13-year-old Belgian karting world champion

This year's OK and OK-Junior Karting World Championships were held in Franciacorta, Italy. The non-gearbox karting world championship was held on a karting circuit that has already hosted several prestigious competitions and championships. The field comprised drivers from 54 countries, including Belgium with its two participants in OK-Junior and four in the OK category.

Dries Van Langendonck and Thibaut Ramaekers were among the favourites in OK-Junior. The two young Belgians once again confirmed their status, with Van Langendonck taking third place at the start and a spot on the fifth row for Thibaut Ramaekers, runner-up in the European Championship in this category.

Unfortunately for Ramaekers, a crash on the first lap put an end to all his hopes of victory. As for Dries Van Langendonck, he managed to avoid any clashes at the start of the race, taking the lead at the end of the second lap. The road to the title was now open and no one could threaten the Limburg driver, who kept his closest rival at a distance of two seconds.

Dries Van Langendonck now follows in the footsteps of other great Belgian karting champions, like five-time winner François Goldstein and Jonathan Thonon, crowned on four occasions.

It's an exceptional feat to be crowned world champion at just 13!