William Go scores podium in FIA Karting Academy Trophy

Young rising stars of Philippine motorsports are giving us a lot to cheer about.

Just a week after Bianca Bustamante's points finish in her maiden W Series race, another Filipino has made the headlines in motorsports, and this time, it's in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy race in Genk, Belgium.

William John Riley Go took 2nd place in the opening round of the 2022 FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Arthur Dorison of France took the win, while Luxembourg's Guillaume Bouzar completed the podium in 3rd.

The 13-year-old Cebuano karter earned 3 second-place finishes in the qualifying heats, which were enough to land him 2nd place on the grid in the Academy final. The Filipino karter then spent the entirety of the 19-lap final within striking distance of race leader Dorison while keeping Bouzar in check. In the end, Go finished the race only 0.5 seconds behind race winner Dorison.

William Go's podium finish in Belgium makes him the first-ever Filipino to do so in the history of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy – a championship where F1 drivers like Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon, and George Russell previously competed.

His result in the opening round means he's 2nd in the championship and only trails Dorison by 7 points. Go will have two more rounds to try and climb the top step, which will be held in Italy and France. Let's wish him the best of luck.