Jamaica’s karting sensation Alex Powell again demonstrated a touch of class to secure another podium finish, this time in the final round of the Champions of the Future (COTF) Euro Series in Franciacorta, Italy, on Sunday.

Powell, who started the 25-lap OK Category final in 10th position, was quickly relegated to 13th with much ground to make up. But the American-born driver put his heart to the pedal in a brilliant comeback to finish second.

However, a post-race penalty resulted in Powell being demoted to third behind Thomas Stolcermanis of Latvia and Maksim Orlov, a Russian driving under a neutral flag.

While this was Powell’s first podium finish of the four-race COTF series, which started in Portugal in March, it represents a third podium finish across his last four races.

It follows on the heels of the 14-year-old’s third-place and winning performances in the last two rounds of the more prestigious FIA Karting European Championships.

“It was another positive weekend, you know it’s always good to get on the podium and we seem to be on some sort of a streak now which is good not only me but the rest of the (Kart Republic Motorsport) team as it shows that improvements are being made,” Powell told the Jamaica Observer shortly after the race.

“I was quite lucky to not have lost more than one place with all the penalties around me but even if I didn’t get on the podium I would still be pleased with the performance. Because this weekend was also about testing the kart setup to try and get everything right ahead of the European Championships and we saw big improvements throughout,” he added.

Though he placed fifth in the overall COTF standings on 67 points, Powell was a mere five points shy of a top three finish.

Great Britain’s Joseph Turney took overall top honours on 92 points ahead of Italy’s Luigi Coluccio (82 points) with Stolcermanis and Brazil’s Matheus Morgatto, both ending on 73 points each.

This come back, Powell believes is a good indication of what can be accomplished in the final round of the European Championships scheduled for July 7-10 also in Franciacorta.

“We now have good knowledge heading into the European Championships and another podium in the bag means a big boost in our confidence level because I believe that last round is going to be very difficult and chaotic. I know the things I have to do better and the team has a platform on where to start in two weeks time,” Powell, the cousin of former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, noted.

Even though it will be tough to make up 26 points on Turney, who also heads the overall European Championships standing, Powell says the leader is by no means infallible and, as such, is determined to push the limits to again rewrite the history books.

The Mercedes-AMG F1 protege is currently third in the Championship battle on 53 points, with Nakamura-Berta (70 points), also of Great Britain in second.

“I’m feeling confident, the aim is to bring my current form into the European Championship and drive the best race that I can. I think if we do that we will have a very good shot at the Championships.

“So we definitely need to keep focus and keep working hard to make sure that we are getting maximum efforts at all times and if the European Championship comes with it then I would be very happy,” Powell ended.