The Compostela native Manu Míguez, highest-ranked Spanish driver in the OK-Junior Karting World Championship

Last September, Kristianstad (Sweden) hosted the Karting World Championship organized by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), bringing together 217 drivers from all over the world in one of the most demanding competitions on the international calendar.

In the OK-Junior category, reserved for young talents aged 12 to 14, the Compostela native Manuel Míguez competed as part of the Italian CRG team, following a European season marked by outstanding results and consistency on track.

This category brings together competitors from 36 countries, with different engines and chassis, all using Maxxis tires, reaching speeds exceeding 135 km/h depending on the circuit, making each race a true physical and mental challenge.

The competition was divided into several phases: free practice, timed sessions in four groups, six qualifying heats, and the two superheats, which determined the 36 finalists.

During the timed sessions, Manuel raced in the fourth group, just as the first raindrops began to fall, turning every lap into a test of skill and concentration. He achieved seventh place in the session, ranking 28th overall and starting from eighth position in all qualifying heats—a challenging start that did not intimidate this young talent. In the first heat, Míguez moved up to third place, although a five-second penalty for a broken front bumper clip relegated him to eighth. In the next race, he maintained an impressive pace and finished sixth.

The Compostela-born driver in action

From that point on, however, difficulties with the official Maxxis tires—distributed arbitrarily by the FIA rather than allowing each team to select their own tires for the races—became apparent. Ideally, teams should choose their tires, bring them to the Federation to be marked in parc fermé, and then mount them, ensuring all drivers have the same opportunity in the competition.

Manuel still had several qualifying heats ahead, and this is where the tire issue became even more evident. In the corners, he had to brake much earlier than usual, as the tires quickly lost grip due to the poor quality of the compound, making it difficult to maintain the ideal racing line and significantly affecting lap times.

His performance was affected by the tire degradation, losing between six and nine tenths of a second per lap. The difficulty increased in the following races, where he finished tenth and then twelfth.

Many drivers faced the same problem, including several title contenders; it became nearly impossible to take corners cleanly, and lap times showed a significant gap compared to the other competitors on track. Nevertheless, Manuel remained composed, demonstrating maturity and control under adversity—qualities that not all drivers his age can manage. It is worth highlighting the guidance and motivation of Natalia Balbo, head of the CRG team and one of the most respected professionals in the category.

Manu alongside the CRG team leader, Natalia Balbo, one of the most respected professionals in the category

When the team decided to mount the remaining set of intermediate tires, the kart regained competitiveness, and Manuel once again demonstrated his adaptability and speed. He finished ninth in the fifth qualifying heat and fifth in the sixth, consolidating his position among the world’s best.

During the Super Heat, he started 13th and managed to maintain that position despite the rain and fierce competition, although a penalty dropped him to 17th.

For the Grand Final, the team received a full set of new tires. Manuel started from 26th position, but by the first lap, he was already in 16th. With the track dry and an unstoppable pace, he climbed the field, making 18 overtakes to cross the finish line in an outstanding eighth place, becoming the highest-ranked Spanish driver and the competitor who gained the most positions in the final.

Manuel Míguez’s performance not only confirms his remarkable talent and consistency but also his ability to remain calm and determined under pressure, qualities that promise a bright future in international karting. His name is beginning to resonate strongly among young talents poised to shape the next generation of drivers, and he will undoubtedly continue to make headlines on circuits around the world.

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Una publicación compartida por Manu Míguez (@manumiguez5)