GENK – A weekend of highs and lows for young karter Bruce Chirino. After a strong qualifying session and promising heats, Bruce once again seemed on his way to a top result. But in the final, bad luck struck. Still, Bruce proved his class with an impressive recovery drive, although it meant dropping from P1 to P3 in the championship standings.
Strong start in qualifying
Bruce started the weekend with confidence. In the qualifying practice he set the fastest time, securing pole position for the heats.
Heat 1: fierce battle for the lead
Starting from P1, Bruce made a strong getaway in Heat 1. A fierce fight for the lead soon unfolded, and although he fought hard, he eventually had to settle for second place still a solid result.
Heat 2: fighting spirit, but no victory
In the second heat Bruce once again lined up from pole position. Luck, however, was not on his side: he couldn’t hold on to the lead and slipped back to P3. Despite losing positions, he once again showed his consistent pace.
Final: drama and setbacks
The grand final told a story of its own. On the starting grid Bruce’s engine failed to fire, and the marshals had to push him back into the pits. There, his mechanic managed to restart the kart, but under the regulations he was only allowed to rejoin after the race had started and all other drivers had crossed the start/finish line.
What followed was a race that showed exactly why Bruce is considered one of the brightest talents in his class. With courage, speed, and determination, he fought his way forward from the very back. In a short time he overtook several competitors and even set strong fast lap times. His charge ended at P11, but the way he battled back left a lasting impression. After the race, another driver received a five-second penalty, which promoted Bruce to P10.
Eyes on Mariembourg
Thanks to his performance in Genk, Bruce now holds on to third place in the championship standings with just one round remaining: the decisive race in Mariembourg.
A training year already making history
What makes this result even more remarkable is that 2025 was meant to be a training year for Bruce. This season marks his debut with the IAME 60cc engine, a significant step up in level and competition. The fact that he is already competing in the top three of the championship proves that he not only learns quickly, but also has the talent and mentality to measure himself against the very best.
For a rookie in this class, that is nothing short of impressive and perhaps the beginning of something truly special.
Heat 1
Heat 2
Finale
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