Podiums, Progress and Promise: Champions of the Future Academy International Round 1 Recap

The newest crop of F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE talent launched into action for the first round of the 2026 Champions of the Future Academy Program International Series.

Our nine karters tackled the Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero in Valencia, Spain. Angelina Simons Torres, Vanesa Silkunaite, Andie Stewart and Anna Makolm each made an immediate impact in their categories, while our three trios all showed their tenacity, even in the face of setbacks.

SOFIA RUDENKO (MINI 60)

Sofia Rudenko’s weekend was defined by steady progress. After a difficult Qualifying left her in 24th, she immediately recovered ground — gaining 12 places in Heat 1 and another in Heat 2 to climb to 16th on the Final grid. She converted that into a P12 finish, collecting valuable points despite a brief spell of drizzle adding an extra challenge.

Day 2 started on a stronger footing with Rudenko qualifying in P11, though two challenging Heats set her back to 17th. Once again, her race pace came alive in the Final as she charged into the top 10 to close out Round 1.

ANNA MAKOLM (MINI 60)

Anna Makolm made a positive debut weekend as an F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE karter. A tough Time Qualifying session placed her in P25 for Heat 1, and her opening race end prematurely on the penultimate lap.

Although disappointed, Makolm wasn’t going to stop fighting, stressing that “it was important not to lose motivation and to look ahead.” She rebounded in Heat 2 with a climb to eighth, then gained 11 places in the Final to finish in P16 and secure third in the Under 10s classification.

Building on what she’d learnt, Day 2 saw more consistency. Qualifying in P16, she ended the Final in P14 and earned a second third-place finish in the Under 10s. Sitting third in the Under 10s Standings, Makolm leaves Valencia aiming for more trips to the podium.

KHLOE MCGILL (MINI 60)

Adjusting to the Mini 60 machinery, Khloe McGill used the opening weekend as a learning opportunity. After clocking in competitive times across the Free Practices, she delivered a solid first day with P16 in Qualifying and P15 in the Final.

Day 2 proved more demanding. Starting from P26, she made up nine places across both Heats but ultimately finished in the same spot in the Final. Nevertheless, McGill’s focus remains on adapting her driving style to best suit the kart.

“I learnt a lot,” began McGill. “I learnt that I need to adapt to the driving style, as the power is a lot different between Mini 60 and Rotax. I felt the Mini 60 was a lot faster and you need to be a lot smoother with the steering wheel. You need to be a lot more calculated with your racecraft and going at the perfect time when to overtake.”

ANDIE STEWART (OK-N JUNIOR)

Andie Stewart kicked off her OK-N Junior campaign with a taste of silverware after overcoming an up-and-down start. A strong Qualifying and 10 places gained across both Heats earned the Briton a fourth-row start for the Day 1 Final, but her race ended early.

Undeterred, Stewart bounced back on Day 2. A top-three time in Qualifying and a P2 finish in Heat 1 showcased her true pace. An early conclusion to Heat 2 was a setback, but her ninth-place start for the Final gave her hope. She fought her way through to score her first COTFA podium of the season in third.

“I felt like I had great pace and found my rhythm this weekend,” said Stewart. “My biggest challenge was remembering to reset and refocus after a disappointing Qualifying on Saturday and then a DNF on Sunday. I hope to keep this momentum and get back on the podium again.”

JULIA ANGELARD (OK-N JUNIOR)

Julia Angelard was determined to do her best no matter the challenge. The Polish karter demonstrated strong racecraft as she worked her way up the order throughout Day 1. After qualifying in P23, she made gains across both Heats and the Final to finish in P14.

Day 2 saw her one-lap pace take a step in the right direction, with a top-15 time. That speed continued into the Heats with P14 and P9 finishes. However, she wasn’t able to make further inroads in the Final after a five-second time penalty for causing an incident dropped her to P21.

“I’m now a pro with the carburettors,” Angelard explained. “I know that I’m fast but I need to be more confident and aggressive on track. I learned that the result isn’t always the most important thing and you just have to do your best no matter what. The goal for next round is probably a top 10 finish, but I hope for a better one.”

MIA ZANKI (OK-N JUNIOR)

For Mia Zanki, it was a frustrating yet beneficial season opener. New to the track and machinery, she approached each session as an opportunity to learn. Putting extra laps on the board did put her at a disadvantage with tyre wear and her preparation was hampered by chassis damage before Qualifying, and further misfortune struck when a crash ahead prevented her from completing a potential top-seven worthy lap.

A strong comeback in Heat 1 saw the Austrian gain P11 places in P20, although contact in Heat 2 left her with additional damage. Caught up in an incident on the opening lap, Zanki’s final came to an abrupt end. Day 2 proved to be another difficult day, suffering another early retirement in Heat 2. Despite this, she remained committed to extracting the maximum from every situation and finished in P25.

“Everything was new for me — the Kart Republic chassis, the IAME OKNJ engine, the Vega tyres and the track,” she noted. “Other drivers already had experience, so I needed more laps, which destroyed my tyres earlier. I learnt how important preparation and testing before a limited race weekend are. When everything is new, you start with a big disadvantage.

“I also learned how to handle difficult situations, crashes and technical problems without giving up. Even when the result was bad, I kept fighting. This weekend helped me grow mentally.”

Zanki added: “My goal for the next COTFA round is to fight for a podium. I believe the speed was possible this weekend, but many things didn’t work in our favour. With better preparation and working equipment, I am confident we can fight at the front. I want to show my real performance.”

ANGELINA SIMONS TORRES (OK-N SENIOR)

Fresh from finishing the 2025 season on the top step, Angelina Simons Torres carried that momentum straight into the new campaign as she stepped up to the OK-N Senior category. She qualified third, finished second in Heat 1, and then produced a thrilling final lap move in Heat 2 to secure pole for the Final, despite dropping back to P6 early on. Under relentless pressure, the Spaniard held firm to take the first F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE victory of the year — and at her home event.

Unfortunately, Day 2 could not match those highs. Starting P19 after a mixed run in Qualifying and the Heats, she made her way into the podium fight but contact on the final lap dropped her to ninth. Despite that frustration, she leaves Round 1 third in the Standings and hungry for more.

“I showed strong speed all weekend and achieved a great victory on the first day, which proves that all the hard work with my mechanic and coach is paying off,” she said. “The biggest challenge came on the second day. Even though we made up 15 positions in the Final, a collision cost us five places while we were having a strong race.

“I went for an overtake in the last lap at the final corner and we made contact. I had to try, we were fighting for third place, but unfortunately it didn’t work out this time. For the next round, my goal is to be more consistent throughout the weekend and fight again for podium positions while scoring important championship points. I also want to improve my Qualifying to start further up the grid and reduce unnecessary risks.”

VANESA SILKUNAITE (OK-N SENIOR)

Vanesa Silkunaite was another karter with the speed and ambition to be fighting at the front. A solid Time Qualifying and Heat 1 put her inside the top 15, but a heavy shunt in Heat 2 and an opening lap retirement in the Final curtailed her progress.

Putting all that behind her, Silkunaite started Day 2 in fine form, scoring a top-six time in Qualifying. Two successful Heats moved her up to third on the grid for the Final. A composed drive saw the Lithuanian firmly defend her spot on the podium, finishing in second.

“All weekend we had strong pace,” Silkunaite noted. “Qualifying didn’t go as expected, but we recovered well in the Heats and finished on the podium in the Final. The biggest challenge was tyre management, and to drive with the pain in one hand.”

AMELIA WYSZOMIRSKA (OK-N SENIOR)

Another new addition to the F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE line up, Amelia Wyszomirska set about making the most of her opportunity on Day 1. Qualifying in ninth, she navigated a hectic set of Heats — including avoiding contact in Heat 2 — before pushing forward to finish sixth in the Final.

Day 2 brought similar consistency, with a top-12 result in Time Qualifying. Two steady Heats followed, with Wyszomirska pulling off a clean race to classify P11 in the Final. Reflecting on her lessons from the weekend, her focus shifts to sharpening her one-lap performance before the next round.

“My pace was good during the weekend, especially on Saturday,” she summarised. “I felt confident in the kart and I was happy to finish P6 in the first Final. The biggest challenge was keeping a good pace on Sunday and using every chance to overtake.

“I learnt that I need to stay calm and focused all the time. I also learnt more about fighting for positions. For the next round, I want to qualify higher and fight for top five positions.