At the end of September 2018, a race called the “20,000 Revs per minute” reserved for karts with bodywork, powered by 100 cc air-cooled engines from the period 1986 to 2003, took place at Le Mans as a curtain raiser to the famous 24 Heures Karting. The aim was to test the formula and it has to be said that for a premier it couldn’t have been a bigger success!

And this initiative will have a follow-up in 2019. Formula 20000 has been created and is determined to build on this show of enthusiasm. The FFSA (French Motor Sports Federation) has agreed to the staging of five historic races and entrusted Romane Didier’s (who was behind this revival) agency, future racing commm, to look after the promotion. They will provide a raft of occasions to enjoy maximum pleasure while recalling the glorious past of the category and the exploits of its outstanding champion drivers from the late eighties to the early noughties.

The great era of air-cooled 100 cc motors is synonymous with extreme sensations. The tuners were real wizards who managed to extract mind-boggling revs, over 20,000 rpm, from these little engines, hence the name Formula 20000 for this new historic category without rev limiter, clutch or starter. In other words, kart racing in its rawest, purest state!

In that period blessed by the motor racing gods drivers of the calibre of Emmanuel Collard, Jarno Trulli, Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jenson Button, Robert Kubica, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, this list is far from exhaustive, learned the ropes.

When two periods of history join forces

The calendar includes three events at which Formula 20000 will share the same paddock as the regularity events organised by the Rétrokart Association, which are aimed at the oldest karts without bodywork built from the early days right up to the end of the 1980s. Formula 20000 races are the ideal complement to these pioneers, and these karts with bodywork built between 1986 and 2003 are the missing link that France was lacking to tell the full story of this branch of motor sport.

The Formula 20000 series and the Rétrokart Association will feature together on the programme at Marcillat-en-Combraille in Auvergne, then on the Mirecourt circuit in the Vosges and on the Laval track in the Mayenne department. The first two circuits mentioned above have a rich past from a national point of view and the world championships organised in Laval are still in everybody’s memory.

Formula 20000 will then return to Le Mans in the prestigious setting of the international 24 Heures Karting to celebrate the anniversary of the first 20,000 revs/minute event. And finally, the season will end in a blaze of glory in Valence, a resurgent circuit that has hosted two world championships.

The technical side of Formula 20000

As 2019 is a launch year, it’s been decided to begin by letting all the karts complying with the base definition of the category, ranging from the Yamaha KT 100S to the Formula Super A to come and join in the fun. While waiting to draw up more precise regulations when the series is really up and running like the many excellent championships that are held in countries bordering France, diversity will be the watchword in 2019. The regulations of the era will serve as references and guidelines as summed up in the following paragraphs:

- Chassis and engines: years 1986 to 2003 (the final year for air-cooled engines in the category in France).

- Chassis complying with CIK norms with bodywork in keeping with the look of the era, rear brake only.

- Air-cooled 100 cc engines (with 5% tolerance) without clutch, starter, rev limiter.

- Diaphragm carburettor and Airbox as used during the period.

- Weight: 145 kg minimum with a 155-kg class for heavier drivers.

- Hard and medium tyres.

- Driver’s equipment complying with the current FFSA regulations.

- Minimum age: 18. Foreign licensed drivers can take part provided they have obtained an authorisation from their ASN to participate in a national event organised in a foreign country.

Calendar:

- Marcillat-en-Combraille, Allier, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May

- Europa Vintage in Mirecourt, Vosges, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July

- Coupe des As in Laval, Mayenne, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August

- Les 20000 tours/minute in Le Mans, Sarthe, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 September

- Valence la Roche-de-Glun, Drôme, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October

Just two months to go before the kick-off in Marcillat. Time to start upping the revs!