18 months after the FIA unveiled its Global Karting Plan to make the foundation of the motor sport pyramid more affordable, accessible and inclusive, a milestone will be reached this weekend as the first Arrive and Drive Continental Championship will be held in Europe.
Autodrom Słomczyn, located 30km outside the Polish capital Warsaw, welcomes 43 competitors from 22 nations this weekend as they compete across the junior and senior categories for the first-ever FIA Karting Arrive and Drive European Champion titles. Making its debut on the FIA Karting calendar, the 1.2km circuit features a technical layout of multiple chicanes, hairpins and corners designed to test the young drivers.
Arrive and Drive is a cornerstone of the FIA’s mission to support more competitors from every global region and background into competitive motor sport. The format provides each competitor with standardised karts and engines for the competition, eliminating financial and technical advantages to identify and reward raw racing skill, talent and intuition.
The top-placed drivers in the European Championship will join the best drivers from the South American and Asia-Pacific Championships in Malaysia later this year for the second edition of the Arrive and Drive World Cup which returns to the world-class facilities of the LYL International Circuit over 19 – 22 November 2026.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said:
“The first ever FIA Karting Arrive & Drive Continental Championship is a milestone moment as our Global Karting Plan continues to deliver more affordable and accessible pathways into our sport. By launching continental championships in Europe, Asia-Pacific and South America, this year we are ensuring the future of motorsport is truly global with opportunities for development around the world.
I wish all competitors, volunteers and officials a successful weekend and thank you to President Michał Sikora and Polski Związek Motorowy (PZM) for hosting this event.”
Kart Specifications
All drivers will race using the Kosmic Mercury Chassis fitted with a 2-stroke Vortex SV engine and use the Vega Option XH4 slick tyres and Vega Q6 wet tyres throughout the event.
A ballot will determine the initial distribution of engines and chassis’ and engines will be swapped amongst competitors throughout the event to ensure a level playing field.
Sporting Format
Following Free Practice on Friday, two sprint races will be held on Saturday to encourage and reward strong racing performance. Junior and senior drivers will be separated into two groups, and a draw will randomly determine their starting position for the first of two six-minute sprint races. The second sprint race will feature a reverse grid where the driver who started on pole position for the first race will start at the back of the grid for the second race.
Points will be awarded in both sprint races to determine the polesitter and grids for the three qualifying heats where further points will be awarded to set the final grid for Sunday’s finals.
The junior final will take place across 20km while the senior drivers will face 25km from lights out to the chequered flag on Sunday afternoon.
Senior
Familiar names lead the entry list as Max Olert, brother of former FIA Karting Academy Trophy driver and current Formula 4 driver Mio Olert, joins the Arrive and Drive European grid after his debut last year in the Arrive and Drive World Cup where he finished in eighth place in the B final.
Current FIA Karting Academy Trophy Senior driver Oliver Kurg also travels to Poland as he seeks to build upon his karting success so far this year. The Estonian driver is an early favourite as he currently sits in fifth position in the Academy Senior standings ahead of the final round in Sweden later this month.
Six Polish drivers will be racing on home soil this weekend including 2024 and 2025 Rok Cup Poland Winner and current Polish OK-N Karting Championship leader Colin Wazny who takes his first FIA Karting laps this week.
British driver Maayan Patel competes in his first European championship event after winning the 2025 IAME Junior X30 English Champion title last year whilst Charlotte Tille from Germany enters following national and regional success.
Finally, David Conkas enters his second FIA Karting Arrive and Drive event after he participated during the World Cup in Malaysia last November where he placed in seventh in the B final.
In total, 22 senior drivers from 15 nationalities will take to the track from Friday morning as they bid to master the Słomczyn circuit and secure their place in the 2026 Arrive and Drive World Cup later this year.
Junior
Brother and sister Johnston and Andie Stewart travel from the UK this week to join the junior grid. Andie last year secured a lucrative spot in the FIA’s Girls on Track Rising Stars Programme which identifies, develops and promotes emerging female racing talent.
Former Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Junior Programme driver Julia Montlaur is also hotly-tipped this weekend following her recent performance in French national championships.
2026 FIA Karting Academy Trophy Junior drivers Coza Vito, Klavs Hans and Ilia Baghaturia will all line up on the junior grid this weekend. Vito, who is representing Croatia in the competition, comes fresh from his top 20 finish at the second round of the competition in Sarno-Napoli.
Rising star Max Boshoff hopes to build upon his success to date in South Africa which included a national title last year. Drivers from the African region were eligible to enter the European Championship as Africa does not yet have an Arrive and Drive continental championship of its own.
A total of six junior Polish drivers will be racing in front of a home crowd including 2025 OK-NJ WSK Final Cup winner Blazej Kostrzewa who stands out amongst his compatriots as a driver to watch.
Finally, Vernhardur Ravnaas will make history this weekend as the first Icelandic driver to ever race in FIA Karting and Irish driver John Foley Jr will be looking to continue his recent strong form which included a podium finish at the Motorsport Ireland National Kart Championships last month.
In total, 21 junior drivers from 14 nationalities form the junior grid for the 2026 FIA Karting Arrive and Drive European Championship.
Provisional Timings
Following sporting checks on Thursday, drivers will take to the track for the first time on Friday for Free Practice before the qualifying stages begin on Saturday morning.
Friday 17 July
09:45 – 14:55 Free Practice
Saturday 18 July
10:35 – 14:35 Sprint Races
15:45 – 16:20 Qualifying Heats
Sunday 19 July
10:15 – 11:50 Qualifying Heats
13:25 Drivers’ Presentation
14:00 Junior Final
15:00 Senior Final
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