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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
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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

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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
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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!

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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
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Kalì Kart: Zvarich brothers confirmed...

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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
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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...
ROK Cup 2025 Regulations
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24 Hours Karting of Italy: the entry list becomes increasingly international
24 Hours Karting of Italy: the entry list becomes increasingly international

24 Hours Karting of Italy: the entry...

24 Hours Karting of Italy: the entry list becomes increasingly international

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Registration of the teams coming from all over the world for the 24 Hours Karting of Italy, the reference Rental kart event among international endurance races, scheduled for next March 1-2 on the...
Zayne Burgess to Join Andretti Global Driver Development Program
Zayne Burgess to Join Andretti Global Driver Development Program

Zayne Burgess to Join Andretti Global...

Zayne Burgess to Join Andretti Global Driver Development Program

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Andretti Global and Gainbridge announced today that Zayne Burgess, 8, will join their ambitious Driver Development program designed to support young talents with the aim of leading them to pinnacle...

First win for Antonelli with the Rosberg Racing Academy

First win for Antonelli with the Rosberg Racing Academy Read more

Finding the most promising drivers and guiding them to international success is the mission of the Rosberg Racing Academy. In Northern Italy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli's victory in OK-Junior at the prestigious Winter Cup more than ever confirms the accuracy of this project and the perfect organisation put in place by Nico Rosberg and the Kart Republic organisation, in partnership with Ravenol.

Birel ART Racing Team: Beautiful introduction at the Winter Cup

Birel ART Racing Team: Beautiful introduction at the Winter Cup Read more

The performance was undeniably there at Lonato for the Birel ART Racing Team, in the three international categories of the Winter Cup. Satisfaction lit up the faces of the technicians from the Lissone factory and their drivers after very encouraging performances during the first big meeting of the 2019 season. The course of such a competition can often be disturbed by racing incidents, but the preparation work by the team during the winter has undoubtedly gone well.

Podium for Paolo De Conto in KZ2 at the 24th Winter Cup

Podium for Paolo De Conto in KZ2 at the 24th Winter Cup Read more

In Lonato’s the crowded and competitive Winter Cup, Paolo De Conto’s second place stands out once again in KZ2. Good results also for Pedro Hiltbrand and Gabriel Bortoleto in the OK and Enzo Trulli in the OK Junior. First meeting of the year for the CRG Racing Team in Lonato, at the 24th Winter Cup, in the traditional event the opens the season and that had an excellent number of participants, with 310 drivers coming from 43 countries. An excellent testing ground in view of the FIA Karting international activity.

Big win for Sodi at the Winter Cup

Big win for Sodi at the Winter Cup Read more

Sodikart could not have dreamed of a better start for the new season than a victory for the Sodi Racing Team in KZ2 at the Winter Cup. Anthony Abbasse managed to achieve an exceptional result ahead of an international field of nearly 100 drivers, including the top KZ specialists on the formidable Italian circuit of Lonato.

Abbasse (KZ2), Travisanutto (OK), Antonelli (OKJ) and Powell (Mini) take the win in the 24th Winter Cup in Lonato

Abbasse (KZ2), Travisanutto (OK), Antonelli (OKJ) and Powell (Mini) take the win in the 24th Winter Cup in Lonato Read more

The 24th Winter Cup ended with spectacular final stages in Lonato. The International event set a record participation of 310 drivers coming from 43 different countries.

Lando Norris back to his roots in karting

Lando Norris back to his roots in karting Read more

British sensation Lando Norris had a busy week, preparing for the F1-season. Last week McLaren unveiled their 2019-warrior; the McLaren MCCL34. Still Norris had time to go back to his roots in karting

Live coverage in webstreaming of the 24Th Winter Cup Lonato

Live coverage in webstreaming of the 24Th Winter Cup Lonato Read more

The 24th Lonato Winter Cup scored record numbers again as it will have 319 drivers entered in KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok. The protagonists and the program of the events that will end on Sunday February 17th. The 24th Winter Cup, race to be held in Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy), is all set for another important event. After the heats on Saturday, the much awaited finals will get underway on Sunday.

Lonato Winter Cup: the second day devoted to qualifying heats

Lonato Winter Cup: the second day devoted to qualifying heats Read more

A total of 310 drivers coming from 43 Countries set another important record for the 24th Winter Cup. The much awaited finals will get underway on Sunday from 15.00 with live coverage in web streaming.

Lonato, the spectacle of the 24th Winter Cup is on

Lonato, the spectacle of the 24th Winter Cup is on Read more

A total of 310 are contesting the victory of categories KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok at the South Garda Karting Circuit. Qualifying practice and initial heats named the early pace setters. Further heats will follow on Saturday, February 16th, while the final stages will take place on Sunday, February 17th.

The CRG Racing Team season starts with the 24TH Winter Cup

The CRG Racing Team season starts with the 24TH Winter Cup Read more

The classic meeting scheduled for this weekend in Lonato will be the occasion to present the 2019 drivers line up and make an important shakedown in view of the FIA events. With over 300 drivers, the 24th Winter Cup will be a very interesting event and it will give an excellent feedback in view of the FIA races. All the most important teams and drivers of International Karting will be on track and for the KZ2 class, it will be the first general test in view of the World Championship, that will be hosted by this track in September.

Live-timing and results 2019 Lonato Winter Cup at South Garda Karting

Live-timing and results 2019 Lonato Winter Cup at South Garda Karting Read more

The 24th Lonato Winter Cup scored record numbers again as it will have 319 drivers entered in KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok. The protagonists and the program of the events that will end on Sunday February 17th. The Winter Cup, race to be held in Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy), is all set for another important event, with 319 drivers from all over the world entered in this 24th edition. These record numbers confirm the importance of this race which marks the opening of the International season. Qualifying starts on Friday follwing bij the First heats, on Saturday more heatracing and Sunday will be finalsday. Follow the results here:

Alex Irlando’s season gets underway in Lonato for the 24th Winter Cup

Alex Irlando’s season gets underway in Lonato for the 24th Winter Cup Read more

After the first win with the Ronni Sala’s team in Sarno, Alex Irlando will face all his opponents at the traditional meeting in Lonato. After a lot of winter training with his new TM-powered machine, Alex Irlando will start the new season at the South Garda Karting in Lonato, on occasion of the 24th Winter Cup.

Leonardo Marseglia debuts with BirelART at the Winter Cup

Leonardo Marseglia debuts with BirelART at the Winter Cup Read more

The 24th Winter Cup at South Garda Karting sets the stage for the Leonardo Marseglia’s debut in KZ2 with the Red Army from Lissone. Another season is about to start, but this season Leonardo Marseglia will have more new stimuli: new team and different category for him!

Enzo Trulli in the footsteps of his father Jarno Trulli

Enzo Trulli in the footsteps of his father Jarno Trulli Read more

Following his father’s footsteps, 12 years old Enzo Trulli, son of Jarno, that has been a great protagonist of F1 in the ‘90s and 2000s, started a training path in karting, as already happened to several sons of excellent drivers. Obviously, the experience of his father is behind Enzo’s choices. Jarno follows his son actively as second mechanic since the National races in Italy, where Enzo moved his first steps in karting. He chose CRG Racing team for the son in 2018 for his first complete International season, entrusting the Italian outfit.

New Sodi strategy for international racing for 2019

New Sodi strategy for international racing for 2019 Read more

After its successes of last season in KZ2 in the European Championship and the WSK Final Cup, as well as the victory in the 24-Hour Karting at Le Mans as part of the FIA ​​Karting Endurance Championship, Sodikart has decided to increase its international ambitions along three axes to highlight its presence in competition in the short and medium term.

Kosmic aims high for the 24th edition of the Lonato Winter Cup

Kosmic aims high for the 24th edition of the Lonato Winter Cup Read more

The Mercury R chassis powered by Vortex will bring our drivers the best material to fight in Lonato. The 2019 edition of the classic Winter Cup will take place from Wednesday 13rd to Sunday 17th at South Garda Karting.  It will be a good occasion for our Racing Department to optimize the fine tuning of the materials, also looking forward the upcoming and intense racing calendar.

Tony Kart Racing Team is prepared for the 24th Lonato Winter Cup: season opener for KZ

Tony Kart Racing Team is prepared for the 24th Lonato Winter Cup: season opener for KZ Read more

The 24th edition of Winter Cup that will take place at South Garda Karting from Wednesday 13rd to Sunday 17th Feburary means the start of the season for our KZ drivers as they will use this race to get ready for the next events.

South Garda Karting Lonato; 24th Wintercup in Lonato with 319 drivers from all over the World

South Garda Karting Lonato; 24th Wintercup in Lonato with 319 drivers from all over the World Read more

The 24th Winter Cup scored record numbers again as it will have 319 drivers entered in KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok. The protagonists and the program of the events that will end on Sunday February 17th. The Winter Cup, race to be held in Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy), is all set for another important event, with 319 drivers from all over the world entered in this 24th edition. These record numbers confirm the importance of this race which marks the opening of the International season.

Energy Corse: A strengthened and energetic team to start 2019

Energy Corse: A strengthened and energetic team to start 2019 Read more

More than ever, Energy Corse justifies its status of a benchmark team in international karting, with an extensive race programme and a line-up of talented drivers in the main categories. The training of the youngest drivers, as well as the fight for podiums, will always be on the agenda for the team led by Mick Panigada.

Max Verstappen: “This was my first time karting on ice and I had a lot of fun!"

Max Verstappen: “This was my first time karting on ice and I had a lot of fun!" Read more

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen, and his teammate Pierre Gasly had this week an exiting day on an ice-track in The Netherlands as both Formula 1-drivers drove in two Kart Republic karts with spikes on ice to make an awesome promotionvideo!

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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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