Kart racing or karting is a motorsport discipline using open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits, although some professional kart races are also held on full-size motorsport circuits. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher ranks of motorsports, with most Formula One drivers—including Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Max Verstappen—having begun their careers in karting.
Formula Three, also called Formula 3, abbreviated as F3, is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers.
OK-Junior is a kart racing class for top drivers aged 11 to 15.
KF2, is a kart racing class for top drivers aged 14 and up.
Superkart is a form of motorsport road racing that uses karts on long circuits. The bigger difference between a superkart and most other forms of kart is that they have full aerodynamic bodykits, as well as having a longer wheel base than sprint chassis, and are generally raced on car circuits over 1,500 metres in length. The power unit, most often but not exclusively two-stroke 250 cc engines, can be specially designed kart engines or production motorcycle engines with either five- or six-speed sequential manual gearboxes. Owing to their high top speed and superb cornering ability, a superkart's aerodynamic bodywork includes a front fairing, larger sidepods, and a rear wing. They use either 130-or-150-millimetre-diameter tires and wheels and most often race on full size auto-racing circuits.
The Commission Internationale de Karting is the primary international sanctioning body for kart racing. It was founded in 1962, and is headquartered in Paris, France. In 2000, it joined with the FIA. Its most important event is the Karting World Championship.
KZ1 is a kart racing class using 125 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines yielding approximately 46–50 hp (34–37 kW), equipped with a six-speed gearbox. KZ1 is the fastest of the KZ karting racing categories, and technical regulations are similar to KZ2 except that KZ1 allows for the gearbox to be either manual or electro-mechanical as well as the wise use of soft tires. Both engines and chassis must be approved by the CIK-FIA racing governing commission. It is open to top drivers aged 15 and over. Minimum weight is 170 kg (370 lb), this includes the kart and driver. They can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3 seconds. KZ1 has a top speed of 180 km/h (110 mph).
The European KF1 Championship is a kart racing competition organised by the CIK-FIA.
KZ2 is a kart racing class using 125 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines yielding about 52 hp (39 kW). The engines are equipped with a 6-speed gearbox. Z2 is the second fastest of the KZ karting racing categories, and technical regulations are similar to faster KZ1 except that in KZ2 the gearbox must be "hand-operated and exclusively mechanical without a servo system", as well as the use of medium tires. Both the engine and chassis must be approved by the CIK-FIA racing governing commission. The class is open to drivers aged 15 years and up with the minimum weight being 175 kg, this includes the kart and driver.
Jaime Víctor Alguersuari Escudero, also known as Jaume Alguersuari, and Squire is a Spanish DJ and retired racing driver best known for competing in Formula One between 2009 and 2011, and for being the 2008 British Formula 3 champion. He is the son of Jaime Alguersuari, Sr., a former motorcyclist and racing driver.
KF1 is the top level of karting. It is open to drivers aged 15 and up.
Joey Hanssen is a Dutch racing driver. He currently races in the CIK Stars of Karting Series in the KZ2 class.
FIA Formula 4, also called FIA F4, is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and specifications.
Niko Kari is a Finnish racing driver who last raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Jenzer Motorsport. He won his first single-seater championship, the 2015 SMP F4 Championship, in his debut year in car racing and is a former member of the Red Bull Junior Team.
The CIK-FIA Karting European Championship is a kart racing competition organised by the CIK-FIA. Its inaugural season took place in 1972. Today, the series holds championships in four karting categories: KZ, KF2, OK and OKJ. Notable champions have been Alex Zanardi, Jos Verstappen, Giorgio Pantano, Jarno Trulli, Sébastien Buemi, Alexander Albon, George Russell, Lando Norris and Formula One World Champions Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen.
Brad Domenico Benavides Agredo is an American-Spanish-Guatemalan racing driver who last raced for 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship with PHM Racing by Charouz. He previously competed in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Carlin.
Laurens van Hoepen is a Dutch racing driver who is currently competing in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship with ART Grand Prix. He previously competed in the Formula Regional European Championship with the French outfit in 2022 and 2023, having previously raced in the Ultimate Cup Series in 2021.
Joel Granfors, is a Swedish racing driver currently competing in the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with Exclusive Autosport. He previously competed in the 2022 GB3 Championship with Fortec Motorsport, taking the runners-up position.
Rokas Baciuška is a professional rally driver from Lithuania. He has won the Lithuania Kart racing championship, the European Rallycross Championship in the Super1600 class, and the World Rally-Raid Championship in the T4 SSV class.
Tuukka Taponen is a Finnish racing driver who is currently competing in the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with R-ace GP. He finished runner up in the 2023 F4 UAE Championship, and is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
