Rousseau showed his speed and consistency from the very beginning of the weekend, placing 8th in his Qualifying group and finishing inside the top 10 in all but one of his Qualifying heats. His strong run earned him a spot in the Super Heats, where he finished 7th in his group, securing P18 on the starting grid for the Final.
From there, Gianmatteo delivered a drive to remember. Launching off the line with a storming start, he gained seven positions on the opening lap and was up to 8th by lap four. His charge continued as he battled his way inside the top six, where he crossed the line after 21 laps of intense, wheel-to-wheel action, improving a total of 12 positions.
Out of 109 OK-J drivers competing from around the world, Rousseau proved himself among the very best, not only achieving a career-best result but also making history for Panama on the global karting stage.
Maria Catarineu, Commercial Director, Bullet Sports Management :
“Gianmatteo’s performance was nothing short of outstanding. To finish P6 in such a competitive field and set a new benchmark for Panamanian motorsport is a proud moment for Bullet Sports Management and for his home country. This is just the beginning of what promises to be a very exciting career.”
Gianmatteo Rousseau:
“I’m really proud of this result and what it means for Panama. It was a tough weekend with such tough competition, but I gave it everything, and I’m happy we came away with 6th place. Thank you to my team, my family, my sponsors, Bullet, and everyone supporting me. This is a big step forward, and I’m motivated to keep pushing.”
But the season is far from over for the 13-year-old karting prodigy. Next, Rousseau will take on the FIA Karting World Championship in the KZ category at Franciacorta from October 8–12, stepping up to face a new level of competition.