KF1

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KF1 was the top level of karting. It is open to drivers aged 15 and up.

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This class used to be called Formula A and has changed since January 2007 when 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 40 hp (30 kW). KF1 class karts use hand-operated front brakes. The front brakes are activated by a Lever. Chassis and engines must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Minimum weight is 160 kg (350 lb) with driver. [1] [2]

Karts are equipped with an electric starter and clutch. The engine rpm is limited at 16,000 rpm. Top speed is around 140 km/h (87 mph), depending on circuits. [3] [4]

As the Formula One of karting, KF1 has high costs and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. It is needed to finance much practice, training and testing, team costs, chassis and engines, tires and parts, and traveling. Most teams in this category are factory teams or financed by chassis or engine manufacturers. [1]

Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in the KF3 or KF2 classes where they must finish in the top 34 to qualify to compete in KF1. Once in KF1, drivers either stay for a few years to improve their skills before moving on to car racing, or they become professional kart racers and race in KF1 until they retire. [5] Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers started their careers in karts, and KF1 has been home to rivalries involving the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica in the early 2000s, [6] [7] as well as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Nicklas Nielsen in more recent times. [8] [9] The class also played a leading role in the so-called golden era of karting in the 80s and 90s. [10]

There is a European KF1 Championship, a World Cup, and a World Championship, the sport's main event. [2] [11] Since 2016 the new generation of Original Karts (OK) machines have taken over from the old KF engines. [12] [13]

Champions

European Champions since 2000
YearDriverChassisEngineTyres
2000 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton CRG Parilla Bridgestone
2001 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Carlo van Dam Gillard ParillaBridgestone
2002 Flag of Germany.svg David HemkemeyerMach 1KZHBridgestone
2003 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bas LammersSwiss HutlessVortexBridgestone
2004 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nick de Bruijn GillardParillaBridgestone
2005 Flag of Italy.svg Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2006 Flag of Italy.svg Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2007 Flag of Italy.svg Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2008 Flag of Italy.svg Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2009 Flag of Finland.svg Aaro Vainio Maranello MaxterBridgestone
2010
2011 Flag of Thailand.svg Alexander Albon IntrepidTMBridgestone
2012 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Barnicoat ART GP ParillaVega
2013 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen CRGTMVega
2014 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Callum Ilott ZanardiParillaBridgestone
2015 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Hanley Mad-CrocTMVega
2016 Flag of Spain.svg Pedro HiltbrandCRGParillaVega
2017 Flag of Morocco.svg Sami Taoufik FA KartVortexLeCont
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Hannes JankerKart RepublicParillaBridgestone
2019 Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaLeCont
2020 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart RepublicParillaLeCont
2021 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart RepublicParillaMG
2022 Flag of Japan.svg Kean Nakamura-Berta Kart RepublicParillaMG
2023 Flag of the Netherlands.svg René Lammers ParolinTMMG
World Champions since 2003
YearDriverChassisEngineTyres
2003 Flag of New Zealand.svg Wade Cunningham CRG Maxter Bridgestone
2004 Flag of Italy.svg Davide ForèTony KartVortexBridgestone
2005 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Oakes GillardParillaBridgestone
2006 Flag of Italy.svg Davide ForèTony KartVortexBridgestone
2007 Flag of Italy.svg Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2008 Flag of Italy.svg Marco ArdigòTony KartVortexBridgestone
2009 Flag of France.svg Arnaud KozlinskiCRGMaxterBridgestone
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries ZanardiParillaDunlop
2011 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries ZanardiParillaBridgestone
2012 Flag of Italy.svg Flavio CamponeschiTony KartVortexBridgestone
2013 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom JoynerZanardiTMVega
2014 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris FA KartVortexBridgestone
2015 Flag of Poland.svg Karol BaszKosmicVortexVega
2016 Flag of Spain.svg Pedro HiltbrandCRGParillaVega
2017 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Danny KeirleZanardiParillaLeCont
2018 Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaBridgestone
2019 Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo TravisanuttoKart RepublicParillaLeCont
2020 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Callum BradshawTony KartVortexLeCont
2021 Flag of Finland.svg Tuukka Taponen Tony KartVortexMG
2022 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Morgatto Kart RepublicParillaMG
2023 Flag of Russia.svg Kirill KutskovKart RepublicIAMEMG

See also

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