KF1

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.

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.

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.

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. Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers started their careers in karts.

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

Champions

European Champions since 2000

Year	Driver	Chassis	Engine	Tyres
2000	Lewis Hamilton	CRG	Parilla	Bridgestone
2001	Carlo van Dam	Gillard	Parilla	Bridgestone
2002	David Hemkemeyer	Mach 1	KZH	Bridgestone
2003	Bas Lammers	Swiss Hutless	Vortex	Bridgestone
2004	Nick de Bruijn	Gillard	Parilla	Bridgestone
2005	Marco Ardigò	Tony Kart	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
2010
2011	Alexander Albon	Intrepid	TM	Bridgestone
2012	Ben Barnicoat	ART GP	Parilla	Vega
2013	Max Verstappen	CRG	TM	Vega
2014	Callum Ilott	Zanardi	Parilla	Bridgestone
2015	Ben Hanley	Mad-Croc	TM	Vega
2016	Pedro Hiltbrand	CRG	Parilla	Vega
2017	Sami Taoufik	FA Kart	Vortex	LeCont
2018	Hannes Janker	Kart Republic	Parilla	Bridgestone
2019	Lorenzo Travisanutto	Kart Republic	Parilla	LeCont
2020	Andrea Kimi Antonelli	Kart Republic	Parilla	LeCont

World Champions since 2003

Year	Driver	Chassis	Engine	Tyres
2003	Wade Cunningham	CRG	Maxter	Bridgestone
2004	Davide Forè	Tony Kart	Vortex	Bridgestone
2005	Oliver Oakes	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
2010	Nyck de Vries	Zanardi
2011	Nyck de Vries	Zanardi
2012	Flavio Camponeschi	Tony Kart	Vortex
2013	Tom Joyner	Zanardi	Parilla
2014	Lando Norris	FA Kart	Vortex	Bridgestone
2015	Karol Basz	Kosmic	Vortex
2016	Pedro Hiltbrand	CRG	Parilla
2017	Danny Keirle	Zanardi	Parilla	LeCont
2018	Lorenzo Travisanutto	Kart Republic	Parilla	Bridgestone
2019	Lorenzo Travisanutto	Kart Republic	Parilla	LeCont
2020	Callum Bradshaw	Tony Kart	Vortex	LeCont

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

External links

• CIK-FIA website
• Karting 1 – Karting Information. Tips, Guides, Interviews, and Karting Features