Ferrari crowns 19-year-old Grantas Kareckas champion after what judges didn’t expect at Abu Dhabi

Ferrari crowns a new esports champion just three weeks into December. On December 3, 2025, 19-year-old Lithuanian sim racer Grantas Kareckas claimed the prestigious 2025 Ferrari HP Esports Series title after a dramatic final showdown at Ferrari World Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. His remarkable consistency across three different racing simulators proved decisive in one of the most competitive championships in the series’ history.

Lithuanian Teen Dominates Three-Simulator Championship Challenge

Kareckas dominated through sheer consistency rather than outright speed on individual platforms. The championship format required participants to complete both qualifying sessions and full race distances across all three simulators in a single day—one of the most physically and mentally demanding esports events globally.

Despite specializing primarily in Assetto Corsa Competizione during regional qualifying rounds, Kareckas showcased impressive adaptability. He secured second place on Assetto Corsa and a solid fifth-place finish on iRacing, demonstrating that his strength lay in minimizing losses on unfamiliar platforms while maximizing performance where he felt most comfortable.

Inside the Historic Abu Dhabi Grand Final Victory

Championship Detail	Information
Champion	Grantas Kareckas (Lithuania, 19)
Runner-Up	Damon Woods (Australia, 19)
Third Place	Amedeo Castorino (Italy, 22)
Location	Ferrari World Esports Arena, Abu Dhabi
Date	December 3, 2025
Total Finalists	14 racers from 10 countries

The state-of-the-art Ferrari World Esports Arena provided the perfect backdrop for this championship decider. Officials noted that three unpredictable races across different simulators made it genuinely challenging to predict winners, with different drivers excelling on different platforms.

Damon Woods, the 19-year-old iRacing specialist from Australia, finished strong in second place. Woods absolutely dominated the Mugello circuit race on iRacing—his specialty platform—but couldn’t quite maintain that excellence across the other simulators. Meanwhile, Amedeo Castorino, the 22-year-old Italian, showcased mastery on his home soil by securing back-to-back victories on both Monza and Misano circuits, yet an eleventh-place finish on iRacing ultimately cost him the title.

What Experts Noticed About the Champion’s Strategy

Tiziana Mecozzi, Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports Team Manager, observed that Kareckas’ approach represented something unique about elite esports driving. “This Grand Final was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the best talents on the global esports scene,” she stated, emphasizing how younger generations continue pushing sim racing forward.

“I’m speechless. I think this is one of the biggest esports events you could have and by winning it I’ve proved to myself that I’m capable of competing at the highest level and racing against some of the best esports drivers in the world.”

— Grantas Kareckas, 2025 Ferrari HP Esports Series Champion

Kareckas elaborated on his winning philosophy, noting that maintaining composure under pressure proved crucial. “There is no other competition that does three sims in one series—let alone all in the same day! It is very difficult, but you must stay consistent, and I managed to do that,” the champion explained, revealing his tactical approach to damage management.

How This Championship Victory Sets Up Kareckas’ Future in Competitive Racing

This victory marks a significant milestone in Kareckas’ young esports career. The championship comes after months of six-month regional qualification campaigns across three global regions, with competitors traveling from Americas, EMEA, and APAC divisions. Winning against such international competition at just 19 years old positions Kareckas among elite future prospects in professional racing.

The Ferrari esports program continues its mission to identify and develop emerging automotive talent. Luke Whitehead, the 2024 Ferrari HP Esports Series champion who judged this year’s competition, reflected on the event: “It was surreal to be back at Ferrari World Yas Island, and it was very interesting to experience the event from a different perspective this year.”

What Does This Championship Mean for the Broader Esports Racing Community?

The 2025 Ferrari HP Esports Series Grand Final demonstrated that sim racing has matured into a genuinely inclusive competitive platform. Participants ranged from 18 to 48 years old, proving that age matters far less than adaptability and mental resilience. Kareckas’ victory over established drivers from Australia and Italy signals that emerging Lithuanian talent continues rising globally in esports racing ranks.

Ferrari fans can now relive the complete championship action on the official Ferrari Esports Twitch channel and Ferrari YouTube channel, where the full three-hour grand final event is available for viewing. The 2025 conclusion sets the stage for what promises to be an even more competitive 2026 Ferrari Esports Series.

Sources

• Ferrari.com – Official championship announcement and detailed race results from Abu Dhabi Grand Final
• Ferrari Esports Official Channels – Video highlights and championship footage across Twitch and YouTube
• Ferrari World Yas Island – Event venue details and 15th anniversary celebration context