The England Deaf Karting Team, alongside team manager Carlo and the dedicated pit crew, competed at Franciacorta Karting Track in Italy for the European Deaf Karting Championship, held from 3rd-6th September. The event brought together Europe’s strongest deaf karting nations for several days of preparation, qualifying, and highly competitive racing.
From the outset of the week, the atmosphere within the England camp was focused, professional and determined. The team completed two full days of intensive practice on Wednesday and Thursday, spending long hours on track refining kart setup, tyre management, braking consistency and overall race performance. Each driver adapted quickly to the demanding Italian circuit, with steady improvements building confidence ahead of the competitive sessions.
On Friday, the individual championship races took place, forming a crucial stage of the event as performances directly influenced selection for the Nations Team Championship. Team manager Carlo closely monitored every session, analysing pace, consistency and race craft under pressure. With seven male drivers and three female drivers in the squad, the level of performance across the team was extremely close, making selection a difficult and emotional process.
Carlo was required to select six male drivers and two female drivers for the Nations Championship. Due to the incredibly tight competition within the squad, the decision was described as one of the most challenging he has faced.
The final men’s team selection included Dave Sumner, who stepped in at the last moment as a replacement for Daniel Hopkinson after he unfortunately lost his passport, alongside George Wilkins, Jasper Fitzgerald-Woolfe, Alan Thompson, Richard Hounslow, and Arnis Kivitis. The women’s team selected for the Nations event was Rachael Mallard and Lena Reading.
Saturday saw the Nations Team Championship take place, where England faced the strongest deaf karting nations in Europe. Germany once again proved to be their closest rivals, with both nations pushing each other across every session in a tightly fought and high-pressure battle.
England’s men delivered consistent and strong performances throughout the day, while the women’s races were equally competitive, with fine margins separating the leading teams in every session. The overall standings remained close until the final results were confirmed.
At the conclusion of the event, England were crowned Nations Team European Champions, securing a historic victory ahead of Germany by 31 points. The women’s team finished in a strong second place after a closely contested battle, while the men’s team successfully retained their European crown for a second consecutive championship.
That evening, the team attended the official gala dinner and awards ceremony, where drivers, management and pit crew came together to celebrate their achievement. In an emotional and proud moment, the England team lifted the European Championship trophy once again, marking another unforgettable success for the squad.
This victory represents England’s third European title in history, following previous wins in 2011 and 2018, and now again in 2025. The achievement has been described within the team as their strongest performance since the programme began in 2005, reflecting years of development, commitment and teamwork across the organisation.
