The young karting driver, Oleksandr Bondarev, who suffered multiple fractures, is back on the racetrack showing his best and winning again.
Bondarev stalls in the middle of the track. Seven drivers manage to avoid him but he is finally rammed by Sankka Dahlstrom, who couldn’t avoid him. Both drivers are medically treated. The race stops, Oleksandr’s life stops.
That 2nd May was the beginning of an unqualifiable story of overcoming the odds. It was unthinkable that after 10 operations and two months in hospital, Bondarev would so soon return to the asphalt and be as successful as he had been before the accident.
A year later, Oleksandr entered the FIA karting competition organised for the first time at the Steel Ring circuit in Trinec (Czech Republic).
The Czech organisers spared no effort to welcome the participants, attendees and officials of the second round of the FIA European Karting Championship – OK & Junior and the first round of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy, in the presence of FIA Karting President Akbar Ebrahim and Vice-President John Ryan.
The 1223-metre Steel Ring track, with its winding and hilly layout, offered challenges to the drivers and technicians, especially amidst changing conditions.
Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR-KR/IAME/Vega) proved unbeatable in the Junior category. Considered the favourite at the start of the final, he lived up to his status by leading from start to finish despite Lewis Wherrell’s challenge in the closing laps. Less than two tenths separated them at the finish line. Zac Drummond took third place ahead of Thibaut Ramaekers. Dries van Langendonck completed the top five ahead of an up-and-coming rider, Jack Iliffe.
Kit Belosky also moved up 10 places to finish 11th ahead of Andy Consani, who moved up 13 places.
Ramaekers and Bondarev moved up seven places in the FIA International Karting Ranking (IKR) to second and third respectively in all categories. Bondarev retained his top position in OK-Junior, while Wherrell moved up three places to second.
All in all, Oleksandr Bondarev’s story of achievement should serve as an example, not only to athletes, but to anyone. The challenge was enormous, but he has never lost the will to keep fighting to recover. After two intense months of hard work, he managed not only to return to competition in record time, but also to return to the top of the podium. Now, there is no doubt that he will continue to fight for his dreams on the track, competing again and enjoying karting.
