And while the Polish driver backed out of the event at the last moment, Alguersuari made it all the way to the final heat.

The 19-year-old Spaniard was quick around the bends despite never having driven a kart with a gearbox, which is the vehicle used in this class.

Plenty of international talent was present in Sarno, with 78 drivers from 22 countries showcasing their skills.

The Russian contingent had a tough time in Italy though, with Sergey Syrotkin's excellent run coming to an abrupt end. The up-and-coming racer was able to remain on course early, despite his kart taking some damage in one of the heats.

The Russian was battling with the eventual winner, Dutchman Nick De Vries, and even led for a few laps in the final race before running off the track to finish 26th.

Syrotkin's compatriot Dmitry Sarunovich also had a disappointing outing, having to be content with a 28th place finish.

“The kart was all right and I was ready for the race. But someone hit me on the very first corner during our final race and my chassis got damaged. Hence the result,” Dmitry Suranovich said.

The KF3 class, where the likes of Sebastien Vettel honed their trade earlier in the decade, was won by local favorite Giuliano Nicetta.

Russian Stepan Karasev put in a solid effort to finish in the top 10 there, crossing the line in 8th spot. The young driver stated he was in awe of some of the world's racing elite.

“Alguersuari's presence affected me greatly. I had to try very hard just to catch his eye,” Stepan Karasev said.

And while the Russians didn't get any trophies in Italy, a good learning experience, and quite possibly a good impression on top flight drivers, is something to take home.