The new CIK-FIA Karting World Championship, named «U18» in reference to its Drivers who must be under 18 years old (15-18 year-olds), is arousing quite a lot of interest. It will be held on three events, starting in Germany at Wackersdorf on 25 July 2010. It will continue in Spain at Alcaniz on 29 August and finish in France, on the Val d’Argenton track on 3rd October.

As a reminder, this new concept is focused around three main lines: youth, education and accessibility. Concerning the latter aspect, the CIK-FIA «U18» World Championship will be an opportunity for young Drivers to compete in really affordable conditions thanks to the recourse to single-suppliers of equipment designated further to tender procedures. The selection of the best tenders has permitted the choice of Dunlop and Parolin for the supply of tyres and KF engines, which will both be delivered on a free basis to all the Drivers a each Championship event!

Regarding chassis, there will be room for emulation between the many different homologated makes, but some limits to the development of equipment will be set by the regulations. Chassis makes wishing to enter the Championship will be able to do so between 15 February and 22nd March. On account of their entry, they will accept that the CIK-FIA marks as a minimum 20 complete homologated chassis (without front brakes) and a series of reserve components such as rear axles, rims, hubs, spindles and stabilisers. It will be allowed to use only equipment bearing the marking affixed by the CIK-FIA. In addition to increasing equality of chances, this system will permit cost control thanks to a limitation of accessories variants and because technological evolutions will be curbed. It is from these identified chassis and components that the CIK-FIA Officials will take the equipment to carry out its distribution to the Drivers by drawing lots.

In practical terms, at the time they enter (entries open on 1st April on the www.cikfia.com website), Drivers will choose the chassis make with which they want to compete amongst those that are entered in the Championship. While this system will entail that Drivers shall invest in a new chassis prior to the first event, it will also guarantee that all participants dispose of a "standard" chassis instead of "tailor-made" models or "prototypes".

If a make enters the Championship this will also imply that it is present at each event in order to make its services and advice available to the competitors.

By PaddockTalk

Arnaud Kozlinski was awarded his first CIK-FIA World Karting Championship winner’s trophy at the FIA Gala in Monaco this evening. This marked a positive step up for the 28-year-old who had won second place in the 2003 and 2004 Championships. The 46th edition of the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship, which is run over a single event, took place for the first time ever in Asia, at the Macau Motorsports Club. There were 43 entries and among them, for the first time in the history of the CIK-FIA Karting Championship, there were two Chinese drivers at the start of the event.

Kozlinski, driving a CRG Kart with Maxter engine and Bridgestone tyres, started in pole position, comfortably winning the pre-final before starting again in pole position for the afternoon final. Although the championship was halted five laps early due to heavy rain, this did nothing to detract from the exciting on-track action. Being the first Frenchman ever to win a world championship in the sport’s highest category, Kozlinski was ecstatic to have been crowned at the FIA Gala.

Kozlinski said: "Winning the World Championship in Macau was a huge relief. In 2008, I was really disappointed when my engine let go, as it did a month earlier when I was on my way to being European Champion. These two failures were very difficult for me to get over. Fortunately, I was well surrounded by friends and family and it gave me the desire to come back even stronger. That’s why I dedicate this victory to all those who supported me, especially my parents."

Giancarlo Tinini, President of winning constructor CRG, said: "The 20 minutes of the Karting World Championship finale are always the most intense of the year, never failing to bring on a huge adrenaline rush. No other race could be compared to the World Championship, and for a constructor, securing a win is obviously very exciting. Winning changes everything from one day to the next: the company’s image is strengthened overnight and the publicity generated is incredible, benefiting our entire network."

By MotorSport

The Motor Sports Association, in conjunction with the Super 1 Series, has announced that it will adopt the CIK-FIA Super KF class for the MSA British Kart Championship with effect from 2010.

As a result, the MSA British Kart Championship will now follow CIK-FIA regulations, including the use of CIK-FIA specifications for fuels. The only exceptions will be the permitted use of a rear bumper to MSA regulations and tyres.

Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive, said: "This is a decision made in association with the Super 1 organisers after full consultation with their current competitors and brings the championship in line with its equivalent series across Europe. We hope that this early announcement of next year’s plans will encourage competitors to sign up to the highest level within the British karting scene."

By RE

The Karting World Championship which is scheduled to be raced this weekend in Macau suffered a premature halt this Saturday.

The officials of the event decided to suspend racing after the qualifying practice and just two qualifying heats. The cause : the asphalt surface of the circuit had been damaged by the passage of the karts in racing conditions. A solution is currently being sought to enable this, the first World Championship to be staged in Asia, to go ahead without any further misfortune and still all be determined on Sunday.

Update: It seems there was a lot of dust coming form the recently rebuilded asphalt circuit and it was entering the helmets and the airboxes. But it now seems that there have been worls on the track all nigh long and now the racing has continued.

By PaddockTalk

Further cementing Macau’s reputation as the birthplace of motorsport champions, the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC) today announced that Macau will host the 2009 CIK-FIA World Karting Championship from October 8-11 at the Kartodromo de Macau, the first time the event has been held in Asia.

The CIK-FIA World Karting Championship, which over the years has helped launch the careers of racing stars such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica, is the sport’s most prestigious title. Next month, fans across Asia will have the opportunity to witness motorsport history, and watch potential Formula One champions in action. Entrance to the four-day event is free of charge.

One hundred and seventy karters from 20 countries and regions will take part in the event, one of many celebrations being held this year to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

In addition to the headline events, the 2009 CIK-FIA World Karting Championship and the 2009 CIK-FIA Karting Asia-Pacific KF3 Championship, the programme includes numerous support races as part of the 2009 Macau International Kart Grand Prix.

All three of last year’s CIK-FIA World Karting Championship podium finishers will make the trip to Macau, with reigning champion Marco Ardigò (ITA) seeking a third consecutive crown. Libro Toman (CZE) and Gary Catt (GBR), who placed second and third respectively in 2008 also return, each looking to take their first title.

Four-time world champion David Forè (ITA) is hoping to supplant Ardigò from the top spot. The two compatriots have won five out of the past nine championships. Two-time Macau Karting Champion João Afonso will make his world championship debut on his home circuit, becoming the first Macau karter to compete at the pinnacle of the sport.

Young karting and single seater drivers David Zhu and Cao Hongwei represent China in the championship, while Wong Tim Wai and Vica Chong Chuen Yee are the neighbouring Hong Kong SAR entrants on the 42-kart field. Matthew Solomon will represent Hong Kong in the CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship KF3.

The headline races feature 58 competitors from 19 different countries and regions, further demonstrating the international appeal of the sport. In the supporting Asian Karting Open Championship races, a total of 112 competitors from nine different countries and regions will compete in Macau.

A sport in its own right, innovation is a priority for the CIK-FIA governing body. At a race meeting in Sarno, Italy in August, miniature on-board cameras were introduced in all heats and finals in the junior KF3 category, allowing race officials to better observe the drivers’ actions on track. The result was an intense KF3 final, featuring numerous overtaking maneuvers and, just as importantly, fair and sportsmanlike competition from the drivers.

Karting is one of just four motorsport disciplines designated FIA World Championship status, along with Formula One, rallying and touring cars. Organized by the AAMC, the historic first is supported by the Macau Sports Development Board and the Macau Government Tourist Office. The Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK) is the official commission of the sport for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automotible (FIA), the world governing body of motorsport.

Macau’s commitment to the development of motorsport, and its storied motor racing culture, aligns perfectly with the 2009 CIK-FIA World Karting Championship. Karting has long been the traditional first step in a motorsport career, with Formula One drivers such as Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton, Kubica, Kimi Räikkonen, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen and Vitantonio Luizzi all having competed in the CIK-FIA Karting World Championship.

Trulli won the championship in 1991, and finished second two years later, while Luizzi was the 2001 winner. Kovalainen finished third in 2000, and Senna, who became the first Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix champion in 1983, was second on the podium in 1979 and in 1980.

While it is impossible to predict who the future Formula One World Champions will be, it is likely that they will have come through Macau, competing in the Macau Grand Prix or, perhaps, the 2009 CIK-FIA World Karting Championship. Attracting this prestigious international championship is just the latest of many sporting achievements for the Macau SAR. In addition to its major annual fixtures such as the Macau Grand Prix, Macau Marathon and Macau Golf Open, the SAR has played host to a number of high-profile multi-sport events including the 2005 East Asian Games, the 1st Lusofonia Games in 2006, and the 2007 Asian Indoor Games.

By ETBB