The FIA World Motor Sport Council has announced some decisions on karting.
New starting rules have been put in place, with a white line to separate rows 110 meters leading up to the start line. 110m does seem a fairly long distance, perhaps with the intention of keeping karts from touching when coming around the final corner. In addition to this the speed when approaching the start line is to be at between 15 and 25kph.
Other decisions include changes to homologation extensions, calendar structure, and a change of date for the Macau CIK-FIA Asia Pacific Championship from October to 27-30 November.
Press Release:
At its meeting on 26 March 2008 in Paris, the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA took the following decisions regarding Karting:
Sporting Regulations
Within the framework of the 2008 CIK-FIA Championships, Cups and Trophies (on short circuits), a system of double control and management of rolling starts will be introduced. On the one hand, two lanes bordered by white lines will be marked on the track over the 110 metres leading to the Start line. The Drivers, assembled in two lines, shall stay in these lanes until the start signal. Additionally, for each event, the CIK-FIA will implement a system of speed control in order to improve the regulation of the karts on their way to the Start line. The approach speed during the start phase shall be between 15 and 25 kph.
Technical and Homologation Regulations
In order to ensure greater stability of homologated equipment and to have better cost control, it has been decided to limit during the homologation period the number of homologation Extensions, and forbid them in some cases, according to the equipment considered:
- only one Extension allowed (instead of 2) for chassis and engines,
- no Extensions allowed (instead of 2) for bodywork and brakes,
- no Extensions allowed (new provision) for carburettors, ignitions and inlet silencers.
It has also been decided to limit to 3 years (instead of 6) the validity of future homologations of hand-controlled front brakes. It is now specified in the International Karting Regulations in particular that it is mandatory to use magnetic steel for all exhausts and that it is allowed to use a piano chord with a diameter of 0.20 mm (instead of a wedge with a 0.20 mm thickness) for the control of angles in the case of ports which do not allow the use of the wedge (typical example: exhaust “booster”).
2008, 2009 and 2010 CIK-FIA calendars
The World Council has accepted the change of date requested for the 2008 CIK-FIA Asia-Pacifi c KF1 and KF3 Championships which will take place at Macau/MO on 27-30 November 2008 instead of October.
A new calendar structure for the CIK-FIA Championships, Cups and Trophies has been approved for the years 2009 and 2010; the main points are as follows:
- limiting the number of CIK-FIA categories to two per event (except for the Viking Trophy), which will result in additional time on the track for the categories maintained, a lighter timetable, better services for participants and better technical and sporting checks,
- separating the KZ1 category from the KF1 category, which will result in an increase in the number of entries for each category,
- introducing a CIK-FIA KF3 World Cup for Juniors,
- bringing forward the CIK-FIA European KF2 and KF3 Championships qualifying events to May (instead of July), which will permit to have a better crescendo of the major events (European finals and World Cups) in the season.
Invitations to Tender
Elto Racing has won the tender to be the single exhaust supplier for the 2008 and 2009 CIK-FIA KF3 Championships, Cups and Trophies.
2008 International Karting Series approved by the FIA
The World Council has approved the following international Karting Series :
Rotax Mojo Euro Challenge (Austria).