News In Brief – KartSportNews

Karting news in brief, from here and abroad.

CASH PRIZE – The Tamworth Kart Racing Club has a couple of grand up for grabs for its 2022 Club Champions. This year’s Senior Champion will take home $1,000 (thanks to JAX Tyres & Auto Tamworth) and the Junior champion will also take home $1,000 thanks to ARB Tamworth.

LOTTA MEMORIES – It’s now 17 years since European champion Lotta Hellberg passed away. “We would like to remember her with this commemorative model of her CRG with which she won in the FSA in the European Championship in Lonato in 1996” CRG posted. “We will always miss you.”

VIDEO – Here’s the A-Main final of the 2022 Australia Day Cup for Outlaw Karts at Kurri Kurri Speedway earlier in the year:

FUNDING – Orange Kart Club has received $765,000 in funding for track upgrades. “This funding is part of the State Government’s Regional Sport Facility Fund” the club posted. “This funding will ensure the Club’s longevity for many years to come.” Works have commenced and the circuit is expected to be closed through to just prior to the Southern Stars meeting (April 29 – May 1st). Resurfacing will be managed by Evolve Projects, who previously resurfaced Lithgow and the Australian Motor Park track.

Up come the kerbs at Orange (pic – OKC/FB)

NOMINATED – Costa Toparis was one of six finalists in the Young Elite Athlete of the Year at the NSW Champions of Sport awards night recently. While he didn’t take home the final prize (that went to 19-year old Olympic diver Sam Fricker) Costa was the youngest athlete in the finals, 14-years old at the time. “It was fantastic to see Costa’s racing achievements recognised on such a prestigious stage” his dad Con advised. “It was wonderful to witness Mark Webber inducted into the NSW Sporting Hall of Fame together with other magnificent athletes. Thank you to Karting NSW for originally nominating Costa and to Garth Walden Racing and Wakefield Park for their ongoing support.”

Costa (left) and big brother Eli Toparis at the NSW Champions of Sport awards

THE NOISE – learn more about The Noise, Kev Davies, in this interview with the Grassroots Racer.

PUSH BACK – A new rule for the 2022 Festival State Cup series is the mandatory use of the drop down (also known as push back) front bumpers. The system was voted in by the Karting SA state committee and agreed upon by the FSC committee as a requirement for all classes.

FIA VINTAGE – Who’s got a vintage kart and wants to race it at Le Mans? The 7th edition of the FIA karting Historic Super Cup will take place at the famous French venue alongside the KZ World Championship meeting in September. The field will be limited to 34 karts, which will be the largest in the history of the event. The machines, selected to reflect the full history of the discipline since its origins, will participate in multiple on-track demonstrations. Applications to participate will open via the FIA Karting website on July 1st.

FIA PROMOTION – FIA Karting has produced a comprehensive Presentation Dossier designed to inform fans about top level karting in 2022. It includes a summary of the history of karting, list of current F1 drivers who karted, the international bodies, the 2022 FIA Karting calendar and info on the categories, events etc. The 35-page PDF can be downloaded HERE.

VIDEO – WSK Super Master Series round 1 video highlights package:

VIC RULES – The 2022 Victorian State Regulations are available for viewing and download from https://www.kartingvic.net.au. These cover all you need to know about the Vic Country Series, Golden Power Series and State Cup Competition.

SHUMI TRACK SAVED – Having been saved from an encroaching open-cut coal mine, Michael Schumacher’s kart track near Kerpen, Germany, is set to be upgraded to the point of being able to host World Championship events again. Having sold the land to the energy company that runs the mine, the club has now secured a lease on the venue. “We have sealed a lease agreement with RWE for ten years, plus an option for five more, and can now invest the money from the sale in the necessary renovation” club President Gerhard Noack told local newspaper Kölner Express. The last world championship race at Kerpen took place in 2001. Schumacher himself took part in the event, up against a bunch of young hopefuls such as Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg. Vitantonio Liuzzi won the title that weekend aboard CRG.

CALENDAR – Hedland Kart Club’s 2022 race calendar:

POWER REFUND – As a token of congratulations in the 2021 Golden Power Series, the top three overall from each class got their 2022 round 1 entry refunded, plus a series number plate award. Next round of the series is at Bendigo on April 2-3.

RIP – Karting NSW has reported the passing of long term volunteer, Trevor White. “A very familiar face within Karting has sadly passed away. His love of karting started as a driver approximately 40 years ago. Before becoming involved in the technical side of the sport, Trevor was appointed KNSW State Technical Advisor between 2006 and 2009, was Chairman of the National Technical Committee and was Trainer and Official. Trevor was also an employee of CRG for many years. As a much loved member of the Karting family, he will be sadly missed by many. Our thoughts are with Janine, his daughters, grandchildren and family.”

INDUSTRY – The National Karting Alliance, an American organisation with a goal to “preserve, grow and protect the sport”, has announced a partnership with David Sera’s Kart Class. “Our partnership aims to bring world class driver development and virtual coaching to sprint drivers all over North America” the organisation posted.

FUNDED – Karratha Kart Club is another to have picked up valuable funding via a Government grant. The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Pilbara reported the club received $100,242 through its Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund. The money will be used for upgrades to the Anderson Road facility, such as lighting and resurfacing.

24-HOUR MOVES – With Adria Raceway in Italy not looking like it will re-open any time soon (financial trouble), CRG has moved its one-make (Centurion chassis with Honda engine) 24-hour endurance race to the 7 Laghi track in Castelletto di Branduzzo. To make this happen, the date has also changed, from June 12 to the weekend of June 25-26. The format of the event has not changed and CRG plan to broadcast 12 hours of live streaming.

FIA VALIDATIONS – The FIA World Motor Sport Council has confirmed:

P1 has been selected as the fuel supplier for the FIA Karting Championships, Cups and Trophies from 2023 to 2025 (except Superkart). The fuel is made from second generation bio-based components and sustainable synthetic fuel. “The move to 100% carbon neutral fuel is a very important step towards the evolution of all FIA Karting Championships, further assuring an alignment with the overarching FIA Environmental Strategy and allowing us to continue racing in a sustainable-conscious manner” said President Akbar Ebrahim.
The homologation period for CIK-FIA homologated Group 1, 2 and 3 tyres has been extended by one year. “The various problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic had made it necessary to extend the validity of the homologation of chassis, bodywork, brakes, engines, etc. by one year. At the CIK Commission meeting on 9 November 2021, it was requested to return to the normal rhythm of three years between homologation sessions. As a result, the homologation for tyres until 31.12.2022 is extended until 31.12.2023 to ensure a three-year homologation period (2020-2023).”

AKC TEAMS – After the opening round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, this is how the Teams’ Championship looks, Shamick Racing leading the way.

AKC BRANDS – After the opening round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, this is how the Manufacturers’ Championship looks, with Parolin in P1:

ELECTRIC EUROS – Rotax has announced two new E-Kart Championships for their E20 machines. The first Swedish E-Kart Championship will take place at the ‘Green Track Resort’ venue (GTR Motorpark) on August 25-28 followed by the second Danish Rotax E-Kart Championship at the Rodby Karting Ring, September 2 to 4. Both events will feature Rotax E20 classes for Junior (13-15 years) and Senior (15+) drivers. They will be arrive-and-drive deals with 18 Sodikart Sigma (DD2) chassis available in each class with regulated power settings according to the Rotax regulations. The winners will be awarded tickets to the RMC Grand Finals 2022 in Portugal.

Darrell Smith and Prince Carl Philip tested the E20 last year.

KA100 for LEMANS – IAME KA100 engines and junior drivers will be part of the annual Le Mans 24-hour kart race in September. For this 35th edition, the organisers have “concocted simple and precise rules offering the possibility for everyone to drive whatever their age, weight, equipment or budget”. Four groups have been formed and each offer a real chance at a podium finish:

Group 1 (PRO 155 kg): OK, Rotax Max Evo, X30
Group 2: (AM 168 kg): Rotax Max Evo, X30
Group 3 (AM 145 kg): KA100, X30 Junior, Rotax Junior
Group 4 (AM 160 kg): Rotax Junior, KA100

REMO’S LAP – The Wimmera Kart Club’s re-profiled circuit at Horsham is now ready for the final hotmix layer. Go for a lap with Remo’s commentary, below:

SUPERKARTS – The Queensland Superkart Club has welcomed a new committee for 2022:

President – Doug Amiss
Vice President – Tim Weier
Secretary – Benjamin Paul Longland
Treasurer – Roger Amiss
General Committee – Bernard Weier, Craig Philp (not in photo), Russell Jamieson, Lachlan Crisp
NSA Representative – Tim Weier, Craig Philp
Motorsport Australia Representative – Brian Wild.

WILLIAMS – Australian F2 racer Calan Williams was testing karts in Italy recently (175cc IAME Super Shifters), training for the upcoming F2 season with other members of his team. Vroom did a quick interview with the 21-year-old, talking about the differences between karting and F2, plus his karting background as a junior Rotaxer in Western Australia. Read it HERE.