The season’s best (EN version)

25.11.2025, Uldis Galdiņš

A little over a week ago, on November 16, at the Serbentu kartodromas Mande track in Šiauliai, the nineteenth Openkart season came to an end. The official results have been published, and we can now wrap up this unique season, which ended with the 500th Openkart race. This year we not only reached the milestone of 500 races, but on four occasions – in two different tracks – we exceeded 100 participants. After more than six years, we visited Estonia again, hosting one of this season's highlight races there. Kartings.lv Indoor Karting in New Teika was added to the calendar, the number of rounds increased to 20 (with 15 counting towards the championship), making it the second most intense calendar since 2013. There were also changes to the scoring system and weigh-in procedure.

The season was special in many ways, but the main protagonists were the drivers of our community. This season, Edgars Sproģis surpassed the 200-race mark, while Ruslans Dzenis crossed the 100-race threshold. A total of 34 Openkart drivers have now exceeded 100 races, and four have surpassed 200 – Andrejs Laipnieks and Dzintars Trubiņš (221), Edgars Sproģis (210), and Zintis Grandbergs (207). Of these 34, fourteen were active in the 2025 season. Dzintars Trubiņš is the only one to have participated in Openkart races in all 19 seasons.

It is very satisfying to see not only the Lithuanian part of our Openkart family grow larger and stronger, but also our northern neighbors, the Estonians, becoming more active – both at home and as visitors in Openkart.

Championship

But now, step by step—let's start with the champion. Without surprise, Andrejs Laipnieks became a nine-time Openkart champion (and for the eighth time in a row), claiming his 80th victory in the season finale in Šiauliai and surpassing the 1000-point mark in a single season. This was, of course, made possible by a longer calendar and a revised points system, but not only that. With 12 wins—a new record—and 1008 points out of a possible 1052 (95.8% efficiency), such a season became possible. If nine titles for Andrejs seem like a lot, in the team standings Laipnieks, as part of Movers.lv, earned his 11th team title, eight of them with Movers.lv and three with SNB Racing before the Movers era began. When it comes to Andrejs, there is only one question: will anyone be able to beat him before he ends his hobby karting career?

Dāvis Zalmans—although it didn't look like it at the start of the season—managed once again to defend the vice-champion title. It is already his fifth runner-up finish in the last six seasons. Four victories laid the foundation for remaining the best of the rest. Besides Andrejs and Dāvis, only one other driver managed more than one win—Niks Vucāns, who claimed two, both at the very end of the season.

Ruslans Dzenis—spent most of the season in second place behind Andrejs, but a highly successful year (including his first career overall top-3 finish) ended struggling, costing him the runner-up position. Despite already competing for six seasons and being one of Openkart's leaders, Ruslans is still searching for his first win.

Orestas Burgaila—one of three newcomers to top six—had an excellent season. He earned his second victory, added four more podiums, finished only nine points behind Ruslans, and delivered the highest-ever achievement for our Lithuanian community in Openkart history. One year ago, Orestas missed the top six by just two points. Until now, the only Lithuanian to reach the top six had been Aurėlijus Skromovas, twice finishing in 6th place in 2022 and 2023.

Otīlija Grandberga—the 14-year-old daughter of 2011 champion Zintis Grandbergs and two-time Openkart podium finisher Iveta Akmeņkalne—became both the first female driver and the first junior to finish a season in the top six. Moreover, she won the Challenge Cup, as well as the Junior and Women's classifications, and claimed her first Openkart victory in Madona.

Ričards Alekss Švaglis—literally snatched a top-six finish for the first time in his career in the very last moments of the season. Considering the dramatic final race and final lap of the 2024 season when he fell out of the top six and lost the chance to win the Challenge Cup, this is a small consolation. Like Ruslans, Ričards, after five seasons, is still searching for his first win.

Teams

Just as it was no surprise that Laipnieks became a nine-time champion, it was equally expected that Movers.lv would claim their ninth consecutive team title. With 15 race wins—including 12 in a row—the Movers became champions well before the season ended. The lineup has been unchanged for eight seasons: Andrejs Laipnieks, Kaspars Ritums, and Dāvis Zalmans, while team founder Kaspars has been part of it for nine. As mentioned, Andrejs now has 11, Kaspars 9, and Dāvis 8 team titles in their careers. All three finished within the top 10: Andrejs first, Dāvis second, and Kaspars tenth. Remarkably, only four other drivers in Openkart's 19-year history have won more than one team title: Krišs Jaunzemis (3 titles, 2014–2016), Zintis Grandbergs (3 titles, 2007, 2011, 2013), and Ivars Strencis and Raivis Kirilovs (2 titles each, 2010 and 2012).

Team vice-champions this year were the newly formed Dream Team: Orestas Burgaila, Ričards Alekss Švaglis, and Niks Vucāns. In their debut year, the team earned 3 wins and 11 podiums and even briefly led the standings at the start of the season. All three drivers finished in the championship top 10—Orestas 4th, Ričards 6th, and Niks 8th. Ričards is the only member with previous team podium experience, finishing 3rd with Atkal Uzvara in 2023.

Third place, for the second year in a row, went to 4X4. In their second season, the team had no wins but collected 11 podiums. It is the second career team podium for both Ruslans Dzenis and Aleksandrs Špatcs. During the season, the team welcomed Edgars Sproģis, who earned his ninth team podium. The season began with three-time podium finisher Didzis Grāvītis. Ruslans finished 3rd overall, while Aleksandrs and Edgars ended just outside the top 10—11th and 12th.

Challenge Cup

If the individual championship overall standings and the Team Championship are the main rankings of the season, then the Challenge Cup and the Rookie standings are the so-called secondary rankings, which use championship scoring points. Participation in them depends on achievements or experience in the Openkart Championship. The Challenge Cup was created in 2013 as a replacement for the B-League. It includes all drivers who, at the start of the season, have not won a race or have been on the podium no more than once. If a driver wins the Challenge Cup, even without meeting these entry conditions, defending the title is not possible.

There has only been one case when the Cup was won without either a win or at least two podiums, and it is worth telling the story. In 2014, Rūdis Kļaviņš won the Cup with just a single podium — the only one of his career, but what a story it was. Back then in October at "Rullītis", his kart's accelerator cable snapped in the semi-finals, forcing him to start from 9th in the C-final (at that time the C-final was actually the first final of the day — not as it is today when we need more letters for finals). He won the C-final and then the B-final, and in the A-final he fought his way to his first and only Openkart podium, finishing just 1 second behind the winner, Mareks Štolcermanis.

Otīlija Grandberga — we have already said much about her performance this season, in the Challenge Cup she became the 13th winner of the trophy, and also the first woman and first junior driver to claim it. Her three victories and seven podiums were enough to beat her ADTS Racing teammate Sergejs Ļesiks in the fight for the Cup.

Sergejs Ļesiks finished seventh in the overall championship, and in the middle of the season he surprised many — claiming the first four podiums of his career, including three second-place finishes. He was genuinely in contention for victory at four rounds — and in three of them right up to the final meters, losing to the winners in the final sprint by about 0.1 seconds. It almost feels unreal that he didn't managed to convert any of these into a first win. In the Challenge Cup, he claimed the most victories — five — but those were his only podiums in the Cup. Due to various reasons he missed the final rounds of the season and finished outside the championship Top 6, taking second place in the Challenge Cup behind his teammate.

Aleksandrs Špats finally reached the Challenge Cup podium in his third season. He will join the Elite next season just like Otīlija and Sergejs, meaning he will no longer compete in the Challenge Cup, since he earned his second career Openkart championship podium at the June round in Kandava. This year he gathered four podiums in the Cup — perhaps not as high as he wished — but after 50 races, Aleksandrs is now much more experienced and consistent on different types of tracks.

Alongside the three Challenge Cup laureates, Laimonas Skrodenis will also join the Elite. He finished ninth in the Challenge Cup and 20th in the Championship overall, but managed to climb the championship podium twice, including the best race of his career — the season finale in Serbenta, where he finished second.

Rookies of the Year

The Rookie classification is in its 18th season, but the rules have changed recently. Until 2023, only drivers who competed in their first race of that season were considered rookies. Since 2023, rookies are drivers who, before the current season, have not completed more than five rounds in Openkart. Since 2024, the limit is five events within the previous two seasons.

Erman Keskin convincingly became Rookie of the Year — the first non-Latvian driver and the first junior to do so. His 164-point advantage is impressive; despite that, he only collected two wins, but 11 podiums and remarkable consistency made the difference. Erman debuted last season, completing exactly five rounds — just to be eligible this year. In the championship overall he finished 16th, with his best race result being 5th place.

Rems Vasiļenko was the second-best rookie of the year. His season was a roller coaster — adapting from indoor driving to large outdoor circuits was challenging, with even a disqualification once. But toward the end of the season his performance became more confident and mature, earning him 25th in the championship standings. In the Rookie classification Rems took two wins and five podiums.

Third place went to another Lithuanian, Benas De La Mare, who along with Estonian Kristjan Salvet was one of the two rookies to stand on the Openkart championship podium this year. At the 18th round in Bačiūnai Kartodromas he started from pole position and finished third. He placed 27th overall, with two wins and seven podiums in the Rookie standings.

The first Lithuanian to finish in the top three of the rookie standings was Aurelijus Skromovas in 2021. Very likely, if not for pandemic restrictions, he would have won Rookie of the Year back then. Last season, second and third place were taken by Laimonas Skrodenis and Laimonas Starkevičius.
Thus, within the last five seasons, one-third of all Rookie top three drivers have been our Lithuanian friends.

95+

We have reached Openkart's three additional classifications. The oldest is the 95+ category, introduced in 2017 — now in its ninth season — for heavier drivers. Over time, the minimum weight requirement has been raised from 90 kg to 93 and then to 95 kg. Currently, drivers who weigh at least 90 kg including their racing gear may add ballast and compete in 95+ if they choose.

Raivis Liberts this season became the second driver after Nauris Agafonovs (who in recent years has continued his career successfully in touring car racing) to become a two-time 95+ champion, and the first to successfully defend the title the following year. In both seasons Raivis was clearly the fastest in the category, with a gap to second place equivalent to more than four wins. He finished 24th in the championship overall — the best result for a 95+ driver since the introduction of the 95+ formula three years ago. He also achieved his best ever result in a single event — 11th. In the category he collected 10 wins and 17 podiums. Raivis will step onto the 95+ overall podium for the third consecutive time.

Nils Kūla will also stand on the overall 95+ podium for the third consecutive year, finishing second three seasons in a row. Three drivers have managed to be among the top three three times: Raivis, Nils, Nauris, Emīls Bērziņš, and Rinalds Elksnis. Nils finished 42nd in the championship, with one category win and nine podiums.

Lauris Liberts, Raivis's brother, in only his second season, showed strong improvement. He claimed his first category win and six podiums — five of which he shared with his brother. In the final event in Serbentu all three podium places went to the brothers, as Juris Soltums took third. Lauris finished 59th overall.

Juniors

The newest of the additional classifications, introduced midway through the 2023 season. It is the most dynamic, with the fastest growth in driver numbers. The rapid rise in interest from juniors and their parents in hobby karting is remarkable — thanks to karting halls, race tracks, and teams with junior races, schools, and camps. Increasing junior participation has also reshaped the Openkart environment — more family-like, but also with new responsibilities. At the same time, the best juniors are increasingly reaching B and even A finals, contending for the highest achievements. Naturally, behind every junior are supportive parents who deserve recognition.

Otīlija Grandberga and her parents are a perfect example — countless races in Latvia and abroad, first Openkart win, representing Latvia at the SWS World Finals, recently leader of the SWS Junior Cup World Rankings. This year she convincingly won the Openkart Junior classification after finishing runner-up last year. This season she collected 7 wins and 12 podiums. Next year will be her last as a junior.

Second place went to Rookie of the Year Erman Keskin, who finished more than four win-equivalents behind Otīlija. In this classification he had one win and six podiums. Interestingly, in all three seasons of the Junior class, a Lithuanian junior has finished in the top three — in 2023 Jokūbas Kaminskas was second, last season Orestas Burgaila (in his final junior year) won, and now second is Erman.

A dramatic battle unfolded for third place, ultimately decided in the final round — thanks to a bonus point for fastest lap — won by Karlīna Gladiševa, beating her peer Rodrigo Kākers by just a single point. Karlīna's season was successful yet uneven, but the trend of reaching B and A finals more frequently is clear. She finished 19th in the championship overall and claimed four podiums in the Junior standings.

Ladies

The Ladies classification was introduced in 2023, unlike Juniors, from the very beginning of the season. We would love to see more female participation in hobby karting, but the ladies who do compete are mostly very competetive. This year participation nearly doubled, and in three events there were at least 10 ladies on the grid. Ladies know how to race — they just need to start and dare.

Otīlija Grandberga — no commentary needed. Her second overall victory in the Ladies standings, 11 wins, and 17 podiums from 17 events. What is worth noting: Otīlija is only the second woman to win an Openkart championship round. The first — and twice — roughly 10 years ago, was Dace Damberga.

Karlīna Gladiševa climbed one place compared to last year, and is much closer to Otīlija — last year the gap was more than 160 points; this season, despite a longer calendar, it is almost four times smaller. She earned 2 wins and 15 podiums in the Women's standings.

Finally, our southern neighbor from Vilnius — always positive Meda Mickeliūnaite. The family is not from Šiauliai… but from Vilnius. Each Openkart race is a small journey — an admirable family supporting their daughter. Meda also earned a funded seat for next season in the Lithuanian Sports Karting Championship after winning the Baltic Karting Academy youth program — with our social media community contributing at least a bit of part to support her. Fast and explosive, full of character — few races go by without a penalty, but that is part of growth and learning.
She finished 29th overall and in the Women's standings claimed 2 wins and 8 podiums.

The OPENKART Cup

With the season concluded, we now know the 20 Openkart drivers who have earned tickets to the traditional and historic OPENKART Cup event — part of Openkart since 2009 and first introduced back in 2002 during the F1 Club era. The time and place will be announced later.Qualified drivers:
Andrejs Laipnieks, Dāvis Zalmans, Ruslans Dzenis, Orestas Burgaila, Otīlija Grandberga, Ričards Alekss Švaglis, Sergejs Ļesiks, Niks Vucāns, Oļegs Moskals, Kaspars Ritums, Aleksandrs Špatcs, Edgars Sproģis, Laimonas Starkevičius, Kristaps Ķilkuts, Rolands Dripe, Ermans Keskins, Jānis Kornis, Sergejs Glaņenko, Karlīna Gladiševa and Laimonas Skrodenis.
Five reserves: Ādams Šics, Rodrigo Kākers, Armands Mednis, Raivis Liberts and Rems Vasiļenko.

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These are our best of the 2025 season. It was fascinating to look back at each driver's journey — the drama, achievements, emotions — both positive and negative. This was a truly special season — we all had to adapt and learn and we will embracing new challenges in the coming season.

Thank you to everyone — and Openkart's 20th season will start in march. In the meantime, there will be plenty to do during the off-season. Stay tuned.