CIK-FIA Press Release: Although we have not yet reached the closing date of entries, the first chassis makes which have already entered leads us to expect that the CIK-FIA U18 World Karting Championship will achieve an even higher level in its 2012 edition. Launched in 2010, the economical alternative to the traditional World Championship had been more than satisfactorily successful as it gathered 13 makes and 71 Drivers. In 2011, the number of participating brands had been increased to 15, with 89 Drivers.
The U18 World Championship is starting this year in a very similar way: the WKE engines will still be supplied by Parolin (and placed at all the Drivers’ disposal on a free basis), the tyres will again be of the LeCont make and of the Medium type, and the format of the Championship continues to comprise three event, the first one being scheduled for Portugal’s Braga (6-8 July 2012), the second for France at Angerville (24-26 August 2012) and the third for Bahrain (1-3 November 2012).
As regards chassis, the principles are identical: the Championship is open to any makes, subject to entering expressly by designating and submitting to the identification a minimum of 20 examples of one and the same model of their range of already homologated chassis, and to accepting to designate one single type of accessories from among the elements to be marked before the opening of the competition. These elements which must previously be identified are the rear axle, the front and rear wheels hubs, the stabiliser, the steering spindles and the rims. This is aimed at limiting the participants’ costs and at facilitating their participation, from both the logistic and technical viewpoints. The 2010 and 2011 editions have very clearly proved that limiting recourse to optional parts has not in the least affected the competitivity of the equipment and the balance of forces. Among the top 12 of the 2011 U18 World Championship there were 9 different brands.
Zanardi, U18 World Champion for makes in 2011, is throwing in its title. The list of makes already entered which were at it right from 2010 also includes Sodi, Mach1, MS Kart, Righetti Ridolfi, Swiss Hutless, Top Kart, Intrepid, Haase and Tecno. As for Birel, FK, DR and ART Grand Prix, they are some of the entered brands which will experience the U18 for the first time.