Callum Bradshaw is just a matter of days away from the start of the official CIK-FIA European Championship, known by many in the karting industry as the toughest European Championship in the sport. The run up to the season opener has been mixed, but Callum has picked up major victories and shown signs of real improvement which leave him in good shape heading into the first round.
Callum will be of course competing with CRG-SPA and there is a bumper grid of 77 drivers! It’s 77 of the World’s best, but the first round will take place on familiar territory at the Sarno circuit in Italy where Callum last raced. Callum was there for the conclusion of the WSK Super Master Series and finished an impressive 7th from the back of the grid.
The field for this weekend is similar so there is no reason why Callum can’t repeat that result or go even better! Everyone who is everyone will be there with all the major factories currently making their way over to Sarno to get one of the most historic championships in Karting underway.
Winning the championship would put Callum amongst a list of true legends! Many champions to come out of the CIK have gone on to create a very successful career for themselves in Motorsport. Some have gone to Formula 1, some have gone to Rally, some to the States and some have raced in World Touring Cars or the World Endurance Championship. A list of drivers Callum would join if he were to win include:
Lewis Hamilton
Sebastian Vettel
Max Verstappen
Michael Schumacher
Jenson Button
Alex Zanardi
Lando Norris
Jarno Trulli
Will Stevens
Looking at the season ahead the championship will of course start in Sarno, Italy. It will the go to the Alonso circuit in Spain before moving to Le Mans in France, Alaharma in Finland and it will end in July at Kristianstad in Sweden.
Callum has been to three of the five tracks on the calendar but hasn’t been to the Alonso or Alaharma circuits. Thankfully for him it is the first time the circuits will appear on a European Karting circuit so that should leave everyone in the same boat. Of course, Callum has had good memories at Le Mans and Kristianstad so will no doubt enjoy being back.
Before all of that though it’s round one this weekend and ahead of it Callum commented:
“I am really looking forward to the start of the European Championship this weekend! I feel my pace on the Le Cont tyres is strong as we showed at the Margutti Cup where I won beating some tough opponents who have taken wins in the European Championship. I was quick on my first visit to Sarno two weeks ago and I think I will be even quicker this weekend!”
Click here to find out more details on this weekend’s CIK event
