KF1 explained

KF1 was 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 .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 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, 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 Lewis HamiltonCRGParillaBridgestone
2001 Carlo van DamGillardParillaBridgestone
2002 David HemkemeyerMach 1KZHBridgestone
2003 Bas LammersSwiss HutlessVortexBridgestone
2004 Nick de BruijnGillardParillaBridgestone
2005 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2006 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2007 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2008 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2009 Aaro VainioMaranelloMaxterBridgestone
2010
2011 Alexander AlbonIntrepidTMBridgestone
2012 Ben BarnicoatART GPParillaVega
2013 Max VerstappenCRGTMVega
2014 Callum IlottZanardiParillaBridgestone
2015 Ben HanleyMad-CrocTMVega
2016 Pedro HiltbrandCRGParillaVega
2017 Sami TaoufikFA KartVortexLeCont
2018 Hannes JankerKart RepublicParillaBridgestone
2019 Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaLeCont
2020 Andrea Kimi AntonelliKart RepublicParillaLeCont
2021 Andrea Kimi AntonelliKart RepublicParillaMG
2022 Kean Nakamura-BertaKart RepublicParillaMG
2023 René LammersParolinTMMG
World Champions since 2003! Year! Driver! Chassis! Engine! Tyres
2003 Wade CunninghamCRGMaxterBridgestone
2004 Davide ForèTony KartVortexBridgestone
2005 Oliver OakesGillardParillaBridgestone
2006 Davide ForèTony KartVortexBridgestone
2007 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2008 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2009 Arnaud KozlinskiCRGMaxterBridgestone
2010 Nyck de VriesZanardiParillaDunlop
2011 Nyck de VriesZanardiParillaBridgestone
2012 Flavio CamponeschiTony KartVortexBridgestone
2013 Tom JoynerZanardiTMVega
2014 Lando NorrisFA KartVortexBridgestone
2015 Karol BaszKosmicVortexVega
2016 Pedro HiltbrandCRGParillaVega
2017 Danny KeirleZanardiParillaLeCont
2018 Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaBridgestone
2019 Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaLeCont
2020 Callum BradshawTony KartVortexLeCont
2021 Tuukka TaponenTony KartVortexMG
2022 Matheus MorgattoKart RepublicParillaMG
2023 Kirill KutskovKart RepublicIAMEMG

See also

External links

Notes and References

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

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