THE MOST EXCITING
IS YET TO COME
IS YET TO COME
I am Plamen Balchev – a Bulgarian driver with big dreams and faith. My first contact with karting was in 2023. I started driving alone on the tracks in Sofia, and I also did a few summer training sessions with an instructor at Sofia Karting Ring.
My debut in competitive karting with a temporary license was with the “Greek Karting Sport” team. I made it in October 2023, participating in the last round of the Bulgarian championship at the Kyustendil track, where I finished third in the Rotax Senior class.
“NO DREAM IS TOO BIG.
AND NO DREAMER IS TOO SMALL.”
TURBO MOVIE
My debut in racing karting was with “Garkov karting team”. Everything took place in October of the year 2023, I took part in the last round of the Bulgarian championship in the Bulgarian town Kyustendil where I finished third in Rotax Senior.
THE BEGINNING
I started 2024 with training and two participations in Bulgarian competitions. At the Haskovo Cup, despite dropping out of one of the four heats due to a technical problem, I finished fourth. At the Serres track I showed the best time in the wet. I finished second, but was disqualified due to being 200 grams underweight.
ROMANIA
We chose to drive in several races of the Romanian Karting Championship due to the high competition – over 25 drivers in the class. I had my first wet race, in which I fought for the top three places. On one of the fastest tracks in Targu, I set a fifth time. In my last race on the track in Bacău, I was again in the top five, but a crash and a retirement in one of the final heats deprived me of the opportunity for a good ranking.
IAME X30 Senior
I also participated in the Romanian IAME X30 Championship, where I won one of the heats and took second and third place in the final standings of the two races.
EUROPE
I participated in the final of the European Karting Championship as a training session with the Dan Holland Racing team, where I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best drivers and coaches in the world.
FORMULA RENAULT
My first contact with the so-called formula was at the track in Serres, where in September I did a test with the Bulgarian Formula Academy and their Formula Renault. In four 10-minute sessions, I managed to get within 5 seconds of the best time with slicks used.
FORMULA 4
The year ended on a high note with my first test with the current 2024 Formula 4 car and Cram Motorsport team. In the simulator I was less than 1 tenth of the best time. At the Varano track in real conditions the next day with a wet track, 9 degrees and fog we started with wet tyres. I gradually built up a level of confidence that allowed for two sessions with slicks. I achieved a best time of 1:09:980 and was the fastest driver on the track that day. After the test I received an offer for the upcoming season.
THE BEGINNING
I started 2024 with training and two participations in Bulgarian competitions. At the Haskovo Cup, despite dropping out of one of the four heats due to a technical problem, I finished fourth. At the Serres track I showed the best time in the wet. I finished second, but was disqualified due to being 200 grams underweight.
ROMANIA
We chose to drive in several races of the Romanian Karting Championship due to the high competition – over 25 drivers in the class. I had my first wet race, in which I fought for the top three places. On one of the fastest tracks in Targu, I set a fifth time. In my last race on the track in Bacău, I was again in the top five, but a crash and a retirement in one of the final heats deprived me of the opportunity for a good ranking.
IAME X30 Senior
I also participated in the Romanian IAME X30 Championship, where I won one of the heats and took second and third place in the final standings of the two races.
EUROPE
I participated in the final of the European Karting Championship as a training session with the Dan Holland Racing team, where I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best drivers and coaches in the world.
FORMULA RENAULT
My first contact with the so-called formula was at the track in Serres, where in September I did a test with the Bulgarian Formula Academy and their Formula Renault. In four 10-minute sessions, I managed to get within 5 seconds of the best time with slicks used.
FORMULA 4
The year ended on a high note with my first test with the current 2024 Formula 4 car and Cram Motorsport team. In the simulator I was less than 1 tenth of the best time. At the Varano track in real conditions the next day with a wet track, 9 degrees and fog we started with wet tyres. I gradually built up a level of confidence that allowed for two sessions with slicks. I achieved a best time of 1:09:980 and was the fastest driver on the track that day. After the test I received an offer for the upcoming season.
OVERALL
Despite the difficulties I faced as a complete rookie, I managed to develop flair, fighting spirit, and speed.
I had to face competitors with many years of experience, but this motivated me and made me work harder than anyone else.
TESTS
A series of tests to gain competitive pace in the season
RACES
Consistently improving performance over the course of the season
STRATEGY
Competitiveness, training, fighting spirit, speed
SUCCESS
Rooky champion
P5 overall
3 wins
RESULTS
Gaining confidence and experience
Promoting sponsors
