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KF1

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KF1 is the top level of karting. It is open to 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). The engines produce 40 hp (30 kW). KF1 class karts use hand-operated front brakes. The front brakes are activated by a Lever. Chassis and engines must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Minimum weight is 160 kg (350 lb) with driver.[1][2]

Karts are equipped with an electric starter and clutch. The engine rpm is limited at 16,000 rpm. Top speed is around 140 km/h (87 mph), depending on circuits.[3][4]

As the Formula One of karting, KF1 has high costs and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. It is needed to finance much practice, training and testing, team costs, chassis and engines, tires and parts, and traveling. Most teams in this category are factory teams or financed by chassis or engine manufacturers.[1]

Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in the KF3 or KF2 classes where they must 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.[5] Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers started their careers in karts, and KF1 has been home to rivalries involving the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica in the early 2000s,[6][7] as well as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Nicklas Nielsen in more recent times.[8][9] The class also played a leading role in the so-called golden era of karting in the 80s and 90s.[10]

There is a European KF1 Championship, a World Cup, and a World Championship, the sport's main event.[2][11] Since 2016 the new generation of Original Karts (OK) machines have taken over from the old KF engines.[12][13]

Champions

European Champions since 2000
Year Driver Chassis Engine Tyres
2000 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton CRG Parilla Bridgestone
2001 Netherlands Carlo van Dam Gillard Parilla Bridgestone
2002 Germany David Hemkemeyer Mach 1 KZH Bridgestone
2003 Netherlands Bas Lammers Swiss Hutless Vortex Bridgestone
2004 Netherlands Nick de Bruijn Gillard Parilla Bridgestone
2005 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2006 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2007 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2008 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2009 Finland Aaro Vainio Maranello Maxter Bridgestone
2010
2011 Thailand Alexander Albon Intrepid TM Bridgestone
2012 United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat ART GP Parilla Vega
2013 Netherlands Max Verstappen CRG TM Vega
2014 United Kingdom Callum Ilott Zanardi Parilla Bridgestone
2015 United Kingdom Ben Hanley Mad-Croc TM Vega
2016 Spain Pedro Hiltbrand CRG Parilla Vega
2017 Morocco Sami Taoufik FA Kart Vortex LeCont
2018 Germany Hannes Janker Kart Republic Parilla Bridgestone
2019 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla LeCont
2020 Italy Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart Republic Parilla LeCont
2021 Italy Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart Republic Parilla MG
2022 Japan Kean Nakamura-Berta Kart Republic Parilla MG
2023 Netherlands René Lammers Parolin TM MG
World Champions since 2003
Year Driver Chassis Engine Tyres
2003 New Zealand Wade Cunningham CRG Maxter Bridgestone
2004 Italy Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2005 United Kingdom Oliver Oakes Gillard Parilla Bridgestone
2006 Italy Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2007 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2008 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2009 France Arnaud Kozlinski CRG Maxter Bridgestone
2010 Netherlands Nyck de Vries Zanardi Parilla Dunlop
2011 Netherlands Nyck de Vries Zanardi Parilla Bridgestone
2012 Italy Flavio Camponeschi Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2013 United Kingdom Tom Joyner Zanardi TM Vega
2014 United Kingdom Lando Norris FA Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2015 Poland Karol Basz Kosmic Vortex Vega
2016 Spain Pedro Hiltbrand CRG Parilla Vega
2017 United Kingdom Danny Keirle Zanardi Parilla LeCont
2018 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla Bridgestone
2019 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla LeCont
2020 United Kingdom Callum Bradshaw Tony Kart Vortex LeCont
2021 Finland Tuukka Taponen Tony Kart Vortex MG
2022 Brazil Matheus Morgatto Kart Republic Parilla MG
2023 Russia Kirill Kutskov Kart Republic IAME MG

See also

  • KF2, a KF1 feeder series
  • KF3, a KF1 and KF2 feeder series
  • KZ1, the fastest KZ karting racing category
  • KZ2, the second fastest KZ karting racing category
  • Superkart, road racing with kart sized open-wheel cars

References

  1. ^ a b Salvestrin, Ian (1 April 2008). "KF engines: An Independent View" (PDF). eikoms.com. Vroom. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The CIK-FIA Categories". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  3. ^ "OK VS KZ: The Challenge. Non Shifters or Shifter?". TKART. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2024.}
  4. ^ Natoli, Marco (1 February 2007). "Highly Powerful: presenting the new KF engines" (PDF). kartingzone.com. Vroom. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Are karting prodigies guaranteed success in cars?". Kartcom. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  6. ^ Weaver, Paul (25 November 2016). "Lewis Hamilton v Nico Rosberg: how friendship turned to fiercest of rivalries". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  7. ^ Stuart, Greg (9 December 2016). "Watch a Rosberg vs Hamilton kart battle from 2000". Red Bull. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  8. ^ Chinchero, Roberto (3 July 2024). "Verstappen y Norris: dónde y cómo nació una amistad que puede romperse". Motorsport.com (in Spanish). Motorsport Network. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  9. ^ David, Gruz (10 August 2015). "The 2015 karting season so far ? KF category". Formula Scout. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ^ "The secrets of the top kart drivers of the '80s and '90s. Who was the best?". TKART. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  11. ^ Sanson, Jake (26 January 2023). "Karting 101: How to get into karting". Feeder Series. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  12. ^ "La era post KF: así serán los motores en 2016". Vroomkart (in Spanish). 8 April 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Une nouvelle ère se profile pour les catégories de Karting à prise directe". Kartcom (in French). 1 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
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