Britain’s Callum Bradshaw and Freddie Slater overcame wet conditions at Portugal’s Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve, to be crowned 2020 FIA Karting World Champions – OK and Junior, respectively (08 November).

The conclusion of the 2020 FIA Karting World Championship – OK & Junior wasn’t without its drama as competitors in both categories battled through wet conditions.

JUNIOR: SLATER TITLED AFTER A BATTLE

Christian Ho (SGP – KR/Iame/MG) started the Final from pole position, alongside European Champion Ugo Ugochukwu (USA – KR/Iame/MG) but after a minor incident in the opening few laps, Freddie Slater (GBR – Kosmic/Vortex/MG) took the lead with Ho chasing after him.

Harry Burgoyne (GBR – KR/Iame/MG) and Arvid Lindblad (GBR – KR/Iame/MG) joined the battle for the lead, with Lindblad mastering the wet track perfectly and chasing down Slater. An intense battle between Lindblad and Slater ensued. Lindblad seemed to be in a position to take the victory in the last corners, but Slater didn’t give up and won by a few thousandths of a second.

Lindblad was then penalised for an incorrectly positioned front fairing and it was Finland’s Tuukka Taponen (FIN – Tony Kart/Vortex/MG) who took second place with a gain of seven place, ahead of Britain’s Burgoyne in third. Ho and Lindblad completed the top five.

Freddie Slater was crowned FIA Karting World Champion – Junior at the age of 12 in the colours of the Ricky Flynn Motorsport team.

UNSTOPPABLE DOMINATION OF BRADSHAW IN THE FINAL

Britain’s Taylor Barnard won three of Saturday’s Qualifying Heats to start Sunday’s Final from the front row, alongside Callum Bradshaw (GBR – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont) in the rain.

Bradshaw was immediately fastest in the wet track conditions. Barnard, unable to keep pace, was soon under threat from Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont) and his team-mate Joe Turney (GBR – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont).

Without ever reducing his pace, Bradshaw crossed the finish line more than six seconds ahead of Turney and Hiltbrand, a winning triple for the Tony Kart Racing Team. Morgan Porter (GBR – KR/Iame/LeCont) ensured a strong fourth place ahead of Barnard.

At the age of 19, British driver Callum Bradshaw was crowned FIA Karting World Champion – OK in the colours of the Tony Kart Racing Team, four years after winning the FIA Karting Academy Trophy.

The results of the Portimão Competition are available on the official FIA Karting Championship app for mobile devices and on the website www.fiakarting.com.