A Cold Start to the Spanish Karting Season
Winter in Valencia is a relative concept.
Cold air, piercing wind and unforgiving asphalt define the conditions under which the Spanish karting season traditionally begins. In 2026, Hivern Karting was held for the twelfth time, once again confirming its status as one of the most prestigious and widely attended winter events under the aegis of the Valencian Automobile Federation (FACV).
From January 23 to 25, Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero became a focal point for nearly one hundred drivers from across the country and beyond. The circuit is well known for its highly technical layout, complex corner sequences and minimal margin for error.
This year, the usual challenges were compounded by strong gusty winds — a regular feature of winter racing in the region — turning every run onto the track into a true test.
Drivers competed in five key categories: PreMini, Mini, Junior, Senior and the flagship KZ class — a level closely aligned with European and World Championship standards. Despite the cold weather, the grandstands were far from empty, as spectators came to support both the youngest talents and experienced competitors.
No Compromises on Track
The race weekend delivered everything winter karting is valued for: intense wheel-to-wheel battles, tactical duels and clear dominance from the leaders. At the same time, the event passed without serious incidents, underlining the high level of preparation and discipline among the participants.
In the PreMini category, the pace was set by the fast and composed Sergio Barreda #119, who controlled the final race and finished more than 15 seconds ahead of his closest rivals. Second and third places went to Aitor Otamendi #6 and Liam Kelly #7.
Mini once again proved to be the most crowded category, with more than forty drivers on the grid. Competition was fierce, but Marc Cruz #81 managed to impose his rhythm and secured a convincing victory. Leo Devahive #3 and Olie Sorlie #145 completed the podium.
In Junior, the outcome remained uncertain until the very last meters. The main favorite failed to hold the lead, losing victory by just three tenths of a second. Iván González #64 took the win, followed by Tony Cachafeiro #144 and Bruno Greigling #24.
Senior Battles and the Top Tier
The Senior final turned into a duel of nationalities — Spain versus Italy. The decisive moment came in the closing laps, when Aaron García #1 claimed victory by a narrow margin of 0.5 seconds ahead of Sebastiano Pavan #27 and Javier Broasca #33.
The highlight of the weekend was the KZ final — fast, loud and relentlessly close. The gap between first and third place was just one to two tenths of a second. Victory went to Hugo Martí #83, followed by Adrián Pruñonosa #17 and Max Stange #33, a result fully worthy of international-level competition.
Photos: Daniel Ballarin Lopez (Spain) Full PHOTOS link this and this. DBL Photoagency Spain this.
Text and photo editing: Alexander Seryogin (Russia)
