OSTRICOURT (FR) – Bruce Chirino makes history with first IAME Series Benelux win!
At the challenging French circuit of Ostricourt, Bruce Chirino made history on Sunday. During the second round of the IAME Series Benelux 2025, the young karting talent from The Hague proved he possesses not only raw speed but also nerves of steel, race intelligence, and a true winning mentality. With his very first victory in this prestigious series, Bruce made a powerful statement. On a track still relatively new to him — with only four days of practice — he showcased his talent, determination, and race instinct at exactly the right moment.

Strong start during warm-up

The day began well during the non-qualifying practice — the so-called warm-up — where Bruce clocked a 1:06.006, showing he already had the pace. After drawing lucky number 21 in the starting position lottery, he quickly reset and impressed during the official qualifying.

Qualifying: Bruce blasts to P3

With a superb lap, Bruce secured a 1:05.141, earning himself a solid third position in a competitive Mini Rookie field. The tone was set. Focus: on.

Heat 1: From hunter to leader

Heat 1 started with fireworks. Bruce launched from P3 to P2 right off the line and took the lead by lap two before the field had even settled. From that point on, it was his race. Calm, confident, and in control, Bruce drove flawlessly to the checkered flag for the win.

Heat 2: Tension until the final meter

Heat 2 was one for the books. Once again starting from P3, Bruce took the lead in lap 1, only to lose it again in lap 5. Just when it seemed like victory might slip away, Bruce came back strong. In the final lap, he launched one last attack and reclaimed the lead — a move that had the crowd on their feet. With a fastest lap of 1:04.802, the best of the entire field, Bruce crossed the line in first place.

Final: P1… lost, reclaimed, conquered!

Thanks to his dominant performance in the heats, Bruce started the grand final from pole position. He held onto the lead for the first two laps, but then slipped back to P3. What followed was a strategic, high-speed chess match. In lap 4 he fought back to P2, and in laps 5, 6, and 7 he reclaimed the lead. It wasn’t over yet: in lap 8 he was passed once more and dropped to P2. But Bruce had his sights set on victory. In the final lap, he pushed hard, retook P1, and held on to claim his first-ever win in the IAME Series Benelux!

A well-deserved reward

This win is more than just a victory — it’s a testament to Bruce’s growth, courage, and dedication. Bruce Chirino didn’t just win the race; he won the hearts of his fans. With four more rounds to go this season, one thing is clear: this is only the beginning.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Of course, this achievement wasn’t just Bruce’s alone. Behind every successful driver is a strong team — and Bruce is no exception.
A special shout-out to his coaches and mechanics, whose guidance, experience, and support were invaluable this weekend. Together, they are a top team — ready for many more victories to come.

You can rewatch the race below. The Final is an action-packed and super exciting race. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Final