Academy Report: Will claims victory in European Championship opener

Will Green starts his 2026 campaign with a solid win at La Conca, while Dean and Jade were also in action across Europe

Published

13 APR 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

Several members of the Atlassian Williams F1 Team Driver Academy were in action across Europe this weekend.

With a round win, a strong points finish, and another competitive showing, it continues a busy and encouraging start to the season.

Will Green

FIA Karting European Championship Round 1 - Junior Class

Will Green made the perfect start to his 2026 FIA Karting European Championship campaign, taking victory in the Junior class at La Conca.

The 13-year-old Brit showed strong pace throughout the weekend, consistently running at the front across qualifying and the heats to establish himself as a leading contender in a highly competitive 188-driver field.

In Sunday’s Super Heat, Will delivered a determined drive to secure P2, narrowly missing out on victory but confirming a front-row start for the Final.

He carried that momentum into the decisive race, moving into the lead on Lap 2 and managing the pace at the front under pressure. Despite sustained pressure from behind, Will remained composed to control the race through to the chequered flag.

“I’m really happy – I’ve waited a while for this moment,” Will said. “I’ve had good speed all week and I’m glad it’s paid off.”

Round 2 of the championship takes place in Valencia next month.

All smiles for Will following a strong opening round at La Conca

Dean Hoogendoorn

FIA Karting European Championship Round 1 - OK Class

Dean Hoogendoorn opened his 2026 FIA Karting European Championship campaign with a strong performance in the OK class at La Conca.

The Dutch racer showed consistent pace throughout the weekend, building momentum across qualifying and the heats before delivering a solid Super Heat to secure P3 and a second-row start for the Final.

A challenging getaway in the decisive race saw Dean lose ground off the line, but he quickly settled into a strong rhythm and began working his way back through the field.

Reclaiming positions in the second half of the race, he returned to the fight at the front and ran in podium contention during the closing stages.

Crossing the line in P4, Dean secured a valuable haul of points to begin his European campaign, highlighting his racecraft in a highly competitive field.

The result leaves him tied for P3 in the championship standings after Round 1, providing a solid foundation heading into the next round in Valencia.

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Jade Jacquet

Formula 4 CEZ

Jade Jacquet took part in the Formula 4 CEZ Championship opener at the Red Bull Ring, where she secured a points finish.

After completing 17 laps in practice and placing P33 in a 42-car field, Jade made a significant step forward in her Qualifying heat, climbing to an impressive P5.

She carried that momentum into the races, with her standout result coming in Race 2. Running as high as P8 in the closing stages, a late off-track moment dropped her down the order, but she still secured P12 – her first points finish in the series.

Jade’s other results across the weekend saw her classified P22 and P25, rounding out a weekend that demonstrated clear progress in a tightly packed field.

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