CRG (kart manufacturer)

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CRG is a kart chassis manufacturer of recent years. Famous alumni include Alex Zanardi, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

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They were founded in the late 1970s by three Italian racers (Carlo Vanaria, Roberto Vanaria and Giancarlo Tinini), and were originally known as Kali Karts. In the beginning the company was a laughing stock, with Zanardi being told by his original team DAP that if he didn't stop complaining they would "send him to Kali". By the mid 1980s Kali had recovered from its inauspicious beginnings and was winning World Championships with drivers like Mike Wilson.

The name change to CRG took place gradually in the early 1990s and ushered in an era of more World Championships from Danilo Rossi and Alessandro Manetti. CRG also goes under the name of Tinini Group, which was created in 2017. And visible on all sticker kits since then. CRG has also a straight relation with Dino Chiesa (Chiesa Corse). The Italian chassis mechanic (known as the best in the world of karting) assisted the multiple world champions, Alessandro Piccini and Giorgio Pantano; as well as many other drivers through CRG.

CRG started to build engines in the mid-1990s but they were never widely used outside of the factory teams. In 2001 they were replaced by the Maxter brand which produces 100 cc and 125 cc gearbox engines. They also have been involved in the Maxter engine range. And they were the main supplier for a couple of brands like Maranello, Vanspeed, Zanardi, Dino, DR Kart. In more recent years the team has partnered up with TM racing.

In the past 30 years, CRG has been one of the most successful brands and it has been chosen by several of the current motorsport champions. For this reason, CRG Racing team is considered as the “Champions Factory”. Drivers of the likes of Michael Schumacher, Max Verstappen, Alex Zanardi, Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella, Nick Heidfeld, Jan Magnussen, Jos Verstappen, Giorgio Pantano, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen, Robert Kubica, Sébastien Buemi, Nico Hülkenberg, Pastor Maldonado and Giedo van der Garde have competed for the brand.

World Championships & World Cups

YearCategoryDriver
2017KZ Flag of Italy.svg Paolo de Conto
2016KZ Flag of Italy.svg Paolo de Conto
2016KZ2 SUPER CUP Flag of Spain.svg Pedro Hiltbrand
2016OK Flag of Spain.svg Pedro Hiltbrand
2015KZ Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jorrit Pex
2013KZ Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen
2013KF Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Joyner
2012KF2 (WORLD CUP) Flag of Italy.svg Felice Tiene
2012KZ2 (WORLD CUP) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jordon Lennox-Lamb
2011KF1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries
2011KZ1 (WORLD CUP) Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jonathan Thonon
2011U18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matthew Graham
2010KF2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries
2010SKF (WORLD CUP) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Rowland
2009SUPER KF Flag of France.svg Arnaud Kozlinski
2009KF2 (WORLD CUP) Flag of Portugal.svg David da Luz
2009KZ1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jonathan Thonon
2008KZ1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jonathan Thonon
2007KZ1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jonathan Thonon
2003FORMULA A Flag of New Zealand.svg Wade Cunningham
2002FORMULA SUPER A Flag of the Netherlands.svg Giedo van der Garde
2001FORMULA SUPER A Flag of Italy.svg Vitantonio Liuzzi
2000FORMULA A (WORLD CUP) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton
1999FORMULA SUPER A Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Rossi
1999FORMULA SUPER A (WORLD CUP) Flag of Italy.svg Vitantonio Liuzzi
1997FA Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Rossi
1994FORMULA SUPER A Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Manetti
1994FORMULA A (WORLD CUP) Flag of Italy.svg Luca Casazza
19945 CONTINENTS JUNIOR CUP Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Pantano
1993FORMULA A (WORLD CUP) Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Moro
1993FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Piccini
19935 CONTINENTS JUNIOR CUP Flag of Italy.svg Ennio Gandolfi
1992FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Rossi
1992FORMULA K Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Rossi
1992FORMULA K (WORLD CUP) Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Rossi
1992FORMULA A (WORLD CUP) Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Pedemonte
1990FORMULA K Flag of Denmark.svg Jan Magnussen
1990FORMULA A Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Rossi
1989FORMULA K Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Wilson
1989FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Gianluca Giorgi
1988FORMULA SUPER 100 Flag of France.svg Emmanuel Collard
1988SKF Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Wilson
1985FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Piermario Cantoni
1984FORMULA K Flag of Denmark.svg Jörn Haase
1984FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Gabriele Tarquini

European Championships

YearCategoryDriver
2018KZ Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jorrit Pex
2017KZ Flag of Italy.svg Paolo de Conto
2016KZ2 Flag of Italy.svg Fabian Federer
2016OK Flag of Spain.svg Pedro Hiltbrand
2014KZ2 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Dalè
2014KF Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Callum Ilott
2014KZ Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rick Dreezen
2013KZ Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen
2013KF Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen
2012KZ1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jorrit Pex
2011KZ2 Flag of Italy.svg Fabian Federer
2009KF3 NORTHERN QUALIF. Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries
2009KF3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries
2008KZ1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jonathan Thonon
2007KF2 CENTRAL QUALIF. Flag of Italy.svg Felice Tiene
2006100 ICA Flag of Italy.svg Nicola Nolé
2003125 SUPER ICC Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Manetti
2003100 ICA Flag of Italy.svg Nicola Bocchi
2002100 ICA Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jonathan Thonon
2002100 ICA JUNIOR Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Sébastien Buemi
2001125 FC Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Piccini
2000125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Valerio Sapere
2000FORMULA A Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton
1998100 ICA Flag of France.svg Julien Poncelet
1998CADET’S GREEN TROPHY Flag of Portugal.svg Álvaro Parente
1998FORMULA A Flag of Portugal.svg César Campaniço
1996125 ICC Flag of Germany.svg Stefan Haak
1996FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Piccini
1996FORMULA A Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Pantano
1995FA Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Pantano
1994CADET’S GREEN TROPHY Flag of Germany.svg Lucas Luhr
1993CADET’S GREEN TROPHY Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Pantano
1993125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Stefano Marcolin
1992125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Stefano Rodano
1992FORMULA K Flag of Italy.svg Gianluca Beggio
1991100 JUNIOR Flag of Spain.svg Jordi Surrales
1989100 ICA JUNIOR Flag of Italy.svg Gianluca Malandrucco
1989125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Gianluca Paglicci
1988125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Vincenzo Saitta
1987FORMULA K Flag of Italy.svg Alex Zanardi
1987125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Pulliero
1987INTERCONTINENTAL-A Flag of Germany.svg Michael Schumacher
1986FORMULA K Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller
1986125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Lamberto di Fernando
1985INTERCONTINENTAL-B Flag of Germany.svg Stefan Frietsch
1984125 ICC Flag of Italy.svg Riccardo Franchini
1979125 ICC Flag of Sweden.svg Jan Svaneby
1979FORMULA C Flag of Italy.svg Giancarlo Vanaria

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References