… When Aeolus Tested Us in Thessaloniki
Round 2 – Champions of the Future Academy Program, Thessaloniki (Greece)
Before we could even think about racing, it seemed that the Greek gods had decided to test us.
As we arrived in Thessaloniki for the second round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program, Aeolus, the god of the winds, made an unforgettable appearance. A localized tornado suddenly formed and tore through the paddock, turning what should have been a routine practice day into a scene of chaos.
A short video from the event gives an idea of the scale of what happened. The tornado swept through the paddock, destroying several structures in its path. Miraculously, the damage was limited to equipment and vehicles. One car was completely crushed in the parking area, but despite a few bruises and minor injuries, nobody was seriously hurt.
I watched the tent next to ours being lifted into the air as if it weighed nothing. Within seconds, everyone was running in every direction, desperately searching for shelter.
Aeolus eventually moved on, but not without consequences.
Practice was heavily disrupted and reduced to only two short sessions.
For a brand-new circuit that nobody knew, losing an entire day of testing was a significant setback.
The competition nevertheless started the following day.
The track itself provided a spectacular setting, with Mount Olympus standing in the distance—a fitting backdrop after our unexpected encounter with the Greek gods.
The circuit was unlike most karting tracks, featuring both uphill and downhill sections, something rarely encountered in our sport.
Learning such a demanding layout directly during competition was a real challenge.
With only a handful of laps available, I had to learn the circuit progressively through the official qualifying races.
Despite these difficult circumstances, I continued to improve throughout the weekend and managed to deliver two strong performances in the finals.
In Saturday’s final, I fought my way from 27th to 12th place, gaining fifteen positions in a highly competitive field. On Sunday, I confirmed the progress by finishing 13th in the second final.