Queensland teenager Annabel Kennedy has returned from the opening round of the 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy – Senior in Portimao, Portugal armed with valuable experience.
The FIA Karting Academy Trophy – Senior is a global, one-make championship showcasing top young talent from around the world. A maximum of one driver is nominated by each country, with all competitors racing identical equipment provided by the OTK Kart Group to ensure the focus is on driver ability – not equipment.
After qualifying 25th, Kennedy’s best result in the three heat races was 15th to line up from 29th on the grid in the final. Throughout the race, she made steady progress to eventually be classified 13th.
“I’ve never done anything like that before; I was a bit nervous going into it, but by the end of it, I was like, I really want to do that again.” says Kennedy.
“I really like how it’s all organised, even the track itself – it is fast and flowing, and they’re wider than in Australia, and I really like that.
“From the racing, I learnt so much across the weekend and I’m looking forward to being able to take what I learnt from the event to help me with not only my racing here but also for round two next month.”
The 15-year-old returned home from Portugal last Tuesday before lining up at her home circuit in Ipswich for the inaugural Ipswich Race of Champions on the weekend, where she finished second in the KA3 Senior class behind current Australian Kart Championship leader Jett Adamson.
