams, mechanics, families and coaches whose commitment underpins every stage of their development. They also highlight the vital role played by the British Kart Championships in preparing young drivers for the demands of elite international competition.
Today’s success further reinforces Britain’s reputation as one of the world’s leading karting nations, with a new generation of drivers continuing to emerge and excel at the highest level of the sport.
“This is an exceptional day for British karting and a clear demonstration of the strength of our national pathway,” said Dan Parker, Head of Karting at Motorsport UK. “To see three FIA European titles and a race win all on the same weekend is something we can all be incredibly proud of. These drivers have shown outstanding talent, determination and professionalism, and their success reflects the hard work of the teams, families and the entire British karting community that supports them.”
Everyone at Motorsport UK congratulates Will, Noah, Albi and Emerson, together with their teams and families, on an unforgettable day for British karting.