Original Kart
Category | Kart racing |
---|---|
Region | International |
Inaugural season | 1981 |
Drivers' champion | Ethan Jeff-Hall (World, 2024) Joe Turney (European, 2024) |
Teams' champion | CRG-IAME (World, 2024) Kart Republic-IAME (European, 2024) |
Official website | FIA Karting |
Original Kart, commonly abbreviated as OK, is a kart racing class for drivers aged 14 and over, sanctioned by the CIK-FIA. OK is the primary direct-drive class in FIA championships.
The class was originally called Intercontinental A (ICA), first contested in 1981 at both the World and European Championships as a secondary direct-drive class to Formula K. In 2007—after 26 seasons of racing—ICA was replaced by KF2 and became the primary class in 2010, replacing KF1. The KF2 class was renamed to KF upon the demise of KF1 in 2013, and was replaced by Original Kart (OK) regulations in 2016.
OK is currently contested as the primary direct-drive class at the Karting World Championship and the Karting European Championship.
History
[edit]ICA (1981–2006)
[edit]In 1981, Intercontinental A (ICA) was introduced alongside Formula K as a secondary direct-drive class for the European Championship.
Stefano Modena completed back-to-back ICA European Championships in 1984, a feat that would not be repeated until Andrea Kimi Antonelli under OK regulations in 2021.
The ICA World Cup was introduced in 2006, the final year of ICA regulations, won by French driver Mike Courquin.
KF2/KF (2007–2015)
[edit]In January 2007, the CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke engines (KF type). The engines produce 34–36 hp (25–27 kW). The KF2 class karts used hand-operated front brakes via a lever. The chassis had to be CIK-approved, with a minimum weight of 160 kg and 158 kg for national and international events, respectively.
In 2010, karts of the KF2 category were mandated in the Karting World Championship, following one year later in the European Championship.[1]
Karts are equipped with an electric starter and a centrifugal clutch. The engine rpm is limited at 15,000 rpm.
In 2013, the class was renamed to KF as it wholly replaced KF1 in international competition.
OK (2016–present)
[edit]In 2016, the KF class was replaced by Original Kart (OK) regulations. The new karts had much of the electronics removed, and had to be push-started.
Specification
[edit]Original Kart (OK)
[edit]Specification
Champions
[edit]OK has been contested at the European Championship and the World Championship since 2007, becoming the primary direct-drive class in 2010.
Notable OK World Champions include 2020–21 Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries and Formula One driver Lando Norris.
Italian Formula One drivers Stefano Modena and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are the only drivers to win multiple OK European Championships. Notable OK European Champions include Formula One World Drivers' Champions Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen.
* | Driver has competed in Formula One |
---|---|
† | Formula One World Drivers' Champion |
‡ | FIA World Champion in an auto racing discipline |
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Italics indicates years contested as a World Cup, not an FIA World Championship: 2006–2009, 2011–2012.
- ^ KF2 remained the primary direct-drive class at the European Championship in 2011 and 2012.
See also
[edit]- OK-Junior – the junior direct-drive class
- KF1 – the primary direct-drive class from 1993 to 2012
- KZ – the primary gearbox class
- KZ2 – the secondary gearbox class
- Superkart – 250cc kart racing class
- CIK-FIA
- List of kart racing championships
References
[edit]- ^ CIK-FIA World Karting Championship For Drivers Zuera (ESP) – 16-19.09.2010 - KartCafe, 16 September 2010
- ^ "FIA Karting - History". FIA Karting. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "FIA Karting - Calendar". FIA Karting. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Vroom Kart International #175 - January 2016". Vroom International Karting. January 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Automobile Championships - Motorsport Top 20". Motorsport Top 20. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "FIA Karting European OK Championship - Driver Database". Driver Database. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "FIA Karting European KF Championship - Driver Database". Driver Database. Retrieved 18 September 2024.