Photo © DR and KSP Photo Agency
The serious week of the FIA General Assembly ended with a sumptuous awards ceremony at the Fiera di Bologna with over a thousand guests to celebrate a remarkable season, the first for the new FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. International karting was celebrated the next day at noon during the FIA Karting Awards Ceremony, also in Bologna.
During his speech, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem reminded the audience that karting is an indispensable platform for drivers who want to gain experience at a young age with the hope of progressing later in motor sport, but that it is also a discipline in its own right, practiced by many drivers throughout the world in the Senior categories, the best of whom are professionals. In unison with the President of the FIA Karting Commission Akbar Ebrahim, he welcomed the introduction of the OK-N category, which is intended to make karting more accessible in all countries. The FIA Vice-President for Sport Robert Reid, the President of the Automobile Club of Italy Angelo Sticchi Damiani and the Vice-President of the FIA Karting Commission John Ryan also honoured the lunch with their presence.
On Monday, 12th December, it was the turn of the French Federation of Motorsport to celebrate its 70th anniversary by awarding the 2022 Trophies. More than 1000 guests were gathered at UNESCO, not far from the Eiffel Tower. It was an opportunity to celebrate the winners of the different national and international competitions, including those in karting. Bertrand Pignolet was awarded a special prize for the 40th anniversary of the Sodikart group. The driver from the French FFSA Espoirs Karting Team, Arthur Dorison, added his name to the Volants d’Or prize list thanks to his tremendous victory in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. The 2016 Junior World Champion, Victor Martins, also received this trophy thanks to his title in FIA Formula 3. French Karting Champion Doriane Pin, trained at the FFSA Academy, was awarded a Volant d’Or for her title in the Trofeo Pirelli Ferrari Challenge where she dominated the competition. Adrien Tambay, the first winner in the history of the FIA ETCR World Cup, was also rewarded on the Parisian stage, while the memory of his father Patrick Tambay, who recently passed away, was honoured by a vibrant tribute from all the guests.
