A brilliant start to the International season for Modena Kart
A brilliant start to the International season for Modena Kart

A brilliant start to the International...

A brilliant start to the International season for Modena Kart

A brilliant start to the International season for Modena Kart

Drivers in the colours of the Modena Kart team have become regulars on the podiums of the biggest events since the start of 2025, in the WSK Promotion series as well as the ACI Karting Italian...
Carr drives towards glory as KZ King equals record
Carr drives towards glory as KZ King equals record

Carr drives towards glory as KZ King...

Carr drives towards glory as KZ King equals record

Carr drives towards glory as KZ King equals record

Liam Carr is knocking on the door of a maiden KA2 Junior SP Tools Australian Kart Championship after an immaculate weekend in Newcastle, while double KZ2 Champion, Troy Loeskow, recorded a...
A helmet for Gabin – Team WRT’S ‘ACO Challenge 2025’ initiative
A helmet for Gabin – Team WRT’S ‘ACO Challenge 2025’ initiative

A helmet for Gabin – Team WRT’S ‘ACO...

A helmet for Gabin – Team WRT’S ‘ACO Challenge 2025’ initiative

A helmet for Gabin – Team WRT’S ‘ACO Challenge 2025’ initiative

As part of their 2025 ‘ACO Challenge’, Team WRT continues its commitment to meaningful, human-driven initiatives. After winning the 2024 ACO ‘Coup de Cœur’ Award for its...
Preston and Burke win at Australian Kart Championship round two
Preston and Burke win at Australian Kart Championship round two

Preston and Burke win at Australian Kart...

Preston and Burke win at Australian Kart Championship round two

Preston and Burke win at Australian Kart Championship round two

Jac Preston has taken his first ever SP Tools Australian Kart Championship round win in KZ2 at Murray Bridge, South Australia, while Ky Burke broached the top step of the podium in KA2 for the first...
Race Report: The ROK Cup Italy with Round 2 held at the 7 Laghi Kart in Castelletto di Branduzzo
Race Report: The ROK Cup Italy with Round 2 held at the 7 Laghi Kart in Castelletto di Branduzzo

Race Report: The ROK Cup Italy with...

Race Report: The ROK Cup Italy with Round 2 held at the 7 Laghi Kart in Castelletto di Branduzzo

Race Report: The ROK Cup Italy with Round 2 held at the 7 Laghi Kart in Castelletto di Branduzzo

The ROK Cup Italy continues its seasonal journey with the second round held at the 7 Laghi Kart in Castelletto di Branduzzo (PV). Almost 200 are the attendants in the seven categories competing, in a...
IPK strengthens its presence in International Competition
IPK strengthens its presence in International Competition

IPK strengthens its presence in...

IPK strengthens its presence in International Competition

IPK strengthens its presence in International Competition

Since its creation in 2010, the IPK factory has rapidly established itself as one of the leading companies in the global karting market, thanks to its innovative technology and the quality of the...
Breakthrough win for Cooper Folley as Italian flies in Melbourne
Breakthrough win for Cooper Folley as Italian flies in Melbourne

Breakthrough win for Cooper Folley as...

Breakthrough win for Cooper Folley as Italian flies in Melbourne

Breakthrough win for Cooper Folley as Italian flies in Melbourne

Young Queenslander, Cooper Folley has stunned the field in his first KA2 Junior round at the opening SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol event sweeping to the win at the...
Kalì Kart on top in the Margutti Trophy
Kalì Kart on top in the Margutti Trophy

Kalì Kart on top in the Margutti Trophy

Kalì Kart on top in the Margutti Trophy

Kalì Kart on top in the Margutti Trophy

Great weekend for Kalì Kart colours at the 36th Margutti Trophy that took place this weekend in Lonato. In the OK Junior category, Ilia Berezkin dominated the OK Junior by winning all 3 qualifying...
Italian Champion to line up in Australian Kart Championship opener
Italian Champion to line up in Australian Kart Championship opener

Italian Champion to line up in...

Italian Champion to line up in Australian Kart Championship opener

Italian Champion to line up in Australian Kart Championship opener

Italian Champion Moritz Ebner is set to make his Australian debut at the opening round of the 2025 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol in Melbourne next weekend (March 28-30).
Stars of Karting take centre stage in Melbourne
Stars of Karting take centre stage in Melbourne

Stars of Karting take centre stage in...

Stars of Karting take centre stage in Melbourne

Stars of Karting take centre stage in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Grand Prix week started off with a bang with the Stars of Karting Event at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road facility on Monday. The short and sharp format saw qualifying followed up...
Prokart Challenge opens 2025 with double round weekend at K1 Circuit
Prokart Challenge opens 2025 with double round weekend at K1 Circuit

Prokart Challenge opens 2025 with double...

Prokart Challenge opens 2025 with double round weekend at K1 Circuit

Prokart Challenge opens 2025 with double round weekend at K1 Circuit

The first event of the 2025 ProKart Challenge program was held on the February 28-March 2 weekend at the new K1 Circuit. The Winchester, California facility welcomed the Superkarts! USA regional...
Kennedy and Campbell announced for 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy
Kennedy and Campbell announced for 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy

Kennedy and Campbell announced for 2025...

Kennedy and Campbell announced for 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy

Kennedy and Campbell announced for 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy

Karting Australia is proud to announce that Annabel Kennedy (Brisbane, QLD) and Hamish Campbell (Gold Coast, QLD) have been selected to represent the nation in the 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy...
WKA Realigns National Road Racing Schedules for 2025 and 2026
WKA Realigns National Road Racing Schedules for 2025 and 2026

WKA Realigns National Road Racing...

WKA Realigns National Road Racing Schedules for 2025 and 2026

WKA Realigns National Road Racing Schedules for 2025 and 2026

With a very busy Road Racing Calendar and events so close to each other throughout the year, racers have expressed their concerns that some events are simply not feasible to attend.  Responding...
2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury Wodonga
2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury Wodonga

2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury...

2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury Wodonga

2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury Wodonga

Karting Australia can confirm that the 2025 Rotax National Cup will be hosted at Albury Wodonga Kart Racing Club on September 13-14.
Stars of Karting to kick off Formula 1 race week in Melbourne
Stars of Karting to kick off Formula 1 race week in Melbourne

Stars of Karting to kick off Formula 1...

Stars of Karting to kick off Formula 1 race week in Melbourne

Stars of Karting to kick off Formula 1 race week in Melbourne

More than 100 of Australia’s top kart racers will take centre stage at the Go-Kart Club of Victoria on Monday, March 10, as the Stars of Karting event launches "Race Week" for the...
2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour on the horizon
2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour on the horizon

2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour on the...

2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour on the horizon

2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour on the horizon

Fresh off a record setting campaign in Florida, the Superkarts! USA organization is turning its focus on the 2025 SKUSA Pro Tour. Set for its 16th straight season, the championship will again be...
Rock Island Grand Prix: Come for the races, stay for the party!
Rock Island Grand Prix: Come for the races, stay for the party!

Rock Island Grand Prix: Come for the...

Rock Island Grand Prix: Come for the races, stay for the party!

Rock Island Grand Prix: Come for the races, stay for the party!

Back in 1978, The Blues Brothers took the world by storm with a skit on Saturday Night Live. A movie followed in 1980, then a sequel and some albums as Dan Aykroyd (Elwood) and John Belushi (Joliet...
Kalì Kart: Zvarich brothers confirmed for 2025
Kalì Kart: Zvarich brothers confirmed for 2025

Kalì Kart: Zvarich brothers confirmed...

Kalì Kart: Zvarich brothers confirmed for 2025

Kalì Kart: Zvarich brothers confirmed for 2025

In the last few days, Kalì Kart has confirmed the extension of the agreement with the three Zvarich brothers also for the 2025 season. Max, Marat and Mark, therefore, after the first contact with...
Iron Dames reveal full 2025 racing programme: 16 drivers, multiple disciplines, one mission
Iron Dames reveal full 2025 racing programme: 16 drivers, multiple disciplines, one mission

Iron Dames reveal full 2025 racing...

Iron Dames reveal full 2025 racing programme: 16 drivers, multiple disciplines, one mission

Iron Dames reveal full 2025 racing programme: 16 drivers, multiple disciplines, one mission

Iron Dames, the trailblazing all-female racing project, proudly announces its expanded 2025 programme, featuring an unprecedented line-up of 16 drivers competing across the globe. This milestone marks...
Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge sets 2025 schedule
Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge sets 2025 schedule

Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge sets...

Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge sets 2025 schedule

Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge sets 2025 schedule

The 21st edition of the Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge is projected to be one of the best seasons in the last decade. The organization’s flagship regional program is set to contest six rounds...

301 drivers hunting for glory in Lonato at the 25th Winter Cup

301 drivers hunting for glory in Lonato at the 25th Winter Cup Read more

Ahead of the final stages, Longhi and Palomba lead KZ2, the Russians Bedrin and Smal OK, the Norwegian Stenshorne and the Pole Kucharczyk OKJ, the Russian Foteev and the Pole Przyrowski Mini Rok. Final stages in live streaming on Sunday, February 15th.

The 25th Winter Cup is underway in Lonato with more than 300 drivers and a lot of spectacle on track

The 25th Winter Cup is underway in Lonato with more than 300 drivers and a lot of spectacle on track Read more

The 25th Winter Cup has kicked off with qualifying practice and the initial heats at the South Garda Karting on Friday, February 14th. More than 300 drivers from 47 different countries made it to the track. Heats will continue on Saturday, while the final stages will take place on Sunday, February 16th.

Results of the 25th edition of the Winter Cup at Lontato

Results of the 25th edition of the Winter Cup at Lontato Read more

The circuit of Lonato will host the 25th edition of the Winter Cup from February 14th to 16th 2020. The race that opens the International season at South Garda Karting for categories KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok reached, therefore, an important edition.

Season opener in Lonato for Alex Irlando

Season opener in Lonato for Alex Irlando Read more

BirelART's Alex Irlando gets ready for the 2020 season that starts this weekend at South Garda Karting. As usual, the Winter Cup held at South Garda Karting opens the karting season and, after two unlucky years, Alex Irlando is ready to wreak his revenge.

The Kosmic Kart Racing Department is getting ready to take part in Lonato

The Kosmic Kart Racing Department is getting ready to take part in Lonato Read more

The Kosmic Kart Racing Department is getting ready to take part in one of the most important appointments of the season: the 25th Winter Cup, taking place at the South Garda Karting in Lonato from 14th of February. 

The CRG Racing Team at the 25th Winter Cup

The CRG Racing Team at the 25th Winter Cup Read more

The CRG official team is continuing its winter preparation with 4 drivers in OK Junior, 2 in OK and 3 in KZ2

Live timing: The 25th edition of the Winter Cup is on its way

Live timing: The 25th edition of the Winter Cup is on its way Read more

The circuit of Lonato will host the 25th edition of the Winter Cup from February 14th to 16th 2020. The race that opens the International season at South Garda Karting for categories KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok reached, therefore, an important edition.

Record numbers for the Australian Kart Championship opener

Record numbers for the Australian Kart Championship opener Read more

The opening round of the 2020 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol EDGE has seen an influx of entries to re-write the record books for the sport.

Tony Kart Racing Team ready for the 25th Winter Cup Lonato

Tony Kart Racing Team ready for the 25th Winter Cup Lonato Read more

The OK, OKJ and KZ2 drivers of the Tony Kart Racing Team are ready to take part in the 25th edition of the Winter Cup, scheduled from Friday 14thFebruary at the South Garda Karting in Lonato.

The 2020 Rok Cup Regulations are now official.

The 2020 Rok Cup Regulations are now official. Read more

The previews of the sporting regulation, with the Rok Cup Italia Championship scheduled in 9 rounds and the new race format are confirmed. Concerning the Technical Regulation, the rules are steady and the technical fiches format has now been simplified. Everything is aimed at making the checks more effective with the possibility to make deeper checks directly by the Manufacturer’s seat.

More than 300 drivers in Lonato for the 25th Winter Cup

More than 300 drivers in Lonato for the 25th  Winter Cup Read more

The 25th Winter Cup, opener of season 2020 scheduled for February 14-16 at the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato has 305 drivers in the provisional entry list of the four categories KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok.

Eos, the new brand made in OTK Kart Group

Eos, the new brand made in OTK Kart Group Read more

The OTK Kart Group is proud to announce the launch of its new chassis brand: EOS Racing Kart. Quality, performances and winning colour characterize the newborn brand, available in three chassis models for all categories, from Mini to KZ.

Son of ex-F1-driver Juan Pablo Montoya completes Prema's Formula 4 2020 line up

Son of ex-F1-driver Juan Pablo Montoya completes Prema's Formula 4 2020 line up Read more

PREMA Powerteam is ready to welcome Sebastian Montoya for the 2020 Formula 4 season. The 14-year-old Colombian will make his debut in single-seater competition and will enter a program consisting of the full Italian F4 championship and selected races of the German ADAC-promoted Championship.
 

Team AKM Motorsport by Antonelli is born: partnership with Kart Republic of Dino Chiesa

Team AKM Motorsport by Antonelli is born: partnership with Kart Republic of Dino Chiesa Read more

Double engagement in karts and single-seaters with the aim of creating a path for the youngest. The partnership with Kart Republic of Dino Chiesa has been made official. The debut at Adria last weekend with Andrea Kimi Antonelli protagonist in the WSK .

Winter Cup heading towards record numbers for edition 25 of February 16th in Lonato

Winter Cup heading towards record numbers for edition 25 of February 16th in Lonato Read more

A great participation is awaited at the 25th Winter Cup as all International karting protagonists are gearing up to contest the 4 categories KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok. The 25th Winter Cup is scheduled for February 14th – 16th 2020 at the South Garda Karting Circuit in Lonato is about to run another record edition. This event is an international “classic” race with great sporting contents.

Documents to download

The IKA KART2000 in transition

The IKA KART2000 in transition Read more

On the last weekend of January, Offenbach am Main in Germany was once again the centre of the karting world. The classic IKA Kartmesse trade fair hosted the world's largest kart exhibition for the 28th time, although in this new decade, the exhibition presented itself on a slightly smaller scale than in previous years. For the first time, the fair only opened six instead of seven halls.

Karting-talent Gabriele Mini to race with Prema in Formula 4

Karting-talent Gabriele Mini to race with Prema in Formula 4 Read more

Gabriele Mini, latest member of the All Road Management team, will make his single seater debut with PREMA Powerteam in 2020 with a Formula 4 program consisting of the full Italian Championship and selected races of the German ADAC Series.

From karts to single-seaters: Gabriel Bortoleto joins Prema's Formula 4 Team for 2020

From karts to single-seaters: Gabriel Bortoleto joins Prema's Formula 4 Team for 2020 Read more

PREMA Powerteam is pleased to announce that Brazilian racer Gabriel Bortoleto will be part of the team’s all-new lineup for the 2020 Formula 4 Season. He will enter the full Italian Formula 4 Championship and selected races of the German series. The 15-year-old driver is making the step up to auto racing coming from a complete and successful karting career. 

SP Tools extends Karting Australia Partnership

SP Tools extends Karting Australia Partnership Read more

Leading Australian tool manufacturer Austech Industries has extended its partnership with Karting Australia with their SP Tools and Torini engines brands becoming the Premier Partners of Karting Australia.

Final exhibitor list for the 28.IKA-KART2000, more international exhibitors than ever!

Final exhibitor list for the 28.IKA-KART2000, more international exhibitors than ever! Read more

Between the 25th – 26th January 2020, you can find in Offenbach am Main everything of Karting. The eight halls with event centres show you on 10.000 sqms everything you need for Karting, for indoor and outdoor, everything about racing and hobby.

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KartSport New Zealand’s first ‘Virtual Club Day’ a great success! 3-time former NZ Kart champion Chris van der Drift 8th place and Brendon Hartley 11th
Mitchell Koolen
/ Categories: News, International

KartSport New Zealand’s first ‘Virtual Club Day’ a great success! 3-time former NZ Kart champion Chris van der Drift 8th place and Brendon Hartley 11th

KartSport New Zealand’s first ‘Virtual Club Day’ was held on Easter Sunday evening and its success – on all sorts of different levels – means more are already being planned, says the organisation’s National President.

 

“Without a doubt,” said Graeme Moore this morning. “I thought my phone was going hot on Sunday afternoon as we were putting the finishing touches to the event together. But yesterday and even earlier today (Tuesday) it’s just been ballistic with people wanting to tell me how good it was.”

Like every other admin body of a sporting organisation here and around the world KartSport New Zealand was left in a quandary once the true ramifications of the COVET-19 virus hit home. Even before the lockdown, for instance, the jewel in the local sport’s crown, the annual National Sprint Championship meeting over the Easter weekend had to be called off, and once the lockdown was in place karters were effectively stranded at home in their bubbles for four weeks.

 

While he and his fellow Executive members have been using the time - and the internet and various face/time apps – to keep on top of admin across the club-based organisation, Moore says he couldn’t help think that the karters themselves – the people on whose behalf he and the other officials were doing the work – were missing out. It didn’t help, either, that every time, he says, he tuned into the TV news at 6.00pm there would be a story about how F1, IndyCar or the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship was launching some sort of ‘e-series’ on an ‘iRacing’ platform.

Enter Travis Smith, a keen young karter and Tech Officer from Dunedin. Smith is also right into his Sim racing and on hearing his Dad, KartSport New Zealand’s National Technical Officer Colin Smith, discussing the possibility of ‘doing something on iRacing’ with Graeme Moore, immediately put up his hand to help. The result was the inaugural KartSport NZ ‘Trophy Truck’ race meeting at the Laguna Seca circuit in northern California. The event included practise and qualifying sessions before 3 x 5-lap heat races and a reverse grid 20-lap final complete with one compulsory pitstop to have enough fuel to make it to the end.

Though it was only promoted on KartSport NZ’s Facebook page it attracted a 48-strong field which included everyone from first-time SIM racers to Le Mans 24 Hour race winner Brendon Hartley, currently (conveniently) ‘locked down’ with his wife at his home in Taupo. KartSport New Zealand and sponsors Carter’s Tyre Service, and the Giltrap Group covered the cost of hosting the event on the iRacing ‘network’ and it was live-streamed on the KartSport NZ Facebook page.

Because, Moore says, he is acutely aware of the financial strain many typical KartSport families are now under thanks to the COVET-19 lockdown entry costs per driver were kept to a minimum – hence the use of the generic ‘Trophy Trucks’ rather than some sort of virtual Kart. “Obviously karts would have been a better ‘fit,’ but the Trophy Trucks provided us with a pretty much level playing field in terms of set-up, plus because of that they are one of the cheapest options on the iRacing program.”

“Now that we’ve run our first club day we will look at our options going forward. One of those might well be to go to a virtual kart if we can access a simple, cost effective option but in the meantime we will stick with the cheaper options on iRacing, it is "Club Day racing after all".

As it turned out the race was won by 18-year-old Sim specialist Angus Claasen, from Hamilton who led home karter and similarly experienced young Sim racer Max Donnelly from Whakatane. Classen, who is one of the country’s best young track cyclists, said he took up Sim racing a year or so ago and is now a regular on the iRacing platform. He said he enjoyed his first KartSport NZ ‘club meeting’ and reckons he will definitely be back for more. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I had a good time out there against some pretty cool drivers and I particularly liked the fact that the car was kept simple and had a fixed set up. It made the racing close and gave all the competitors an even chance.”

Three-time former NZ Kart champion Chris van der Drift, who went on to enjoy a stellar international career in single-seater racing cars in Europe and latterly in Porsches in the Carrera Cup Asia championship series before returning home to live and race out of Hamilton, was the best of the sport’s Pro drivers in 8th place with Brendon Hartley 11th and Tom Alexander 12th.

CAPTIONS:

KartSport NZ ran its first iRacing ‘virtual club day’ on Easter Sunday evening. Here is a screen shot from inside eventual winner Angus Claasen’s Trophy Truck.

Christian Hermansen from Palmerston North, 3x NZ Minisprint speedway champion and Goldstar series karter getting to grips with his new Sim set up. Christian started the final from grid 42 and finished 7th.

Le Mans 24 Hour race winner and former F1 driver Brendon Hartley, currently back ‘home’ in lockdown in Taupo, was one of the current stars on the world motor racing stage to contest the inaugural KartSport New Zealand Virtual Club Day on Easter Sunday evening. (Red Bull sim)

Photo credits: KartSport New Zealand/iRacing

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