This year the single-kart, single-engine championship has a decent contingent of British and Irish entries. The official UK drivers are George Russell and Alex Gill, with Russell chosen first due to his form over the last year, and then Gill when another place opened up.

As reigning European KF3 Champion Russell was the obvious choice and Gill has more than vindicated his selection with his performance at the first round of this year’s European Championship. However, he’s running on a limited budget and racing in an extra three-round championship is something the family-run driver will struggle to afford.

Russell doesn’t have any problems along those lines and he will also have wise counsel from his brother Benjy, who was Rotax World Champion in 2007 in an event that is also run on one engine/one chassis.

Ireland is fielding Odhran Henry, who is a semi-regular driver on the British scene and had some inspired moments at Varennes.

British ex-pat Thomas Bale is representing the UAE, and Shanaka Clay is representing Sri Lanka where his mother is from.

The rest of the field includes a lot of unknown and inexperienced drivers and Russell has by far the best reputation. But watch out for the French pairing of Paolo Besancenez and Erwan Jule have plenty of experience with Besancenez recently winning a French Championship round at Angerville, the venue of Round 2 of the Academy Trophy. The first round will be at Braga on 8th July.