Superkarts! USA regional championship hosted penultimate round at Spring Mountain Karting Complex
Superkarts! USA regional championship hosted penultimate round at Spring Mountain Karting Complex

Superkarts! USA regional championship...

Superkarts! USA regional championship hosted penultimate round at Spring Mountain Karting Complex

Superkarts! USA regional championship hosted penultimate round at Spring Mountain Karting Complex

The 2026 ProKart Challenge championship took another step toward crowning this year’s title winners, hosting Round Five of the program at the Spring Mountain Karting Complex. The Superkarts! USA...
Max vs 100: 100 drivers prepare to face Max Verstappen in go-kart race
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Max vs 100: Verstappen to Take on One...

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Karting Solutions Group, the US distributor for BRP-Rotax karting products and home of the Race Rotax brand, is confirming a key detail for racers ahead of the 2026 SKUSA SuperNationals: Rotax engines...
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently spreading throughout much of the world and the extended period of quarantine in Italy, the CIK-FIA has postponed the date of the next event in Sarno.

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In these difficult times, the prognosis for the sporting schedule is uncertain. One thing is certain, the Arena 45 Grand Prix will take place at Valence, even if the date has to be postponed to better times. In the face of the changing health situation, opening entries is no longer a priority. Arena 45 will announce a new date as soon as the situation becomes clearer. As to whether the Arena 45 Grand Prix can take place as planned from 5th to 9th August 2020, it is too early to say. In any case, the flagship event at Valence is not in question. If the date has to be postponed, it will be postponed and the organisers will follow the decisions taken by the authorities.

CIK-FIA 2020 Homologations extended to 2021

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The CIK-FIA homologation process for chassis, brakes and bodywork, which represents about 110 products and about 50 manufacturers from 10 countries, is due to start on 1st August 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most nations in Europe and around the world are facing production difficulties and it will be difficult, if not impossible, for all manufacturers to complete the development of their new products and put them into production before August. In light of these exceptional circumstances, the CIK-FIA has decided to strongly support the industry and the future of karting by automatically extending the validity of all currently homologated products (chassis, brakes, bodywork) for one year until 31st December 2021. Manufacturers will therefore have the possibility of homologating a new product or to re-homologate it during the 2021 homologation process.

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As the world continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, World Karting Association (WKA) officials have been carefully monitoring information updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the World Health Organization. Following orders to shelter in place across the country, including in the North Carolina area, the Charlotte Karting Challenge has been rescheduled. “We are finalizing some rescheduling details and will be able to announce on my Thursday night Facebook Live with the President,” explained Kevin Williams. “However, I can mention now that we have rescheduled both the Speedway Dirt Series and Road Racing Series events at Charlotte Motor Speedway for July 3rd through the 5th with the 5th reserved as the rain date for the Dirt program, and are working with multiple other organizations to ensure the best possible scenario for the competitor. We have solidified new dates for Manufacturers Cup and Sprint racing and will be able to announce this exciting news next Thursday evening.”

Remo Racing Iame X30: IAME Series Australia cancelled for 2020

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UPDATED Statement: British Kart Championships

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In light of recent developments in the COVID-19 crisis, and following the address to the nation by the Prime Minister on the evening of 23rd March, Motorsport UK has today extended its suspension of all organising permits and Certificates of Exemption for motorsport events until at least 30th June.

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I would like to thank our motorsport community for its incredible response to the challenges we are facing. From across the country, from our clubs, officials and competitors, venues, teams and engineering firms there is a solidarity to face the crisis and work together to find solutions. We thank all of the medical teams across the UK for working tirelessly to keep us safe, and in particular the huge number from our own community who are in the front line of this battle.

MSA: COVID-19 and Motorsport

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Since its communication this past Monday, MSA has been closely monitoring the developments with regard to the coronavirus pandemic.

Karting Australia Officials Academy launched

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Karting Australia has launched a market-leading Online Officials Training Academy thanks to a new partnership with Rosche Paper. The ground-breaking Academy for Australian karting will see Officials from all across Australia be able to undertake training on a regular basis to compliment the traditional ‘face-to-face’ training that takes place annually, or bi-annually, in each State.

The start of the 2020 FIA Karting season will be delayed

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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic currently spreading in Europe and much of the world, the CIK-FIA has had to change the schedule for the start of the 2020 season.

BNL Karting Series 2020 - Kick Off Aftermovie

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Around 150 drivers headed to the "Home Of Champions" in the first weekend of March, representing 16 different nations, to battle against the very best in Rotax racing circles, with six different classes in action.

Statement: British Kart Championships

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Covid-19 virus in France: Force majeure and temporarily close the entire Sodikart company

Covid-19 virus in France: Force majeure and temporarily close the entire Sodikart company Read more

As you may be aware the French Government has recently taken measures in order to contain the spreading of the Covid-19 virus in France. New measures which will be more restricting will be announced this evening by the French President, M. Macron.

COVID-19 EMERGENCY: TM Racing Kart Division

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Kart Division, decided to stop its business from monday 16-3-2020 until a date to be set.

Postponement Rotax Max South Africa round 1 nationals

Postponement Rotax Max South Africa round 1 nationals Read more

It is with great regret that Rotax Max South Africa have been forced to postpone the first national of 2020 due to the Corona Virus restrictions.

Karting Australia; ROTAX Pro Tour opener postponed

Karting Australia; ROTAX Pro Tour opener postponed Read more

Karting Australia, International Karting Distributors and the Go-Kart Club of Victoria advises that the opening round of the 2020 Rotax Pro Tour, scheduled for this weekend (March 21/22), has been postponed.

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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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