Not so soon unfortunately. The relatively expensive initial cost of purchasing the engine really is the biggest obstacle. I n spite of the lower cost of spare parts( I disagree with you on this James that KF engines spares are more expensive, it's actually the other way round here in M'sia) and other running costs most karters seems blinded by the initial lower cost of other engines, mainly Rotax Max and by large here in Malaysia and many other countries whom seemingly has come to realize this are actually moving away from it.
But if there is enough of you guys buying this engine this year, maybe a exhibition race or event could be held initially and run it as the main race in the the local championship. Somehow I think if this is run as an international race, we could get many entries.
I couldn't really care the DD2 class as I think why pay so much for only 2 gears when you can go the whole distance and get yourself a 6 speed shifter kart. The cost is almost the same. Ask any kart mechanic who knows his stuff to compare these engines and I can guarantee you he will tell you there is no comparison. Its like comparing a casio with a Rolex watch. In this sense the Rotax seems way too much overpriced. All you guys thinking about the DD2 should reconsider and maybe go the KF way.Its the same when you compare the KFs with the Max. What you pay in this sense is really not what you get!!

Well, it does seem like its a chicken & egg thing ... i.e. creating and needing a decent base of users racing these engines for a localised dealer to want to support and organise regular race events for the engine class.

I'm planning to start karting soon with the Rotax Max route albeit a 2nd hand engine as I want to see how this engine class issue works itself out.

At the end of the day, I would like to compete in races and track support/periodic events are important to me.

But its healthy that the issue is discussed in the forum so that the enthusiats and dealers have a sense of where the karting community is leaning to.

If you choose the Rotax max series, that's fine.You can have some good fun racing with other karters of many different levels. Buying a second hand engine is also a good way to start in this class as there are really no difference in old or new engines as long as they are properly looked after. Only difference is reliability as you dont have to worry about parts breaking on your first race with a new engine. Set it up properly and you will not have to do much on the engine for an entire race meet. That leaves you with more time on setting up your chassis for optimum performance.
Happy karting!!

In my opinion the main attractions of the Rotax series are: (i) you get to go to the Grand Finals if you are good enough, (ii) the lower cost of engines (iii) the durability of the engine and (iv) the fixed specs, which limit the amount of testing you need to do to be competitive.

The cost of parts is high in Malaysia but you just need to purchase a "sold-in-Malaysian" engine to get the correct Rotax passport. Then you buy most of the replacement parts offshore...

I do not believe it is factually correct that racers are moving away from Rotax. You can judge this objectively from the participation in the Grand Finals - the first one in Puerto Rico had only the senior class with 66 drivers from 19 countries, while the last one in Al Ain had 216 drivers from 65 countries in three classes. The series has grown bigger and bigger worldwide from year to year.

I believe, in fact, that CIK changed its categories to attract drivers away from the rapidly growing Rotax category. Look at the KF engine specs - 125 cc TAG, longer-life, rev limiters - and you can see where the inspiration comes from.

I think that it is great that Malaysia apparently is going to introduce races for KF1/2 and KF3. Then we will be able to produce drivers capable of competing in AKOC, the Asia-Pacific Championship and the World Championship. That would be a shot in the arm for karting in Malaysia.

But it is incorrect to judge the costs of the two series by looking at the initial costs of purchasing the engines and spare parts only. The real heavy costs are testing and travel and accommodation.

Although the basic parameters of the KF series are fixed, the components are not. To be competitive you need special parts (like carbs at several thousand ringgit each and so forth). And, in CIK races the tyres are free, so you need to test, test and test to develop your capabilities, get the right specs and expand your data pool.

Figure 60 days of testing at RM1,000 per day and you are looking at spending RM60,000 already. Add in the costs of re-builds every 15-20 hours and even if KF parts are cheaper you would end up spending much, much more than running a Rotax.

So, run the Malaysian KF series plus AKOC and the Asia Pacific championship and you are looking at a budget of at least RM500,000 per year.

You could run the Malaysian Rotax plus AMC and hopefully, the Grand Finals for 15% of that budget...

Thanks Alex for voicing out what I had wanted to say earlier but was not possible as I was away at the Offenbach Kart Show in Germany.

I did speak to BRP-Rotax about drivers wanting to start the KF series. Rotax said "Ask them to Go ahead" and they will know how much it will cost them.

Alex, you took the words out of my mouth.

James Leong

I am saying this as an observor of karting for the last 8-10 years......

Rotax Max has a very unique CONCEPT and its not just about a kart engine. As Alex is correct to point out, the CONCEPT allows the best in country, represent himself in an international event, which is run professionally with the world media in attendance.

For someone who wants to make an inroad into karting ( & higher formula of car racing ), such a programme paves the way for you - without you spending a fortune. Hey, even in FSA, being the world's best wun gurantee u a F1 seat.....

Of course, there's a downside in anything and here, the cost to run this CONCEPT comes from the cost of engines, spares and tyres.....as the money have to be there to do all this. Its a business afterall.

Having said this, the Rotax Max phenomenon is one of the best thing to have happened to karting and its so obvious as some are already emulating this format.....wun go into names but u can guess a couple already.

By the way - as said, its my opinion as a recreational karter and no, I am not good enough to do the RMC.....