Ginetta Junior champion to receive £50,000 scholarship towards a 2025 GB4 drive
Ginetta Junior champion to receive £50,000 scholarship towards a 2025 GB4 drive

Ginetta Junior champion to receive...

Ginetta Junior champion to receive £50,000 scholarship towards a 2025 GB4 drive

Ginetta Junior champion to receive £50,000 scholarship towards a 2025 GB4 drive

The 2024 Ginetta Junior champion will receive a £50,000 scholarship towards a seat in the 2025 GB4 Championship, it was confirmed today (Friday 26 April). Ginetta Cars and GB4 promoter...
Results: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton Track
Results: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton Track

Results: FIA Karting European...

Results: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton Track

Results: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton Track

The second round of the FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior taking place in France on the Val d'Argenton circuit will also see the start of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy from 25...
Live timing: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton...
Live timing: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton...

Live timing: FIA Karting European...

Live timing: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton...

Live timing: FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior and Academy Trophy at Val d'Argenton...

The second Competition of the FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior taking place in France on the Val d'Argenton circuit will also see the start of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy...
Multiple sweeps at round two for California ProKart Challenge
Multiple sweeps at round two for California ProKart Challenge

Multiple sweeps at round two for...

Multiple sweeps at round two for California ProKart Challenge

Multiple sweeps at round two for California ProKart Challenge

The second event of the 2024 California ProKart Challenge was contested on the April 20-21 weekend with the series returning to the Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Running the Buttonwillow, California...
Noah Strømsted tops Hockenheim Pre-Season Collective Test
Noah Strømsted tops Hockenheim Pre-Season Collective Test

Noah Strømsted tops Hockenheim...

Noah Strømsted tops Hockenheim Pre-Season Collective Test

Noah Strømsted tops Hockenheim Pre-Season Collective Test

The final timed session that took place this afternoon in Hockenheim has seen the checkered flag waving over the Pre-Season Collective Test 2024 of the Formula Regional European Championship by...
2nd round of the Euro OK - OKJ to take place in France this weekend
2nd round of the Euro OK - OKJ to take place in France this weekend

2nd round of the Euro OK - OKJ to take...

2nd round of the Euro OK - OKJ to take place in France this weekend

2nd round of the Euro OK - OKJ to take place in France this weekend

With 17 registered drivers, the CRG Racing Team will be one of the largest and most competitive teams in the 2nd Round of the FIA ​​European OK and OKJ Championship scheduled from April 25 to 28 on...
Nikita Bedrin Leads the way at Hockenheim in the opening session
Nikita Bedrin Leads the way at Hockenheim in the opening session

Nikita Bedrin Leads the way at...

Nikita Bedrin Leads the way at Hockenheim in the opening session

Nikita Bedrin Leads the way at Hockenheim in the opening session

The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine fired up its engines this morning at Hockenheim, the circuit hosting the last Pre Season Collective Test of the year. On the German track, 33 cars...
Three categories on the track at Val d'Argenton
Three categories on the track at Val d'Argenton

Three categories on the track at Val...

Three categories on the track at Val d'Argenton

Three categories on the track at Val d'Argenton

The second Competition of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK & Junior taking place in France on the Val d'Argenton circuit will also see the start of the FIA Karting...
Eventful start to the DKM season in Mülsen
Eventful start to the DKM season in Mülsen

Eventful start to the DKM season in...

Eventful start to the DKM season in Mülsen

Eventful start to the DKM season in Mülsen

Arena E in Mülsen welcomes 187 drivers. Unsettled weather makes for extra excitement on Saturday. Wins for newcomers and established drivers.
Dario Cabanelas solid in daunting conditions
Dario Cabanelas solid in daunting conditions

Dario Cabanelas solid in daunting...

Dario Cabanelas solid in daunting conditions

Dario Cabanelas solid in daunting conditions

Famous for its thermal waters, the Belgian town of Spa was drenched from 18th to 20th of April as the eagerly-awaited opening of the 2024 Eurocup-3 Championship took place on the Spa-Francorchamps...
Fledgling Dutchman Bas Visser joins Graham Brunton Racing for racing debut in GB4
Fledgling Dutchman Bas Visser joins Graham Brunton Racing for racing debut in GB4

Fledgling Dutchman Bas Visser joins...

Fledgling Dutchman Bas Visser joins Graham Brunton Racing for racing debut in GB4

Fledgling Dutchman Bas Visser joins Graham Brunton Racing for racing debut in GB4

Zandvoort resident Bas Visser will make his car racing debut in the GB4 Championship at Silverstone this weekend (27/28 April), with the Graham Brunton Racing team.
FIA Formula 3 race winner Martinius Stenshorne joins Chris Dittmann Racing for Silverstone
FIA Formula 3 race winner Martinius Stenshorne joins Chris Dittmann Racing for Silverstone

FIA Formula 3 race winner Martinius...

FIA Formula 3 race winner Martinius Stenshorne joins Chris Dittmann Racing for Silverstone

FIA Formula 3 race winner Martinius Stenshorne joins Chris Dittmann Racing for Silverstone

Chris Dittmann Racing has confirmed that Martinius Stenshorne will race for the team at the Silverstone GB3 rounds on 27/28 April. 
Jenner equals all time round win, Fife marches on in the Australian Kart Championship
Jenner equals all time round win, Fife marches on in the Australian Kart Championship

Jenner equals all time round win, Fife...

Jenner equals all time round win, Fife marches on in the Australian Kart Championship

Jenner equals all time round win, Fife marches on in the Australian Kart Championship

Brad Jenner has equalled the all-time round winner’s list in the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol by taking out the X30 class on Sunday at Seymour’s Eastern Lions...
Sunday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen
Sunday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

Sunday live stream: 2024 German Kart...

Sunday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

Sunday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

The highest German kart series DKM is this weekend in the modern Arena E in Mülsen. This is the first race of the six events that ADAC e.V. has on the calendar. A lot of action is expected from the...
Saturday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen
Saturday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

Saturday live stream: 2024 German Kart...

Saturday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

Saturday live stream: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

The highest German kart series DKM is this weekend in the modern Arena E in Mülsen. This is the first race of the six events that ADAC e.V. has on the calendar. A lot of action is expected from the...
Tony Kart takes victory in France
Tony Kart takes victory in France

Tony Kart takes victory in France

Tony Kart takes victory in France

Tony Kart takes victory in France

At Val d'Argenton, the venue for the second round of the Champions of the Future Euro Series season, the Tony Kart Racing Team secured victory in the OKJ category final, thanks to their official...
DKM presents 32Five Pole Position Award for the first time
DKM presents 32Five Pole Position Award for the first time

DKM presents 32Five Pole Position Award...

DKM presents 32Five Pole Position Award for the first time

DKM presents 32Five Pole Position Award for the first time

With the start of the German Kart Championship next weekend in the Arena E Mülsen, the highest German kart racing series will be presenting a pole position award in all classes for the first time....
Live timing & Results: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen
Live timing & Results: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

Live timing & Results: 2024 German Kart...

Live timing & Results: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

Live timing & Results: 2024 German Kart Championship Round 1 at the Arena E in Mülsen

The highest German kart series DKM is this weekend in the modern Arena E in Mülsen. This is the first race of the six events that ADAC e.V. has on the calendar. A lot of action is expected from the...
Full fields at DKM season-opener in Mülsen
Full fields at DKM season-opener in Mülsen

Full fields at DKM season-opener in...

Full fields at DKM season-opener in Mülsen

Full fields at DKM season-opener in Mülsen

The new season of the German Kart Championship gets underway this weekend at Arena E in Mülsen. Approaching 190 drivers are expected to line up in six classes. There is a particular focus on youth...
James Wharton confirms Silverstone GB3 appearances with Fortec Motorsports
James Wharton confirms Silverstone GB3 appearances with Fortec Motorsports

James Wharton confirms Silverstone GB3...

James Wharton confirms Silverstone GB3 appearances with Fortec Motorsports

James Wharton confirms Silverstone GB3 appearances with Fortec Motorsports

Fortec Motorsports has confirmed that rising Australian star James Wharton will join the team for both Silverstone GB3 Championship events this season. The 17-year-old from Melbourne is a race-winner...
Joakim Ward about the first race in Sweden: “It was a very good format”

Published on Thursday, May 28, 2020

Joakim Ward about the first race in Sweden: “It was a very good format”

A former top-level kart driver, Joakim Ward has diversified his activities since the creation of his company in 1991. In particular, he manages the import and distribution of several brands in Sweden and neighbouring countries and has developed his own range of rental karts. At the same time, the Ward Racing team occupies a first-class position on the international scene. It is one of the big private teams capable of competing with the factory teams, winning on numerous occasions in international classes. On the occasion of an interview conducted during the penultimate week of May 2020, Joakim Ward discusses the unique situation in Sweden in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of this exceptional situation on karting and its economy.

Joakim, how are you coping with the spread of the virus in Sweden?

As far as my family and friends are concerned, everything is fine. We are taking all the necessary precautions and following the government's recommendations regarding physical distancing. In our country, we believe that people need to think for themselves to be able to behave in the right way. For example, it is recommended not to travel more than two hours from home. But there is no real ban. In Sweden, masks and gloves are not widely worn, except in large cities. Distancing is more commonly practised. I would say that about 95% of the population complies with this rule.

Nevertheless, activity in the country has slowed down considerably since March. Most shops remained open, but many businesses are facing bankruptcy. The government is trying to help by ensuring that labour costs are reduced, but there is no direct financial assistance. With virtually no cash flow in some sectors and still having to pay expenses, life is very difficult.

Have you noticed any improvement recently?

Yes, I certainly have. The situation is improving day by day all over the country. In my case, I'm fortunate enough to have other activities besides racing and that makes me more able to withstand difficult times. The fact that we are able to maintain even a small amount of business activity enables us to hold our own. It is very satisfying to be able to work with our Swedish customers on a daily basis, who are very understanding. We can, therefore, cope with our main concern, which is to try to keep our heads above water and ensure a minimum turnover in order to be able to pay the rent and bills for the shop and the premises.

How do you view the resumption of competition in your country?

Sweden was probably one of the first countries affected by the epidemic to try to organise karting races again. Two took place in May, in Kristianstad and near Stockholm. Thanks to very strict procedures, it went very well: 25 drivers were in the paddock simultaneously, in five-hour increments. They went home after their races so that the maximum number of people present on the site at any one time never exceeded 50. It's a very good system that enables the drivers to have a lot of practice in a very short time, maybe even more than in a normal competition. Everyone seemed happy to spend less time away from home. It was a very good format. There are going to be other races in this format, but not every weekend, more like once a month.

What do you think about future international races?

I'm more worried because there are a lot more constraints to take into account. I don't think we can envisage organising races before the end of the summer. At the moment, we cannot gather a thousand or more people on a circuit. That's completely outside the government's recommendations.

It's going to be extremely difficult in simple situations that were previously taken for granted that are now becoming very complex. The resumption of racing itself is not very complicated as it involves a driver, a mechanic and some equipment. It's all about the presence of the participants on a track that has to be thought out in advance between all of us. Nevertheless, I remain positive in the sense that we are in the process of learning a lot that we will be able to use to our advantage. This is the most important point to ensure an intelligent restart after this break.

Are you thinking about developments for the future of karting?

There are a lot of ideas going around at the moment on how to make karting better. For my part, I am extremely satisfied with the current technical rules, as far as engines, chassis and tyres are concerned. Over the last few years, everyone has been satisfied with the way international competition has gone, the drivers primarily, which is very important.

The CIK-FIA did very well to postpone the next homologation of the chassis for one year. I think it would be good to do the same for the next homologation concerning the engines scheduled for the end of 2021. It would be a pity to discourage drivers and teams during the recovery phase, with the risk of a transfer of competitors to the single-brand cups which do not have this kind of constraint.

On the other hand, the point that should be improved in international competition is certainly the time spent on the circuits. With the rule that forbids driving on a track ten days before an FIA Karting event, we are penalised by the equipment being stopped for too long. This is very expensive for the drivers and teams who have to stay at the track and wait without being able to drive. By looking for a solution to this problem, we could easily recover a month of activity per year, which would be very beneficial for everyone in a recovery period.

 

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