(Photo: Derek Wargo Racing)

The EKN Driver Diary returns with a focus surrounding the FIA Karting Academy Trophy program. The international championship is into its 17th season and offering the Senior category for a second year. The United States of America did not have a representative in the category for 2025, with Louisiana driver Derek Wargo becoming the first to represent the Red, White and Blue. A total of 49 drivers from across the globe compete in the ‘arrive and drive’ program aboard the Exprit / Vortex / Maxxis packages.

Wargo is providing EKN with a look into his travel and experience competing at the FIA Karting Academy Trophy Senior program. The first event was held on May 7-10 at the Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero outside Valencia, Spain (Click HERE for entry). The second stop was June 11-14 at the Motorsportarena Mulsen in Germany (Click HERE for entry). The final stop of the program was held on July 30-August 2 at the Asum Ring in Kristianstad, Sweden. Below is a day-by-day look into Round Three of the championship chase.

Tuesday, July 28, 2026:

Dinner with the crew in Sweden

Tuesday started the travel to Sweden, and we arrived at the airport in Copenhagen, Denmark. We got a car and drove for about an hour and a half to our house in Sweden for the event. We were in a house that had someone living in it. We were separated, as we were in the attic of the house and the family was downstairs. There was a whole farm surrounding our house, including chickens. We all basically fell asleep at the house when we got there.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026:

The day started off relatively late, as we all ended up waking up around noon. We left the house and headed to the track, where we got our name board and put it up next to our buddy from Switzerland. We went on a track walk with them at about 4:00 pm and left the track later. Once we left the track, we headed to Ahus, Sweden, to eat and see the beach. The beach was pretty nice and calm. While there, we got some huge ice cream. After that, we drove back to the house and went to sleep.

Thursday, July 30, 2026:

Today was set up day. The day when everyone goes to the track, gets their karts, and all the things inside the tent. Then the build begins. We got up relatively early and got to the track for about 7:30 am. We waited for our kart to come out and our motor to get to work. As we finished the kart, the driver and mechanics’ briefing started. After the briefings were over, we had one practice session to end the day. It was a decent session, and I was pretty fast during it. After that, we went back to Ahus, Sweden for dinner again and then got some groceries to eat for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, July 31, 2026:

Friday was another early morning with a full day of practice. I did well in the practices, averaging about the top 10 throughout the day. I carried the momentum into qualifying and came out 19th overall. There were a couple things that I needed to fix before we started racing on Saturday. We ended the day and went to downtown Kristianstad to eat for the night. There was a festival going on in the town and a concert as well, so it was a fun end to the day. I ate a pizza at a local place, and then we went to bed at the house.

Saturday, August 1, 2026:

Race was here! I started the opening heat race in ninth. I worked my way up until another driver sent it from super far back and took me out of contention, finishing 13th. We thought we had pretty good pace and didn’t make too many changes for the second heat. I started 10th, and on the start I got tangled in the first turn nonsense and had to make my way back up to 14th from last. The third and final heat I started in 10th, however, I just didn’t have a lot of pace so I ended up in 16th. When the points were tallied, I was 29th on the table and would start the Final on Sunday from that position.

Sunday, August 2, 2026:

The final day and I started the Final in 29th. I got up to 27th on the first lap and made my way up to 22nd before I got wreck towards the end of the race. It was an unfortunate DNF for the final round of the FIA Academy Trophy.

Overall, the FIA Academy experience was great. My family and I enjoyed the time we had traveling and experiencing this level of karting. Every location had its own special things about it, and it was really cool to visit. If I had to rate my performance, I would say I did decent, but on the setup side of things for the changing conditions, it was not the greatest. But we live and we learn, so if I ever get an opportunity similar to this, I will try and do even better.

When I returned from my racing in Europe, the Jefferson Parish Council presented me with a Proclamation to honor my work both in school and as a karting driver. I was grateful for the honor and the media coverage from our local news stations. It was a really cool experience getting to meet all of the board members as well as the mayor of the parish. I am really honored to have received this big of a reward and I will continue to achieve greater things.

Derek Wargo Social Media:

Facebook: Derek Wargo Racing

Instagram: DerekWargoRacing_

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