KF1
Encyclopedia
KF1 is the top level of karting
. It is open to the best drivers aged 15 and up.
This class used to be called Formula A and has changed since January 2007 when CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke engines (KF type). Chassis and engines must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Minimum weight is 160 kg with driver.
Karts are equipped with an electric starter and clutch. The engine rpm is limited at 16,000 rpm. Top speed is around 85 mph (140 km/h), depending on circuits.
As the Formula One
of karting, KF1 has very high costs and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. It is needed to finance a lot of practice, training and testing, team costs, chassis and engines, tires and parts, and a quite a lot of traveling. Most teams in this category are factory teams or financed by chassis or engine manufacturers.
Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in the KF3
or KF2
classes where they have to finish in the top 34 to qualify to compete in KF1. Once in KF1, drivers either stay for a few years to improve their skills before moving on to car racing, or they become professional kart racers and race in KF1 until they retire. Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers except for Vitaly Petrov
started their careers in karts.
There is a European KF1 Championship
, a World Cup, and a World Championship
, the sport main event.
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
. It is open to the best drivers aged 15 and up.
This class used to be called Formula A and has changed since January 2007 when CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke engines (KF type). Chassis and engines must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Minimum weight is 160 kg with driver.
Karts are equipped with an electric starter and clutch. The engine rpm is limited at 16,000 rpm. Top speed is around 85 mph (140 km/h), depending on circuits.
As the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
of karting, KF1 has very high costs and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. It is needed to finance a lot of practice, training and testing, team costs, chassis and engines, tires and parts, and a quite a lot of traveling. Most teams in this category are factory teams or financed by chassis or engine manufacturers.
Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in the KF3
KF3
KF3 is a kart racing class for top drivers aged 12 to 15 .This class used to be called Junior Intercontinental A and has changed since January 2007 when CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc air-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go water-cooled two-stroke...
or KF2
Intercontinental A
KF2, is a kart racing class for top drivers aged 15 and up.This class used to be called Intercontinental A and has changed since January 2007 when CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go water-cooled two-stroke engines . Chassis and...
classes where they have to finish in the top 34 to qualify to compete in KF1. Once in KF1, drivers either stay for a few years to improve their skills before moving on to car racing, or they become professional kart racers and race in KF1 until they retire. Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers except for Vitaly Petrov
Vitaly Petrov
Vitaly Alexandrovich Petrov is a Russian Formula One racing driver, currently driving for the Lotus Renault GP team. He is known as "Vyborg Rocket" in Russia. He is, to date, the only Russian to have competed in the Formula One World Championship....
started their careers in karts.
There is a European KF1 Championship
European KF1 Championship
The European KF1 Championship is ruled by the CIK-FIA.KF1 is the top level of karting. It is open to the best drivers aged 15 and up. Lewis Hamilton won this championship in 2000 with a CRG chassis.-Winners:-External links:* *...
, a World Cup, and a World Championship
Karting World Championship
The Karting World Championship is ruled by the CIK-FIA. It takes place once a year, each year in a different country, and is kart racing's flagship event. Starting 2011, the championship will be disputed on five rounds, each of them in a different country....
, the sport main event.
Champions
| Year | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, MBE is a British Formula One racing driver from England, currently racing for the McLaren team. He was the Formula One World Champion.Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire... |
CRG | Parilla Parilla Parilla may refer to:* A brand name belonging to kart engine maker Italian American Motor Engineering, including the 100 cc Parilla Reedjet for use in the ICA class and the 125 cc Leopard TaG.... |
Bridgestone Bridgestone The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese.... |
| 2001 |  Carlo van DamCarlo van Dam -Formula Renault:A veteran of karting, and a former member of the Renault Driver Development programme, van Dam stepped up into single-seaters in 2004, competing mainly in the Dutch Formula Renault series. In his debut season, he achieved three pole positions and three fastest laps, on his way to... |
Gillard | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2002 |  David Hemkemeyer |
Mach 1 | KZH | Bridgestone |
| 2003 | Bas Lammers |
Swiss Hutless | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2004 | Nick de Bruijn Nick de Bruijn Nick de Bruijn is a Dutch racing driver. He has competed in such series as International Formula Master and Formula BMW ADAC. He won the European KF1 Championship karting series in 2004.-External links:* *... |
Gillard | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2005 |  Marco Ardigò |
Tony Kart Tony Kart Tony Kart is an Italian company founded in 1958, producing racing quality kart chassis.They have had a number of wins and recently a book on the history of the company was published. JM Racing of Carson, California introduced the brand in the USA with drivers Alex Barron, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Danica... |
Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2006 | Marco Ardigò |
Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2007 | Marco Ardigò |
Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2008 | Marco Ardigò |
Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2009 |  Aaro Vainio |
Maranello | Maxter | Bridgestone |
| Year | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |  Wade CunninghamWade Cunningham Wade Cunningham is a racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand who has most notably competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.Cunningham's professional career began when he won the Karting World Championship in 2003.... |
CRG | Maxter | Bridgestone Bridgestone The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese.... |
| 2004 | Davide Forè |
Tony Kart Tony Kart Tony Kart is an Italian company founded in 1958, producing racing quality kart chassis.They have had a number of wins and recently a book on the history of the company was published. JM Racing of Carson, California introduced the brand in the USA with drivers Alex Barron, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Danica... |
Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2005 | Oliver Oakes Oliver Oakes Oliver Oakes is a British motor racing driver, and was the 2005 World Karting champion, the highest category for kart racing... |
Gillard | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2006 | Davide Forè |
Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2007 | Marco Ardigò |
Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2008 | Marco Ardigò |
Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2009 |  Arnaud Kozlinski |
CRG | Maxter | Bridgestone |