BARCELONA – The YNOT Grand Prix series of kart-racing events gets bigger and better — and more competitive — every year.

According to Jay Kopita, YNOT Group LLC co-owner and organizer of the racing seasons from the beginning, the seventh-season opener was “very cutthroat. We even saw a kart lifted off the track from a crash.” No one was hurt, he said, and the crowd cheered the spectacle.

More than 130 people attended the race, hosted by JuicyAds on Feb. 29 at Barcelona’s celebrated Scratch Indoor Karting Penedès track. Eight-four drivers literally fought for a spot in the final heat. Qualifying required a best lap time of under 40 seconds. Nine finalists met the mark.

Three came away with trophies and their bodies and pride intact:

First place: Jurgen from Plugrush, the perennial winner of the first race of the season.
Second place: Joaquin from Kimia.
Third place: Gabriel from Valencia Ads.

Under the new YNOT Grand Prix ranking system, Jurgen received 10 points, Joaquin received eight points and Gabriel received six points. The drivers who finished fourth, fifth and sixth received four points each, and the final three drivers in the qualifying field received three points apiece.

The point tallies will become more important as the season continues. After the final race at The European Summit in Prague in September, the driver who has accumulated the most points overall will take home a purse of $1,000.

Kopita encouraged drivers to enter as many races as they can — especially since everything about every race is free for both participants and observers, including transportation, food and drinks. Generous 2016 sponsors including JuicyAds, FNCash, Payze, Mistral, Studio20 and Traffic Mansion take care of all the costs.

The next race will take place March 30 as a sanctioned opening event for The Phoenix Forum, which occurs March 31 through April 3 in Tempe, Ariz. Two additional races are slated for Qwebec Expo in August and The European Summit–Prague in September.

For more information about sponsorship availability or to secure a driver’s seat at any or all races, email Kopita or contact him on Skype at LAJConsulting.