The weather conditions in Rødby, Denmark were far from ideal, with heavy rain showers creating extra challenges for the drivers. But that didn’t seem to bother the 13-year-old Panamanian, who thrived in the difficult conditions. Gianmatteo finished three out of his four Qualifying Heats in the top five, with the only exception being a DNF after getting caught in a first-lap tangle through no fault of his own.
He then charged through the field from P16 to finish 8th in his Super Heat group, securing 13th on the grid for the Final. After some stunning wheel-to-wheel battles, he crossed the line in 9th. His strong performance earned him 21 points and moved him up to 10th in the championship standings, an impressive result among 87 of the world’s best young karting drivers and the only driver representing Panama at this high level.
Gianmatteo Rousseau:
“I’m really happy with how this weekend went. The rain made it really tricky, but I actually enjoyed driving in those conditions. I had some good battles, and I gave it everything in the final. Finishing in the top 10 in the championship means a lot to me and makes me even more excited for the rest of the season. What means the most to me is being able to represent Panama on a stage like this. I always try to give my best for my country, and I hope I’m making everyone back home proud.”
Maria Catarineu:
“Gianmatteo did a fantastic job last weekend and throughout all four rounds of the FIA Euros. His improvement was clear round after round, and his position in the championship standings speaks for itself. Finishing in the top 10 of the best drivers in the world is a huge achievement. We’re proud to have him in Bullet, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead.”
Although this championship has come to an end, Gianmatteo’s season is far from over. His next race will be in a month’s time at Kristianstad for the Champions of the Future series finale, just before the FIA Karting World Championship at the same Swedish circuit. He will then make his KZ debut in Franciacorta for the World Championship in October. His season will conclude with the WSK Final Cup series in November.