Two years after the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - OK & Junior, the Italian circuit of Franciacorta is once again hosting a major global event, this time dedicated to gearbox karts. Three major titles will be awarded: the Mondokart.com KZ World Championship, the KZ2 World Cup and the KZ2 Masters International Super Cup. An exceptional field of 253 drivers, representing dozens of nationalities, is expected in northern Italy from 9th to 12th October 2025.
International karting is thriving, as demonstrated by the last FIA Karting event of the season to be held on the European continent. In just a few years, the Franciacorta Karting Track, located in the municipality of Castrezzato near Brescia, has become a favourite venue of both drivers and teams for its unmissable events and spectacular racing. Its 1,300-metre track is both fast and selective, allowing average lap speeds of over 100 km/h with a gearbox kart.
Italian manufacturer LeCont will supply “prime” tyres for all categories. Three FIA Karting team titles will also be awarded, with the results of the European Championship events being added to those of these world competitions in Franciacorta.
KZ: A subtle blend of talent, experience and competitiveness
It is often said that the world's best kart drivers compete in KZ. They are certainly the most experienced, having climbed every rung of the ladder. The top drivers are sought after by the manufacturers involved in this category, considered the showcase of the discipline with karts displaying exceptional performance.
Among the many favourites, the last three World Champions are at the start: Sweden's Viktor Gustafsson and Italy's Paolo Ippolito and Giuseppe Palomba. In 2024, Dutchman Senna Van Walstijn and Spaniard Pedro Hiltbrand came very close to the crown and will be giving it their all in Franciacorta. Young Frenchman Mattéo Spirgel has just been crowned European Champion and is one of the rising stars. His two predecessors, Italians Danilo Albanese and Lorenzo Travisanutto, are also in the running. Many of the 55 drivers entered have won titles in KZ2 and hope to do the same in KZ, such as Tom Leuillet (FRA), Cristian Bertuca (ITA), Matteo Vigano (ITA), Emilien Denner (FRA) and Adrien Renaudin (FRA).
The list of podium contenders is long, with Riccardo Longhi (ITA), Marijn Kremers (NED), David Trefilov (GER), Lorenzo Camplese (ITA), Daniel Vasile (ROU), Jean Nomblot (FRA) and Stan Pex (NED). 2013 Junior World Champion and former FIA F3 and F2 driver Alessio Lorandi (ITA) will be looking to enjoy himself while playing the Joker.
KZ2: The way is clear to succeed Bertuca
The best drivers in the category often gone on to single-seaters or KZ, such as 2024 winner Cristian Bertuca (ITA), who has joined the karting elite. To succeed him, the recent stars of the FIA Karting European Championship will be in the starting blocks, including winner Maksim Orlov and those who challenged him, such as Markus Kajak (EST), Maximilian Schleimer (GER), Jayden Thien (NED), Kasper Schormans (NED), Tigran Bunatyan and Tim Jüngling (GBR).
The 2022 OK World Champion, Brazilian Matheus Morgatto, now races in North America and makes no secret of his ambitions to win again in FIA Karting. He finished second in the 2024 KZ2 World Cup ahead of Finland's Paavo Tonteri, who is also back on the entry list. Many other drivers are already envisioning themselves on the podium at Franciacorta, among a record number of entrants (126).
KZ2 Masters: Former winners and a host of other contenders
KZ2 Masters was an immediate success when it was launched by the FIA in 2022, aimed at drivers aged 35 and over (in the calendar year). Many of them have enjoyed great success in karting over the last few decades and their fierce determination and competitiveness remains strong. For them, the fun is still there despite the increasing years. Many of them have enjoyed great success in karting over the last few decades and still have great driving skills and fierce determination. The gripping outcome of the recent European Championship in favour of Antonio Piccioni was a perfect illustration of this. The Italian will be reunited with those he battled for the title: his predecessor Riccardo Nalon (ITA), Kristijan Habulin (CRO), Manuel Cozzaglio (ITA), Angelo Lombardo (ITA) and, of course, Davide Fore (ITA). Of all the drivers still active, Fore is the most successful, with multiple world and European titles won over the past three decades.
Fore is also one of the former winners of the KZ2 Masters International Super Cup, which will celebrate its fourth edition, as will Frenchman Anthony Abbasse, who will defend his title after his brilliant victory in Portimao in 2024.
Provisional programme for the Franciacorta event
Friday 10th October: Qualifying Practice and start of Qualifying Heats
Saturday 11th October: Continuation and end of Qualifying Heats
Sunday 12th October: Super Heats in the morning, Finals and podiums in the afternoon
Entries, calendars, schedules, results, and live coverage can be found on the FIA Karting website. The event will be broadcast live and free of charge on the FIA Karting YouTube channel.