Karting World Championship


The Karting World Championship is a kart racing competition organised by the CIK-FIA. It is held annually since 1964, and is karting's flagship event. The FIA created the CIK in 1962.
The first two World Championships in 1964 and 1965 were held over one final round, there after the world's best kart drivers competed for the title over an extended weekend, from Thursday to Saturday, including free and qualifying practice sessions, qualification heats, a pre-final and a final were common. From 2011 the championship has been disputed over five rounds, each of them in a different country. From 2014 the world championships returned to a single event with one venue each year organizing the CIK-FIA OK and OK Junior World Championships in one weekend and another venue in a different weekend holding the CIK-FIA KZ World Championships together with the CIK-FIA KZ2 Super Cup and the third and final round of the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy. There is a separate CIK-FIA Endurance Championship, normally held each year at Le Mans, France, and there are separate Continental Championships like the CIK-FIA European Championships and the CIK-FIA Asia Pacific Championships. In 1968 CIK-FIA launched the first World Cup for Juniors.

World Championship Karting Categories

In the 80s the World Championship was raced with 135 cc Formula K karts. Before and after that period 100 cc direct-drive karts was the prevailing standard. In 2007, a change in regulations introduced the KF1 category carts, 125 cc karts equipped with electric starters, clutch and rpm limiters set at rpm, to replace the Formula A karts. The 2010 edition was raced with KF2 karts where the engine rpm is limited at rpm.
The FIA Karting categories at the world championships are now divided into three main families: direct-drive karts, gearbox karts and Superkarts. All these karts have the technology in common of the 2-stroke engine. Since 2016 the new generation of Original Karts machines have taken over from the old KF engines. The top category OK at the World Championships is available for drivers from 14 years old in the year they participate. The OK Junior category is aimed at drivers aged between 12 and 14 years old. The gearbox categories KZ and KZ2 share the same specification except for chassis and brakes which are open in the KZ World Championship. The Superkart category is the most unusual discipline of Karting because it can only express itself fully on long racing tracks. With its complete bodywork and twin-cylinder 250 cc engines, developing nearly, these Superkarts are capable of extraordinary performances.

Karting Promotion

In 2013 for the first time in its history CIK-FIA called a promoter, WSK Promotion, to perfect the organisation of the major international karting competitions.
The Swiss RGMMC Group is now the Official Promoter of the FIA Karting European and World Championships for the period of 2018-2020. They try increasing the audience for Karting Competitions worldwide, attracting new partners and working closely with ASNs, these are the priorities of RGMMC Group. They also develop the communication and media coverage of the events by providing live video viewing during the events and by partnering with Motorsport.tv for broadcast around the world.

World Champions (Supreme Category)

YearDriverChassisEngineTyreLocationClassStroke
1964 Guido SalaTecnoParillaTBA RomeKart100 cc
1965 Guido SalaTecnoBMTBA RomeKart100 cc
1966 Susanna RaganelliTecnoParillaTBA CopenhagenKart100 cc
1967 Edgardo RossiBirelParillaTBA3-venue series
Vevey, Düsseldorf & Circuit de Monaco
Kart100 cc
1968 Tomas NilssonRobardieBMTBA3-venue series Rye HouseKart100 cc
1969 François GoldsteinRobardieParillaTBA3-venue series
Vevey, Hoddesdon & Villacoublay
Kart100 cc
1970 François GoldsteinRobardieParilla Thiverval-GrignonKart100 cc
1971 François GoldsteinTaifunParilla TurinKart100 cc
1972 François GoldsteinTaifunParilla KalmarKart100 cc
1973 Terry FullertonBirelKomet Nivelles-BaulersKart100 cc
1974 Riccardo PatreseBirelKomet Autódromo do EstorilKart100 cc
1975 François GoldsteinBMBM Paul RicardKart100 cc
1976 Felice RovelliBMBM4Stars HagenKart100 cc
1977 Felice RovelliBMBM ParmaKart100 cc
1978 Lake SpeedBirelParilla Le MansKart100 cc
1979 Peter KoeneDapDap Autódromo do EstorilKart100 cc
1980 Peter De BruijnSwiss HutlessParilla Nivelles-BaulersKart100 cc
1981 Mike WilsonBirelKomet ParmaFormula K 135 cc
1982 Mike WilsonBirelKomet KalmarFormula K 135 cc
1983 Mike WilsonBirelKomet Le MansFormula K 135 cc
1984 Jorn HaaseKaliKomet LiedolsheimFormula K 135 cc
1985 Mike WilsonBirelKomet ParmaFormula K 135 cc
1986 Augusto RibasBirelKomet JacksonvilleFormula K 135 cc
1987 Giampiero SimoniPCRPCR JesoloFormula K 135 cc
1988 Mike WilsonCRGKomet LavalFormula K 135 cc
1989 Mike WilsonCRGKomet ValenceFormula K 135 cc
1990 Jan MagnussenCRGRotax JesoloFormula K 100 cc
1991 Jarno TrulliAllkartParilla Le MansFormula K 100 cc
1992 Danilo RossiCRGRotax UgentoFormula K 100 cc
1993 Nicola GiannibertiHaaseRotax LavalFormula Super A 100 cc
1994 Alessandro ManettiCRGRotaxVega CórdobaFormula Super A 100 cc
1995 Max OrsiniSwiss HutlessItalsistem ValenceFormula Super A 100 cc
1996 Johnny MislijevicTony KartVortex LonatoFormula Super A 100 cc
1997 Danilo RossiCRGCRG SalbrisFormula Super A 100 cc
1998 Davide ForèTony KartVortex UgentoFormula Super A 100 cc
1999 Danilo RossiCRGCRG MariembourgFormula Super A 100 cc
2000 Davide ForèTony KartVortex BragaFormula Super A 100 cc
2001 Vitantonio LiuzziCRGMaxter5-venue series Montreal, Salbris,
Sarno, Mariembourg & Kerpen
Formula Super A 100 cc
2002 Giedo van der GardeCRGMaxter5-venue series Mariembourg, Alahärmä,
Braga, Salbris & La Conca
Formula Super A 100 cc
2003 Wade CunninghamCRGMaxter SarnoFormula A 100 cc
2004 Davide ForèTony KartVortex La ConcaFormula A 100 cc
2005 Oliver OakesGillardParilla BragaFormula A 100 cc
2006 Davide ForèTony KartVortex AngervilleFormula A 100 cc
2007 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortex MariembourgKF1125 cc
2008 Marco ArdigòTony KartVortex La ConcaKF1125 cc
2009 Arnaud KozlinskiCRGMaxter MacauSuper KF 125 cc
2010 Nyck de VriesZanardiParilla ZueraKF2125 cc
2011 Nyck de VriesZanardiParilla5-venue series Wackersdorf, Zuera,
Genk, Sarno & Suzuka
KF1125 cc
2012 Flavio CamponeschiTony KartVortex2-venue series
Suzuka & Macau
KF1125 cc
2013 Tom JoynerZanardiIAMEVega2-venue series Brandon & BahrainKF125 cc
2014 Lando NorrisFA KartVortex EssayKF125 cc
2015 Karol BaszKosmicVortexVega La ConcaKF125 cc
2016 Pedro Hiltbrand AguilarCRGParillaVega SakhirOK125 cc
2017 Danny KeirleZanardiParillaLeCont BrandonOK125 cc
2018 Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParilla KristianstadOK125 cc
2019 Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaLeCont AlahärmäOK125 cc
2020 PortimãoOK125 cc

Gear Kart World Champions

YearWorld ChampionChassisEngineTyreLocationClassStroke
1983 Gianni MazzolaBirelBalenTBAFormula C 125 cc
1984 Gabriele TarquiniKalìBalenTBAFormula C 125 cc
1985 Piermario CantoniKalìBalenTBAFormula C 125 cc
1986 Fabrizio GiovanardiTony KartPavesiTBAFormula C 125 cc
1987 Alessandro PicciniDAPPavesiVegaTBAFormula C 125 cc
1988 Peter RydellAll KartPavesi KecskemétFormula C 125 cc
1989 Gianluca GiorgiKalìKali OlomoucFormula C 125 cc
1990 Alessandro PicciniBirelPavesi LavalFormula C 125 cc
1991 Alessandro PicciniBirelPavesi ParmaFormula C 125 cc
1992 Danilo RossiKalìPavesi UgentoFormula C 125 cc
1993 Alessandro PicciniKalìPavesi Val VibrataFormula C 125 cc
1994 Jarno TrulliTony KartPavesi BydgoszczFormula C 125 cc
1995 Gianluca BeggioBiesseTMVega Val VibrataFormula C 125 cc
1996 Gianluca BeggioBiesseTM SalbrisFormula C 125cc
1997 Gianluca BeggioBirelTM UgentoFormula C 125 cc
1998 Gianluca BeggioBirelTM Charlotte, NCFormula C 125 cc
1999 Francesco LaudatoBirelTM Circuit Carole ParisFormula C 125 cc
2000 Gianluca BeggioBirelTM MariembourgFormula C 125cc
2001Not held
2002Not held
2003* Robert DirksBirelTMVega CaroleSuper ICC125 cc
2004* Ennio GandolfiBirelTMVega MariembourgSuper ICC125 cc
2005* Francesco LaudatoBirelTMVega SarnoSuper ICC125 cc
2006* Davide ForèTony KartVortexVega MariembourgSuper ICC125 cc
2007* Jonathan ThononCRGMaxter SarnoKZ1125 cc
2008* Jonathan ThononCRGMaxter VarennesKZ1125 cc
2009* Jonathan ThononCRGMaxter SarnoKZ1125 cc
2010* Bas LammersIntrepidTM BragaKZ1125 cc
2011* Jonathan ThononCRGMaxter GenkKZ1125 cc
2012* Bas LammersPragaParilla SarnoKZ1125 cc
2013 Max VerstappenCRGTM VarennesKZ125 cc
2014 Marco ArdigoTony KartVortex SarnoKZ125 cc
2015 Jorrit PexCRGTM Le MansKZ125 cc
2016 Paolo de ContoCRGTMVega KristianstadKZ125 cc
2017 Paolo de ContoCRGTMVega WackersdorfKZ125 cc
2018 Patrik HajekKosmicVortexLeCont GenkKZ125 cc
2019 Marijn KremersBirelTM LonatoKZ125 cc
2020 LonatoKZ125 cc

indicates the years the World Championships were held as a World Cup
Note: World Championship status from 1983 to 2000, and from 2012 onwards.
World Cup status from 2003 onwards till 2012

Junior World Champions & Junior World Cup winners

YearWorld ChampionChassisEngineTyreLocationClass
2020 PortimãoOK-Junior
2019 Thomas ten BrinkeFA KartVortexLeCont AlahärmäOK-Junior
2018 Victor BernierKosmicParillaVega KristianstadOK-Junior
2017 Dexter PattersonExpritTMLeCont BrandonOK-Junior
2016 Victor MartinsKosmicParillaVega SakhirOK-Junior
2015 Logan SargeantFA KartVortexLeCont La ConcaKF-Junior KF3
2014 Enaam AhmedFA KartVortexVega EssayKF-Junior KF3
2013 Alessio LorandiTony KartParillaLeCont2-venue series
Sarno, Bahrain
KF-Junior KF3
2012 Henry EasthopeSodikartWKELeCont3-venue series
Braga, Angerville & Bahrain
U18 KF3
2012* Luca CorberiKosmicVortexVega ZueraKF3 CIK-FIA World Cup
2011 Matthew GrahamZanardiWKELeContmultiple-venue series
Ortona, Essay & Sarno-Napoli
U18 KF3
2011* Charles LeclercIntrepidTMVega Sarno-NapoliKF3 CIK-FIA World Cup
2010 Jake DennisTop KartWKELeCont3-venue series
Wackersdorf, Alcañiz, Val d'Argenton
U18 KF3
2010* Alexander AlbonIntrepidTM BragaKF3 CIK-FIA World Cup
2009* Giuliano Maria NicetaTop KartVortexVega Sarno-NapoliKF3 CIK-FIA World Cup
1996** Fernando AlonsoMike 1Parilla GenkCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1995** James CourtneyTony KartVortex BragaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1994** Giorgio PantanoCRGRotaxCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1993** Ennio GandolfiKaliParillaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1992** Bruno BaloccoMike 1Parilla GöteborgCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1991* Sébastien PhilippeSodikartDino LavalCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1990* Jérémie DufourSodikartDino LonatoCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1989* Jan MagnussenTony KartRotax SaragozzaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1988* Gianluca MalandruccoCRGParilla PomposaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1987* Jan MagnussenTony KartParilla LavalCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1986* Fabrizio de SimoneBirelParilla JesoloCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1985* Andrea GilardiBirelPCR Le MansCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1984* Andrea GilardiBirelPCR LavalCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1983* Frank van EglemTecno KartParilla KerpenCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1982* Romeo DeilaBirelPCR ParmaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1981* Michel VacircaAllKartPCR KerpenCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1980 Bernd SchneiderBirelParilla Le CreusotCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1979 Thomas GlauserBirelParilla FanoCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1978 Stefano ModenaBirelParilla MondercangeCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1977 Paolo BandinelliSirioSirio Le CreusotCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1976 Andrea de CesarisSirioSirio WohlenCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1975 Adrian WepferBMBM FuldaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1974 Felice RovelliBirelParilla Rye House, HoddesdonCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1973 Alain ProstBirelParilla OldenzaalCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1972 Derek BlissZipKomet VojensCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1971 Marc WoutersTaifunParilla HorremCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1970 Alan LaneBarlottiKometCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1969 D. CarlssonIlheSirio KalmarCIK-FIA Junior World Cup
1968 Amedeo PacittoTecnoBMCarlise Milano Pista RosaCIK-FIA Junior World Cup

indicates the years the Junior World Championships were held as a Junior World Cup
Note: From 1992 - 1996 the Junior World Championships were held as the CIK-FIA Five Continents Cup Junior A

Secondary Classes World Champions

Formula A World Champions

YearWorld ChampionChassisEngineTyreLocationClassStroke
1988 Emmanuel CollardCRGRotax LavalFormula A 100 cc
1989 Gert MunkholmPCRAtomik ValenceFormula A 100 cc
1990 Danilo RossiCRGRotax JesoloFormula A 100 cc
1991 Alessandro ManettiTony KartRotax Le MansFormula A 100 cc
1992 Nicola GiannibertiTony KartRotaxVega UgentoFormula A 100 cc
1993 David TerrienSodi KartRotaxVega LavalFormula A 100 cc
1994 Marco BarindelliHAASERotaxVega CordobaFormula A 100 cc
1995 Gastao FraguasTony KartItalsistem ValenceFormula A 100 cc
1996 Jean-Christophe RavierTony KartVortex ValenceFormula A 100 cc
1997 James CourtneyTony KartVortex SalbrisFormula A 100 cc
1998 Ruben CarrapatosoTony KartVortexFormula A 100 cc
1999 Franck PereraTony KartVortexFormula A 100 cc
2000 Colin BrownTop KartParilla BragaFormula A 100 cc

Formula E SuperKart World Champions

YearWorld ChampionChassisEngineTyreLocationClassStroke
1983 Martin HinesZip KartRotax3-venue series
Jyllandsring, Silverstone & Le Mans-Bugatti
Formula E 250 cc
1984 Lennart BohlinZip GPRotax4-venue series
Zwartkop, Le Mans-Bugatti
Formula E 250 cc
1985 Poul V. PetersenPVPRotax3-venue series
Le Mans-Bugatti, Nurburgring, & Silverstone
Formula E 250 cc
1986 Wade NelsonRotaxFormula E 250 cc
1987 Eric GassinRotax4-venue series
Silverstone, Le Mans-Bugatti
Formula E 250 cc
1988 Poul V. PetersenPVPRotax Le MansFormula E 250 cc
1989 Tim ParrotRotax Le MansFormula E 250 cc
1990 Tim ParrotRotax Le MansFormula E 250 cc
1991 Martin Hines /
Perry Grondstra
Zip Kart/ Zip KartRotax/ Rotax/3-venue series
Assen, Knockhill & Le Mans
Formula E 250 cc
1992 Martin HinesZip-Eagle KartRotaxFormula E 250 cc
1993 Perry GrondstraRotaxFormula E 250 cc
1994 Perry GrondstraRotaxFormula E 250 cc
1995 Trevor RobertsRotaxFormula E 250 cc