ROLLERCOASTER AND GAINING EXPERIENCE AT THE START OF THE COTFA SEASON FOR JULIA ANGELARD

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  • The first round of the Champions of the Future Academy was marked by many novelties and gathering new experiences for Julia Angelard.
  • The 13-year-old protégé of Minardi Management in Portimão had to fight not only with changing weather conditions, but also with the crush of other competitors, which caused numerous collisions and swerves off the track.
  • Julia Angelard is happy with the experience she managed to gain behind the wheel of a completely new construction for her and on a previously unknown racing track, and is already thinking about preparations for the next round in Valencia in April and the upcoming competitions on the Franciacorta track.

A previously unknown karting track, a completely new chassis and engines, a new suit, and constantly changing weather conditions – for Julia Angelard, starting during the first round of the Champions of the Future Academy in Portimão was associated with a number of challenges and paving the way again. The 13-year-old JSTR by Jatrzębski Racing competitor appeared on the track hoping to gain new experience and properly “get into” the new format of competition.

News and difficulties
After Thursday and Friday’s training sessions, it was time to seriously face the stopwatch and rivals on the track. A lot of time spent on analyzing the track and telemetry after the training sessions was very valuable, but still insufficient given the constantly changing conditions on the track. Drivers who had the opportunity to pull off or at least train on this track earlier had a much easier time. During Saturday’s Time Qualifying session, Julia Angelard placed 24th, moving up five positions in the first heat. The second heat also involved a promotion – this time by two starting positions. As a result, after both heats, Julia was placed 21st at the start of Saturday’s final. This was marked by chaos on the track – as many as five competitors dropped out during the first lap, and 13 people did not reach the finish line. The Minardi Management protégé managed to avoid chaos, and as a result of one collision and a 5-second penalty for the so-called bumper, she ultimately placed 18th.

In Sunday’s Time Qualifying session of the 13-year-old Pole, Julia was unfortunately pushed out by another competitor, as a result of which she was unable to complete a timed lap. The first heat did not prove to be kinder – along with, among others, three other competitors, Julia Angelard dropped out of the competition on the first lap. However, in the second heat, Julia Angelard showed everyone what she is capable of – moving up 12 places in the grid and placing 20th. The result of the first heat, however, affected the starting order for the final, with the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing driver taking 31st place on the grid. However, a collision with Emma Rose Dowling at the start eliminated the Polish driver from the fight for points. Starting from the back of the grid, especially in difficult weather conditions, poses the risk of being caught in front of others – which also happened to Julia.

Julia Angelard: not my competition
“Well, after the training sessions and learning the track, my pace was quite good. Unfortunately, a lot of collisions that I couldn’t avoid meant that the results weren’t what I expected. On the other hand, a new chassis, new engines, a new track, new settings in constantly changing weather conditions – all of this was a big challenge for me and my mechanic, Tomek Jastrzębski. Due to the tight schedule since the beginning of the year, we didn’t manage to find time to practice calmly on the track in Portimão, which, although I liked a lot, is not easy. There are a few specific places that you need to know about and get to know them in order to drive through them well. A bit of bad luck meant that I didn’t drive much on Sunday. It’s also a shame that Kacper Rajpold, after such a good ride and fighting for victory, was pushed out 3 corners before the end. But I’m not giving up, it was a weekend full of learning and it will only get better. See you in Valencia!” admits Julia Angelard.

The next round of the Champions of the Future Academy program awaits the 13-year-old competitor on the Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero track in Valencia, Spain, from 11 to 13 April 2025. In the meantime, Julia Angelard is heading to Franciacorta, where she will take part in the fourth round of the WSK Super Master Series next weekend, and a week later – in the opening round of the ROK Cup Italia.

JULIA ANGELARD, 13-year-old karting competitor, a protégé of Minardi Management, a member of the PZM junior national karting team in the 2025 season. Representing the colors of JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing, in the 2025 season she will compete in the Polish Karting Championships, in the Italian ROK Cup Italia series and in the international Champions of the Future Academy program, supported by F1 Academy – a series accompanying Formula 1. In July 2024, she was the only Polish woman to be among the 20 competitors who appeared in the Iron Dames Young Talents shootout finals.

She began competing in karting at the age of 4. She began her professional starts in the Rotax Max Challenge Poland series in the years 2017-2022 in the MicroMax and Minimax categories. In 2023, at the age of 11, she started in the ROK Cup Poland in the Junior category. In September 2023, she made her international debut as part of the ROK Superfinal and ROK Cup Italia, where she also appeared in 2024, becoming the fastest and highest ranked competitor and advancing 17 positions in one of the races.