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Original Kart

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OK
CategoryKart racing
RegionInternational
Inaugural season1981; 43 years ago (1981)
Drivers' championUnited Kingdom Ethan Jeff-Hall
(World, 2024)
United Kingdom Joe Turney
(European, 2024)
Teams' championItaly CRG-IAME
(World, 2024)
Italy Kart Republic-IAME
(European, 2024)
Official websiteFIA Karting

Original Kart, commonly abbreviated as OK, is a kart racing class for drivers aged 14 and over, sanctioned by the CIK-FIA. OK is the primary direct-drive class in FIA championships.

The class was originally called Intercontinental A (ICA), first introduced in 1981 at the European Championship as a secondary direct-drive class to Formula K. The class was first contested at the World Cup in 2006. In 2007—after 26 seasons of racing—ICA was replaced by KF2 and became the primary class in 2010, replacing KF1 at the World Championship. The KF2 class was renamed to KF upon the demise of KF1 in 2013, and was replaced by Original Kart (OK) regulations in 2016.

OK is currently contested as the primary direct-drive class at the Karting World Championship and the Karting European Championship.

History

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Intercontinental A (1981–2006)

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In 1981, Intercontinental A (ICA) was introduced alongside Formula K as a secondary direct-drive class for the European Championship.

Stefano Modena completed back-to-back ICA European Championships in 1984, a feat that would not be repeated until Andrea Kimi Antonelli under OK regulations in 2021.

The ICA World Cup was introduced in 2006, the final year of ICA regulations, won by French driver Mike Courquin.

KF2/KF (2007–2015)

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In January 2007, the CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke ICA engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke KF2 engines, producing 34–36 hp (25–27 kW). Now the secondary class to KF1—which had replaced Formula A—the KF2 class karts used hand-operated front brakes via a lever. The chassis had to be CIK-approved, with a minimum weight of 160 kg and 158 kg for national and international events, respectively. KF2 karts were equipped with an electric starter and a centrifugal clutch. The engine was limited to 15,000 rpm.

In 2010, karts of the KF2 category were mandated at the Karting World Championship as the primary direct-drive category, alongside the European Championship, replacing KF1 in both.[1] KF1 returned to the World Championship in 2011 and 2012, reverting KF2 back to World Cup status, but met its demise at the end of the 2012 season. With the end of KF1 regulations, KF2 became known as simply KF and returned to the World Championship as the primary class once more.

Original Kart (2016–present)

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In 2016, Original Kart (OK) regulations replaced KF in the direct-drive category, after its perceived failure within the kart racing community and restrictive regulations resulted in reduced entries at international competitions.[2] OK karts had much of the electronics removed, and had to be push-started.

Specification

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Original Kart (OK)

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There are eight main technical features of the OK regulations:[3]

  • 125 cc direct-coupled, water-cooled two-stroke, mixed-lubrication engine.
  • Valve inlet in the piston skirt.
  • Power valve at the exhaust.
  • Single rear brake with hydraulic control.
  • Minimum weight 150 kg, driver included.

Engines, chassis, bodywork, brakes and tyres are subject to the homologation system put in place by the CIK-FIA. Each year, the tyres and the fuel for each category, as well as the KZ and KZ2 carburettor, are chosen after a call for tenders.

Champions

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OK has been contested at the European Championship since 1981 and the World Championship/World Cup since 2006, becoming the primary direct-drive class in 2010.

Italian driver Lorenzo Travisanutto is the only driver to win multiple OK World Championships. Notable OK World Champions include 2020–21 Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries and Formula One driver Lando Norris.

Italian Formula One drivers Stefano Modena and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are the only drivers to win multiple OK European Championships. Notable OK European Champions include Formula One World Drivers' Champions Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen.

By year

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Key
* Driver has competed in Formula One
Formula One World Drivers' Champion
FIA World Champion in an auto racing discipline
Year World Championship European Championship Year
World Champion[a] Chassis Engine Tyres European Champion Chassis Engine Tyres
1981 ICA regulations created for the European Championship 1981
Not held Netherlands Peter De Bruijn Italy Tecno Italy Parilla
1982 Germany Josef Bertzen United Kingdom Zipkart Italy Parilla 1982
1983 Italy Stefano Modena* Italy DAP Italy DAP 1983
1984 Italy Stefano Modena* (2) Italy DAP Italy DAP 1984
1985 Finland Jukka Virtanen Italy Birel Italy Parilla 1985
1986 Sweden Linus Lundberg Denmark Dino Denmark Dino 1986
1987 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy CRG Italy Parilla 1987
1988 Netherlands Martijn Koene Italy Tony Kart Austria Rotax 1988
1989 Netherlands Jos Verstappen* Switzerland Swiss Hutless Austria Rotax 1989
1990 France Eddy Coubard Denmark Dino Austria Rotax 1990
1991 Italy Daniele Parrilla Italy Birel Austria Rotax 1991
1992 Italy Oliver Fiorucci Italy Merlin Australia Atomik 1992
1993 France Arnaud Sarrazin Italy Tecno Austria Rotax 1993
1994 Belgium Narcis Callens Italy Biesse United States Fox 1994
1995 France Arnaud Leconte Italy Tecno Austria Rotax 1995
1996 France Ludovic Veve Italy Biesse Austria Rotax 1996
1997 Italy Alessandro Balzan Italy Top-Kart Italy Comer 1997
1998 France Julien Poncelet Italy CRG Italy CRG 1998
1999 Italy Stefano Fabi Italy Top-Kart Italy Comer B 1999
2000 France Julien Menard Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex 2000
2001 France Jean-Philippe Guignet Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex VEGA 2001
2002 Belgium Jonathan Thonon Italy CRG Italy Maxter VEGA 2002
2003 Italy Nicola Bocchi Italy CRG Italy Maxter VEGA 2003
2004 France Kévin Estre France Sodi Italy TM VEGA 2004
2005 United Kingdom James Calado Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex B 2005
2006 ICA mandated at the World Cup 2006
France Mike Courquin France Sodi Italy TM VEGA Italy Nicola Nolé Italy CRG Italy TM VEGA
2007 ICA replaced by KF2 2007
United Kingdom Michael Ryall Italy Birel Italy TM D United Kingdom Will Stevens*‡ Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex D
2008 United Kingdom Oliver Rowland Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex Italy Flavio Camponeschi Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex 2008
2009 Portugal David da Luz Italy Zanardi Italy Parilla United Kingdom Jordan Chamberlain Italy Tony Kart Italy TM 2009
2010 KF2 becomes the primary direct-drive class and upgraded to World Championship status 2010
Netherlands Nyck de Vries*‡ Italy Zanardi Italy Parilla B Denmark Nicolaj Møller Madsen Italy Energy Corse Italy TM B
2011 KF2 replaced by KF1 at the World Championship and downgraded to World Cup status[b] 2011
Italy Loris Spinelli Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex VEGA Belgium Sami Luka Italy Intrepid Italy TM B
2012 Italy Felice Tiene Italy CRG Italy BMB VEGA United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat France ART Italy Parilla VEGA 2012
2013 KF2 renamed to KF and upgraded to World Championship status 2013
United Kingdom Tom Joyner Italy Zanardi Italy TM VEGA Netherlands Max Verstappen Italy CRG Italy TM VEGA
2014 United Kingdom Lando Norris* Italy FA Kart Italy Vortex D United Kingdom Callum Ilott Italy Zanardi Italy Parilla B 2014
2015 Poland Karol Basz Italy Kosmic Italy Vortex VEGA United Kingdom Ben Hanley Italy Mad-Croc Italy TM VEGA 2015
2016 KF replaced by OK 2016
Spain Pedro Hiltbrand Italy CRG Italy Parilla VEGA Spain Pedro Hiltbrand Italy CRG Italy Parilla VEGA
2017 United Kingdom Danny Keirle Italy Zanardi Italy Parilla LC Morocco Sami Taoufik Italy FA Kart Italy Vortex LC 2017
2018 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Italy Kart Republic Italy Parilla B Germany Hannes Janker Italy Kart Republic Italy Parilla B 2018
2019 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto (2) Italy Kart Republic Italy Parilla LC Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Italy Kart Republic Italy Parilla LC 2019
2020 United Kingdom Callum Bradshaw Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex LC Italy Andrea Kimi Antonelli Italy Kart Republic Italy Parilla LC 2020
2021 Finland Tuukka Taponen Italy Tony Kart Italy Vortex MG Italy Andrea Kimi Antonelli (2) Italy Kart Republic Italy IAME MG 2021
2022 Brazil Matheus Morgatto Italy Kart Republic Italy Parilla MG United Kingdom Kean Nakamura-Berta Italy Kart Republic Italy IAME MG 2022
2023 Kutskov Kirill Italy Kart Republic Italy IAME MG Netherlands René Lammers Italy Parolin Italy TM MG 2023
2024 United Kingdom Ethan Jeff-Hall Italy CRG Italy IAME M United Kingdom Joe Turney Italy Kart Republic Italy IAME M 2024
Year World Champion[a] Chassis Engine Tyres European Champion Chassis Engine Tyres Year
World Championship European Championship
Source:[4][5][6][7][8][9]

By driver

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table

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Italics indicates years contested as a World Cup, not an FIA World Championship: 2006–2009, 2011–2012.
  2. ^ KF2 remained the primary direct-drive class at the European Championship in 2011 and 2012.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ CIK-FIA World Karting Championship For Drivers Zuera (ESP) – 16-19.09.2010 - KartCafe, 16 September 2010
  2. ^ "Official presentation of the new 2016 engines at PF Intl". FIA. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "FIA Karting - Categories". Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  4. ^ "FIA Karting - History". FIA Karting. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  5. ^ "FIA Karting - Calendar". FIA Karting. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Vroom Kart International #175 - January 2016". Vroom International Karting. January 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Automobile Championships - Motorsport Top 20". Motorsport Top 20. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  8. ^ "FIA Karting European OK Championship - Driver Database". Driver Database. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  9. ^ "FIA Karting European KF Championship - Driver Database". Driver Database. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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