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

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.

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.

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.

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. Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers started their careers in karts.

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

Champions

European Champions since 2000
Year Driver Chassis Engine Tyres
2000 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton CRG Parilla Bridgestone
2001 Netherlands Carlo van Dam Gillard Parilla Bridgestone
2002 Germany David Hemkemeyer Mach 1 KZH Bridgestone
2003 Netherlands Bas Lammers Swiss Hutless Vortex Bridgestone
2004 Netherlands Nick de Bruijn Gillard Parilla Bridgestone
2005 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2006 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2007 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2008 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2009 Finland Aaro Vainio Maranello Maxter Bridgestone
2010
2011 Thailand Alexander Albon Intrepid TM Bridgestone
2012 United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat ART GP Parilla Vega
2013 Netherlands Max Verstappen CRG TM Vega
2014 United Kingdom Callum Ilott Zanardi Parilla Bridgestone
2015 United Kingdom Ben Hanley Mad-Croc TM Vega
2016 Spain Pedro Hiltbrand CRG Parilla Vega
2017 Morocco Sami Taoufik FA Kart Vortex LeCont
2018 Germany Hannes Janker Kart Republic Parilla Bridgestone
2019 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla LeCont
2020 Italy Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart Republic Parilla LeCont
2021 Italy Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart Republic Parilla MG
2022 Japan Kean Nakamura-Berta Kart Republic Parilla MG
2023 Netherlands René Lammers Parolin TM MG
World Champions since 2003
Year Driver Chassis Engine Tyres
2003 New Zealand Wade Cunningham CRG Maxter Bridgestone
2004 Italy Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2005 United Kingdom Oliver Oakes Gillard Parilla Bridgestone
2006 Italy Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2007 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2008 Italy Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2009 France Arnaud Kozlinski CRG Maxter Bridgestone
2010 Netherlands Nyck de Vries Zanardi Parilla Dunlop
2011 Netherlands Nyck de Vries Zanardi Parilla Bridgestone
2012 Italy Flavio Camponeschi Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2013 United Kingdom Tom Joyner Zanardi TM Vega
2014 United Kingdom Lando Norris FA Kart Vortex Bridgestone
2015 Poland Karol Basz Kosmic Vortex Vega
2016 Spain Pedro Hiltbrand CRG Parilla Vega
2017 United Kingdom Danny Keirle Zanardi Parilla LeCont
2018 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla Bridgestone
2019 Italy Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla LeCont
2020 United Kingdom Callum Bradshaw Tony Kart Vortex LeCont
2021 Finland Tuukka Taponen Tony Kart Vortex MG
2022 Brazil Matheus Morgatto Kart Republic Parilla MG
2023 Russia Kirill Kutskov Kart Republic IAME MG

See also

  • KF2, a KF1 feeder series
  • KF3, a KF1 and KF2 feeder series
  • KZ1, the fastest KZ karting racing category
  • KZ2, the second fastest KZ karting racing category
  • Superkart, road racing with kart sized open-wheel cars

References

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