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

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

By CIK

The Young Finn Aaro Vainio created something of a sensation by winning, at just 15 years of age, the CIK-FIA European Super KF Championship, the principal class of international karting. Perfectly handling the pressure from experienced Frenchman Manuel Renaudie, Vainio secured his second consecutive European crown after winning the KF3 (Juniors) European Championship in 2008. In the KF2 category (the class for young hopefuls), it was British private driver Jordan Chamberlain who clinched the crown.

In spite of being just 15 years old and with the enormous pressure weighing on his shoulders, Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) never flinched this Sunday at Essay where the third and final round of the Super KF European Championship was held. Impressing with his comfortable driving and apparent maturity, this young man proved that he can follow in the tyre tracks of a long line of flying Finns.

After having somewhat missed the jump at the start of Race 1, resulting in being in only 8th place after the first turn, Aaro kept a cool head to pass all of his opponents one by one. Finally getting the better of Mauel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla) four laps from the end, the Finn gave himself a great opportunity to take the European crown. But there still remained the Final to be raced. Once again, Aaro showed astonishing calm, resisting Manuel Renaudie’s challenge at the first bend. And even though he finished the first lap in 3rd place, he once again maintained forward progress. He was not to be intimidated when Robert Foster-Jones (F Kart-Vortex) starting from the back of the grid after a non-finish in Race 1, successfully attacked with some late braking.

“I could have closed the door better”, acknowledged the young Finn. “But when I saw him I said to myself that one second place was perfectly acceptable to me since that would permit me to become the European Champion. We have been in the running all season and this title is a superb reward.”

For Vainio, this European title is the second consecutive one he has won after the KF3 (the class for Juniors) Championship he won last year. The young Finn has therefore more than succeeded in the step up to karting’s principal class.

Second in the first race, Manuel Renaudie slipped back during the second where he finished in 5th place. European Vice-champion after having finished in 2nd place in the World Cup last May, the French driver was inevitably a little disappointed. “But Aaro was really very fast” he confirmed “today, and also throughout the whole season. His title is merited. But I hope to take my revenge during the World Championship in Macao.”

Despite a weekend when he never made the podium (one 5th and one 4th place), Jason Parrott (Birel-Parilla) retained his third place in the Championship in the face of the challenge of Simo Puhakka (PCR-TM), twice on the bottom step of the podium in Normandy. By virtue of his victory in Race 2, Robert Foster-Jones (FA Kart-Vortex) secured 5th place in the Championship.

Amongst the unlucky drivers of the day was Miika Kunranta (Birel-Parilla) who started on pole position in Race 1. But a collision at the first turn put an end to all of his hopes and also to those of the Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid-TM), second on the grid. These two will be looking to get another chance of glory between the 8th and 11th of October at Macao where the Super KF 2009 CIK-FIA World Championship will be held. An impassioned reunion is sure to follow!

KF2: Chamberlain lands the European title In addition to the Super KF European Championship, Essay also hosted the final of the CIK-FIA European KF2 Championship. In the category for young hopefuls, the contenders for the title were numerous… and the enthusiasm was high! There were many collisions especially at the first turn. And so, on the first lap of the pre-final, several favourites for the title plunged down the classification after a collision involving ten karts. Joni Wiman (Maranello-Maxter), Mans Grenhagen (Energy-TM), Maxim Zimin (F Kart-Vortex), Nikolaj Moller Madsen (Energy-TM), David Da Luz (Zanardi-Parilla) and Jesper Rossler (Birel-Parilla) all saw their weekend’s work reduced to nothing. On the other hand, Matteo Vigano (Birel-Parilla) benefitted from the pile-up at the start to climb significantly from his 25th position on the grid. Fourth at the end of the first lap, he subsequently grabbed the lead which secured him pole position for the Final in front of Joel Johansson (Energy-TM), Felice Tiene (Kosmic-Vortex), Ben Cooper (Tony Kart-Vortex) and Chris Lock (Tony Kart-Vortex).

In the Final Matteo Vigano successfully negotiated the first turn without problem… But behind him there was a collision involving Joel Johansson and Felice Tiene. Vigano found himself in a clear lead. But an accident involving Danish driver Maiken Rasmussen, defying gravity, caused the neutralization of the race. Matteo Vigano was therefore joined by all his pursuers… But he preserved his lead at the restart and stayed at the front to take the chequered flag. Unfortunately for the Italian, he was assessed a penalty for having exceeded the maximum speed at the start. He dropped to 12th in the classification way below his ambitions.

Second past the flag, it was therefore British driver Jordan Chamberlain (Tony Kart-TM) who inherited the European crown. The British private driver was joined on the podium by the Italian Matteo Beretta (Tony Kart-Vortex) and Jorge Pescador (Tony Kart-Vortex), who benefitted from the fierce competitiveness of this European final. Involved in the collision on the first turn in the Pre-final, the Spaniard started in only 31st place on the starting grid. Advancing to 17th place after the first lap, he was given a superb opportunity to progress to the podium of the European competition. The top 10 was completed by first the Briton Ben Cooper (Tony Kart-Vortex), the Belgian Sebastien Bailly (Tony Kart-Vortex), local driver Loïc Réguillon (Sodi-Parilla), the Italian Aniello Smarrazzo (Tony Kart-Vortex), another Italian Lorenzo Camplese (Tony Kart-Vortex), the Briton Chris Lock (Tony Kart-Vortex) and the Portuguese driver David Da Luz (Zanardi-Parilla).

The majority of these KF2 drivers will race from 17th to 20th September on the Spanish circuit at Alcaniz for the World Cup in this class. An occasion for the beaten drivers to redeem themselves. There will certainly be plenty of sporting action in Spain!

By CIK