French Formule 20.000 series for 100cc karts of the 90s ready to scream into season 8
French Formule 20.000 series for 100cc karts of the 90s ready to scream into season 8

French Formule 20.000 series for 100cc...

French Formule 20.000 series for 100cc karts of the 90s ready to scream into season 8

French Formule 20.000 series for 100cc karts of the 90s ready to scream into season 8

Formule 20.000 is set to kick off its 2026 season on 9 and 10 May at the Soucy circuit, located 125 km southeast of Paris. The 100cc air-cooled karts from the 1990s to 2002 will then compete on two...
CRG Mini Team set for Italian Karting Championship
CRG Mini Team set for Italian Karting Championship

CRG Mini Team set for Italian Karting...

CRG Mini Team set for Italian Karting Championship

CRG Mini Team set for Italian Karting Championship

The karting season has reached the point where the MINI Team and the CRG Racing Team split their programmes for the Senior categories (OKJ, OK and KZ). After sharing the paddock and competing together...
ProKart Challenge readies for 2026 season
ProKart Challenge readies for 2026 season

ProKart Challenge readies for 2026...

ProKart Challenge readies for 2026 season

ProKart Challenge readies for 2026 season

The 2026 season for the Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge marks the 22nd edition of the organisation’s flagship regional program. The championship is coming off a strong 2025 season that...
The ROK Cup Italia Round 1 at Cremona Karting was blessed with sunny weather and spring-like...
The ROK Cup Italia Round 1 at Cremona Karting was blessed with sunny weather and spring-like...

The ROK Cup Italia Round 1 at Cremona...

The ROK Cup Italia Round 1 at Cremona Karting was blessed with sunny weather and spring-like...

The ROK Cup Italia Round 1 at Cremona Karting was blessed with sunny weather and spring-like...

The ROK Cup Italia begins the 2026 season at Cremona Karting in San Martino del Lago (Cremona), over a weekend blessed with sunny weather and spring-like temperatures. At the end of Sunday’s...
Garage Motorsport (PRO) and MLS Racing (SILVER) are the winners of the 24 Hours Karting 2026
Garage Motorsport (PRO) and MLS Racing (SILVER) are the winners of the 24 Hours Karting 2026

Garage Motorsport (PRO) and MLS Racing...

Garage Motorsport (PRO) and MLS Racing (SILVER) are the winners of the 24 Hours Karting 2026

Garage Motorsport (PRO) and MLS Racing (SILVER) are the winners of the 24 Hours Karting 2026

The 24 Hours Karting of Italy organized by CRG has confirmed itself as one of the most anticipated and spectacular events in the Endurance panorama dedicated to Rental Karting. On March 14th and 15th,...
IPKarting: Back on the podium!
IPKarting: Back on the podium!

IPKarting: Back on the podium!

IPKarting: Back on the podium!

IPKarting: Back on the podium!

Podium finish at Lonato. The Trofeo Andrea Margutti concludes with Davide Forè taking P2 in the KZ2 Final at South Garda Karting.
All set for the 9th Edition of the CRG 24 Hours karting
All set for the 9th Edition of the CRG 24 Hours karting

All set for the 9th Edition of the CRG...

All set for the 9th Edition of the CRG 24 Hours karting

All set for the 9th Edition of the CRG 24 Hours karting

The 2026 24 Hours Karting of Italy is scheduled for this weekend (Saturday, March 14th, and Sunday, March 15th) at the 7 Laghi circuit in Castelletto di Branduzzo. The event organized by CRG, with the...
Penrite partners with Australian Kart Championship in 2026
Penrite partners with Australian Kart Championship in 2026

Penrite partners with Australian Kart...

Penrite partners with Australian Kart Championship in 2026

Penrite partners with Australian Kart Championship in 2026

Australian and family-owned lubricants company Penrite has partnered with Karting Australia to become the naming rights sponsor for the Australian Kart Championship.  
Superkarts! USA announces removal of pushback bumper for three SKUSA Pro Tour classes
Superkarts! USA announces removal of pushback bumper for three SKUSA Pro Tour classes

Superkarts! USA announces removal of...

Superkarts! USA announces removal of pushback bumper for three SKUSA Pro Tour classes

Superkarts! USA announces removal of pushback bumper for three SKUSA Pro Tour classes

The 2026 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour is set to begin in one month, traveling to the Musselman Honda Circuit over the weekend of March 27-29 for the 2026 SKUSA WinterNationals. It will be the third trip...
Kalì Kart 2026 chassis line-up: three models built to cover every racing need
Kalì Kart 2026 chassis line-up: three models built to cover every racing need

Kalì Kart 2026 chassis line-up: three...

Kalì Kart 2026 chassis line-up: three models built to cover every racing need

Kalì Kart 2026 chassis line-up: three models built to cover every racing need

Like CRG, Kalì Kart continues to follow a philosophy of continuity with its 2026 Racing chassis range. For the upcoming season across all major national markets and international competitions, the...
Registration Opens for the ADAC Kart Masters 2026
Registration Opens for the ADAC Kart Masters 2026

Registration Opens for the ADAC Kart...

Registration Opens for the ADAC Kart Masters 2026

Registration Opens for the ADAC Kart Masters 2026

The ADAC Kart Masters will return to the German karting calendar in 2026. With the opening of registration, the official starting signal has now been given for the comeback season of this...
Energy Corse and Krutogolov on top of the podium already in 2026
Energy Corse and Krutogolov on top of the podium already in 2026

Energy Corse and Krutogolov on top of...

Energy Corse and Krutogolov on top of the podium already in 2026

Energy Corse and Krutogolov on top of the podium already in 2026

The new karting season has just begun, and Energy Corse has already celebrated its first victory. At La Conca in southern Italy, during the first round of the WSK Super Master Series, Lev Krutogolov...
Happy Holidays, KartXpress wishes you a healthy and successful 2026
Happy Holidays, KartXpress wishes you a healthy and successful 2026

Happy Holidays, KartXpress wishes you a...

Happy Holidays, KartXpress wishes you a healthy and successful 2026

Happy Holidays, KartXpress wishes you a healthy and successful 2026

Happy Holidays, KartXpress wishes you a healthy and successful 2026
Karting Champions League now welcoming 2026 Winter Series Entries
Karting Champions League now welcoming 2026 Winter Series Entries

Karting Champions League now welcoming...

Karting Champions League now welcoming 2026 Winter Series Entries

Karting Champions League now welcoming 2026 Winter Series Entries

Drivers from the national and international realms of X30 and KZ karting are now welcome to enter the Winter Series of the 2026 Karting Champions League, the championship that offers the ideal way for...
Numerous International Teams registered for the 24 Hours Karting of Italy
Numerous International Teams registered for the 24 Hours Karting of Italy

Numerous International Teams registered...

Numerous International Teams registered for the 24 Hours Karting of Italy

Numerous International Teams registered for the 24 Hours Karting of Italy

Just a few days after entries opened in early December, a strong number of teams have already registered for the 24 Hours Karting of Italy, promoted by CRG and scheduled for March 14–15 at the...
2025 Prokart Challenge Championship podium finishers honored
2025 Prokart Challenge Championship podium finishers honored

2025 Prokart Challenge Championship...

2025 Prokart Challenge Championship podium finishers honored

2025 Prokart Challenge Championship podium finishers honored

The 21st season of the ProKart Challenge concluded this past October, completing the five events with six rounds of competition for the Superkarts! USA regional program. Eleven different class...
ROK Cup Italia 2026 – calendar change
ROK Cup Italia 2026 – calendar change

ROK Cup Italia 2026 – calendar change

ROK Cup Italia 2026 – calendar change

ROK Cup Italia 2026 – calendar change

The 2025 ROK season came to the end with the Rok Festival, which took place on November 29 and 30 at the Franciacorta Karting Track, and now all attention is on the 2026 ROK calendar.
24 Hours Spa Karting: twice rather than once in 2026!
24 Hours Spa Karting: twice rather than once in 2026!

24 Hours Spa Karting: twice rather than...

24 Hours Spa Karting: twice rather than once in 2026!

24 Hours Spa Karting: twice rather than once in 2026!

The 24 Hours Spa Karting is returning! Although the 2025 edition could not take place, organiser One Day Karting has decided to make up for it in 2026 with two events: one with a Sodikart fleet on 13...
Australian Hamish Campbell finishes seventh at  FIA Arrive & Drive World Cup
Australian Hamish Campbell finishes seventh at  FIA Arrive & Drive World Cup

Australian Hamish Campbell finishes...

Australian Hamish Campbell finishes seventh at FIA Arrive & Drive World Cup

Australian Hamish Campbell finishes seventh at FIA Arrive & Drive World Cup

The 24 Hours Karting of Italy 2026 will take place on March 15 in Castelletto (Italy)
The 24 Hours Karting of Italy 2026 will take place on March 15 in Castelletto (Italy)

The 24 Hours Karting of Italy 2026 will...

The 24 Hours Karting of Italy 2026 will take place on March 15 in Castelletto (Italy)

The 24 Hours Karting of Italy 2026 will take place on March 15 in Castelletto (Italy)

In recent days, CRG officially announced the date and location of its flagship rental event: the 24 Hours Karting of Italy will be held on March 14–15 in Italy at the Castelletto di Branduzzo...

ROK Cup Italy, Round 8 – Race Reports

ROK Cup Italy, Round 8 – Race Reports Read more

Great success for the season final of the ROK Cup Italy at the Cremona Karting circuit, with plenty of drivers and fierce battles for the titles in all six categories running on track. At the end of the day, the following category champions were declared: Shen Zeyu (Mini ROK), Nicolas Marchesi (Junior ROK), David Stefan Dragan (Senior ROK), Sona Ptackova (Expert ROK), Bartosz Grzywacz (Super ROK) and Niki Taylor (Shifter ROK).

Information about the 13th Rotax African Open 2023 at Zwartkops Raceway

Information about the 13th Rotax African Open 2023 at Zwartkops Raceway Read more

The 13th Rotax Africa Open will take place at Zwartkops Raceway on 1 October 2023. This event will feature Africa's top drivers competing for an invitation to the 2023 ROTAX Max Grand Final in Sakhir, Bahrain. The final heat winners in each class will be crowned the Rotax African Open Champions for 2023. The program for the event will span across Saturday and Sunday, offering an exciting weekend of racing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to compete and see who will earn their spot in the prestigious ROTAX Max Grand Final.

History made at 28TH Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix

History made at 28TH Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Read more

History was once again made in the streets of the city during the 28th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race. The event has a rich history of foreign competitors. This year, Scott “Skitchy” Barnes of Bermuda won his seventh and eighth Rock trophy and Erik Gasparovich of Latvia became the 20th foreign winner at Rock Island and first from his country. History was also made when Andrew Bujdoso of Ohio won his third consecutive King of the Streets shifter title, tying Alan Rudolph for the three-peat but becoming the only racer to be crowned King 3 consecutive times at Rock Island.

Sam Dicker claims Maiden Australian KZ2 Championship in thrilling final day

Sam Dicker claims Maiden Australian KZ2 Championship in thrilling final day Read more

Western Australian driver Sam Dicker has been crowned the 2023 KZ2 SP Tools Australian Kart Champion after an exhilarating Grand Final day for the Series presented by Castrol at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road circuit.

Australian Kart Championship honours on the line in Melbourne this weekend

Australian Kart Championship honours on the line in Melbourne this weekend Read more

Four hundred of Australia’s best young kart racers will put it all on the line to chase motorsport glory at the final round of the 2023 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol in Melbourne this weekend.

Round four contested at Adams Motorsports Park for California Prokart Challenge

Round four contested at Adams Motorsports Park for California Prokart Challenge Read more

The 19th season for the California ProKart Challenge has been put to the test as the program enters the second half of the championship chase. What was scheduled as a three-day, two-round race weekend at the Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, California over August 18-20 became a shortened two-day, one-round event. Hurricane Hilary hit the southern California region on Sunday, forcing Superkarts! USA to postpone the Round Five action scheduled for that day. Round Four was contested on Saturday, with dry weather greeting the competitors at the historic Riverside, California facility.

Double-round weekend ahead for California ProKart Challenge

Double-round weekend ahead for California ProKart Challenge Read more

Two rounds of racing set for Superkarts! USA regional championship program at historic Adams Motorsports Park on August 18-20

Australian kart racers selected for Ferrari Shootout

Australian kart racers selected for Ferrari Shootout Read more

The participants for the 2023 Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) – Asia Pacific and Oceania regional selection program have been confirmed for next month’s prestigious event with Karting Australia drivers dominating the list.

Walton wraps up Australian Championship in Ipswich

Walton wraps up Australian Championship in Ipswich Read more

Queensland teenager Max Walton has become the first SP Tools Australian Kart Champion-elect of 2023 at the penultimate round of the Championship at his home track of Ipswich on Sunday afternoon.

Sodi World Series International Finals 2023: A lively edition in Slovakia

Sodi World Series International Finals 2023: A lively edition in Slovakia Read more

From 5th to 8th July 2023, the 12th edition of the SWS International Finals introduced a new destination to the 374 drivers who had qualified throughout the world during the 2022 SWS season. In Slovakia, the races were extremely hotly contested, sometimes even a little too hot in the Sprint categories. The competition was very intense, and the winners were often revealed in the final meters of the Finals. Many positive comments rewarded the efforts of the 3MK Events organising team, who worked hard to satisfy the vast majority of participants.

Sodi World Series: New destination for the world's biggest leisure karting event

Sodi World Series: New destination for the world's biggest leisure karting event Read more

For the first time, the 12th edition of the SWS International Finals will be held outside France and Italy. From 5th to 8th July, Slovakia will be the venue for the major annual meeting of the Sodi W Series, bringing together the best drivers selected in 2022 from all over the world. The Slovak Karting Center is the ideal setting for this landmark event, in a country that deserves to be better known.

Round three of California ProKart Challenge set for Santa Maria

Round three of California ProKart Challenge set for Santa Maria Read more

The 2023 California ProKart Challenge returns to action on the July 8-9 weekend with a trip to the Santa Maria Karting Association facility. The third round of the Superkarts! USA regional program will be held at the Santa Maria, California facility. Following two events at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park to open up the year, the California PKC program reaches the midway point with the third event to continue the 19th championship season with a perfect sunny, breezy beach climate expected for Round Three.

Registration now open for Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix

Registration now open for Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Read more

Registration is now open for the 28th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3.

Energy Corse on the podium all over the world!

Energy Corse on the podium all over the world! Read more

In FIA Karting, Rotax, Rok or IAME, and in numerous countries around the globe, podium finishes are on the cards for Energy Corse. In OK, Tomass Stolcermanis is racking up a string of brilliant results and is currently 4th in the FIA Karting European Championship, just a few points behind 3rd place. In Mini, Niccolo Perico leads the Italian Championship after his victory at La Conca! On the other side of the world, podium finishes were also on offer in the Australian Championship, as well as in the Rotax Challenge in the USA.

Lana Flack re-writes the record books in Newcastle

Lana Flack re-writes the record books in Newcastle Read more

History was created at Round Three of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol EDGE as Lana Flack became the first female driver to win an event at a multi-round Australian karting Championship in 26 years.

WKA Changes Date and Venue for the Next Southern Gold Cup Round

WKA Changes Date and Venue for the Next Southern Gold Cup Round Read more

Responding to the schedules of multiple events, the World Karting Association (WKA) recognized that far too many events were scheduled on top of each other, forcing racers into the tough decision of choosing one event over another.  As a result, WKA made an aggressive decision to get out of that multiple-event pool to help the racers with their schedules. 

Repeat winners and first time victors at California Prokart Challenge

Repeat winners and first time victors at California Prokart Challenge Read more

The second event of the 2023 California ProKart Challenge saw teams and drivers return to the Buttonwillow Raceway Park over the May 6-7 weekend. Round Two of the Superkarts! USA regional program welcomed nearly 100 karters competing in seven categories around the 7/10-mile circuit in the clockwise direction. Perfect racing weather provided an amazing backdrop for the racing action over the two days.

CIK-FIA Pays tribute to Angelo Parrilla

CIK-FIA Pays tribute to Angelo Parrilla Read more

With the recent death of Angelo Parrilla at the age of 77, the karting community has lost one of the most influential and respected figures in the development of the discipline worldwide.

WSK Super Master Series: Two new titles for the KR brand

WSK Super Master Series: Two new titles for the KR brand Read more

The international events continue week after week, and the trophies pile up on the shelves of the drivers and teams using KR Global Motorsport Company equipment. After successes in IAME and Rotax in the previous days, the WSK Super Master Series ended in Cremona with no less than 13 podiums in the Finals and in the general classification.

California ProKart Challenge Returns to Action This Weekend

California ProKart Challenge Returns to Action This Weekend Read more

The month of May is here and so is the second round of the 2023 California ProKart Challenge. The Superkarts! USA regional series returns to the Buttonwillow Raceway Park to complete the back-to-back trips to start out this year’s championship program. The 19th season of the series began in March at the Buttonwillow, California facility and during this return, the drivers will run in the clockwise direction for the two-day Round Two event.

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Exciting heats come rain or shine in the Flying Finn Race
Bas Kaligis
/ Categories: International

Exciting heats come rain or shine in the Flying Finn Race

There was an exciting day of qualifying heats in mixed weather conditions at the Flying Finn Race on Saturday, as drivers battled to be in contention for the FIA Karting World Championship titles in OK and OK Junior. On home ground at the PowerPark circuit at Alahärma near Kauhava, in the event organised by AKK, Finnish drivers came to the fore in the OK category. Juho Valtanen won three of his four heats on Saturday and Nikolas Pirttilahti won two, while Rasmus Joutsimies is also among the leading contenders, consistently inside the top four in his heats.

In OK Junior, the going was tougher for some of the local contenders despite some strong performances. The Dutch duo of Thomas ten Brinke and Laurens van Hoepen starred together with the Brazilian driver Rafael Chaves Camara.

 

OK: Valtanen leads the way

After Friday’s qualifying practice there were two Finnish drivers among the top four, with Juho Valtanen second to Gabriele Mini and Nikolas Pirttilahti in fourth behind Joshua Dufek. Valtanen (Kohtala Sports) promptly won his first heat (in which Pirttilahti had to retire) before taking fifth in his second. In the afternoon, after the heavens opened, the two Finns came into their element, dominating proceedings and taking a pair of wins each.

Valtanen is currently top of the standings with just one more heat to run on Sunday. While Pirttilahti (CV Performance Group) is making up places after his difficult start and is 22nd, Rasmus Joutsimies (Energy Corse) joins Valtanen inside the top six after a second, two third-places and a fourth during the day.

Dufek (Sauber Karting Team) is Valtanen’s closest challenger after a win in his third heat, with reigning World and European champion Lorenzo Travisanutto also in a strong position despite being yet to win. Dilano Vant'hoff (Forza Racing) won a heat and was always in the top four, with the Russian driver Kirill Smal constantly in the top five. Mini (Parolin) suffered an early setback before beating Taylor Barnard to win a particularly exciting heat, contested on slick tyres on a wet track.

- The whole day has felt good, three wins and one fifth. In both wet and dry conditions, we have been able to win heats, so I’m very happy. I was actually surprised about my speed especially in wet, I was very good. Now I’m the leader in the heat points, and tomorrow we’ll have the last heat. Let’s try to make it as good as possible to get pole position for the final. Then it’s flat out and we’ll see where it will take me eventually; hopefully to a good result, but we’ll see about that tomorrow! Said Valtanen.

- It was quite a good day. We had some technical difficulties and I had to start the first race from the pits. After the start I overtook some drivers, but after a good moment I hit another driver. In the second heat I had a good start and I was first but dropped to the fourth place. One driver went off the track and came straight back on in front of me. The last two races were wet: the first one was an easy win, the second was a bit tighter. I have good speed in both weather conditions so it doesn’t matter which one we have. Let’s continue tomorrow from where we ended today, Pirttilahti adds. 

 

OK Junior: Three apiece for Ten Brinke and Chaves Camara

The Dutch drivers flew out of the blocks, with Thomas ten Brinke and Laurens van Hoepen notching up five consecutive heat wins between them for Ricky Flynn Motorsport. They ended the day first and second in the points, ten Brinke finally beaten in his fourth and final heat of the day by the Brazilian Rafael Chaves Camara, who matched his tally of three wins by excelling in the wet.

Second in qualifying practice, the Forza Racing driver took the first of his wins in a race that had to be suspended after two laps due to torrential rain. Andrea Kimi Antonelli also looked good in the rain, ending his day with two wins to finish in the top five along with Josep Marti, winner of his first heat in the morning. Behind them, the American Ugo Ugochukwu, Austrialian James Wharton and the Russian Nikita Bedrin, who had been fastest of all on Friday.

The Finns enjoyed a strong start to the day in OK Junior, with Samuli Mertsalmi and Tuukka Taponen placing second and third in the opening heat. Taponen was fifth and sixth in two of his other heats but had a spin in another in soaking conditions, leaving him 30th in the points at the end of the day. Mertsalmi is the highest Finn in 16th, with Veeti Rajala, Patrick Hakala, Hugo Heinonen and Henri Sääskilahti all currently joining Taponen in the top 30.

Results of OK         Results of OKJ

More photos of Flying Finn Race here 

 

Finnish FIA Karting World Championship Medalists
2017 Juho Valtanen, bronze
2009 Aaro Vainio, silver
2000 Heikki Kovalainen, bronze
1995 Kimmo Liimatainen, bronze
1993 Risto Virtanen, bronze

 

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