A new championships coordinator has taken up his duties at the start of the 2025 season. The 49-year-old Dane Jesper Carlsen comes to the job with a wealth of motor sport experience. A kart driver for over a decade, including a Danish Championship to and excellent results in the CIK-FIA European Championship in the 90’s, Jesper Carlsen continued his career in the sport by winning the Danish Formula Ford Championship, before going on to shine in Formula 3 and the Porsche Supercup. Professionally, his skills have led him to work in many fields: marketing and sponsorship consultant, coach and manager of young drivers, championship promoter, team manager, public relations, TV consultant and TV content producer.
What are your memories of your early days in karting?
It's been a wonderful part of my life. Even though I've worked in other areas of racing, I've always loved karting. Not only is it the best training for motor sport, it's also a fantastic playground for thousands of competitors around the world. You learn so much! The sport has evolved since the time I was racing. Today's drivers are much better prepared for the rest of their careers. While it's always fascinating to see how a talented driver can get the best out of his equipment, that's no longer enough. Physical preparation, work on the simulator, technical involvement, the importance of seizing the best opportunities, learning English, communicating with the media and partners... all this is now essential and these foundations are built in karting.
As a motor sport specialist, what was your opinion of current International Karting before starting your new mission with the FIA Karting?
I knew that I was going to find some very high-level championships, in an ideal context for drivers to develop in the best possible conditions. For the younger drivers who want to go into motor racing, they will already have begun to work in an extremely professional way and will be able to move up the pyramid more quickly. As for those who choose to stay in karting, for example by moving up to the 'Shifter' categories, they will be able to take part in the biggest international competitions in a rewarding technical and sporting environment. The FIA Karting Academy Trophy, launched for Juniors and now extended to Seniors, also plays an important role.
Do you think the image of karting has changed in recent years?
Yes, very much so. My professional activities have led me to work with former karting champions like Kevin Magnussen and Nicklas Nielsen, for example. Everything they learnt in karting gave them a very professional approach that impressed and won over the teams they raced for. Motorsport is full of examples of this. Today, karting is taken much more seriously. Formula 1 has understood that it needs to look to this discipline to find the hopefuls of tomorrow. The progress made in terms of streaming kart races is not to be overlooked, as are the countless publications on social networks.
Have you already identified any areas for improvement in the running of the FIA Karting Championships?
Since the first competition of the season in Spain at Campillos, I've been talking to a lot of people in the paddock and I'm aware that a lot of work has already been done to get things moving in the right direction. A constructive exchange has developed over the last few years with the various stakeholders. It is important that the FIA defines the best possible balance between all the stakeholders. I am fortunate to be able to rely on a competent team of officials and on the professionalism of our service provider, RGMMC. However, I think there is always room for improvement: solving the problems that can interfere with the smooth running of a competition, making life easier for everyone involved, giving karting even more of an aura, encouraging more people to take an interest in karting, whether behind a screen or by bringing more people to the circuits. The action on the track is incredible, and we need to promote it as much as possible.