Original Kart, commonly abbreviated as OK, is a kart racing class for drivers aged 14 and over, sanctioned by the CIK-FIA. OK is the primary direct-drive class in FIA championships.

OK
CategoryKart racing
RegionInternational
Inaugural season1981; 43 years ago (1981)
Drivers' championUnited Kingdom Ethan Jeff-Hall
(World, 2024)
United Kingdom Joe Turney
(European, 2024)
Teams' championItaly CRG-IAME
(World, 2024)
Italy Kart Republic-IAME
(European, 2024)
Official websiteFIA Karting

The class was originally called Intercontinental A (ICA), first introduced in 1981 at the European Championship as a secondary direct-drive class to Formula K. The class was first contested at the World Cup in 2006. In 2007—after 26 seasons of racing—ICA was replaced by KF2 and became the primary class in 2010, replacing KF1 at the World Championship. The KF2 class was renamed to KF upon the demise of KF1 in 2013, and was replaced by Original Kart (OK) regulations in 2016.

OK is currently contested as the primary direct-drive class at the Karting World Championship and the Karting European Championship.

History

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Intercontinental A (1981–2006)

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In 1981, Intercontinental A (ICA) was introduced alongside Formula K as a secondary direct-drive class for the European Championship.

Stefano Modena completed back-to-back ICA European Championships in 1984, a feat that would not be repeated until Andrea Kimi Antonelli under OK regulations in 2021.

The ICA World Cup was introduced in 2006, the final year of ICA regulations, won by French driver Mike Courquin.

KF2/KF (2007–2015)

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In January 2007, the CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke ICA engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke KF2 engines, producing 34–36 hp (25–27 kW). Now the secondary class to KF1—which had replaced Formula A—the KF2 class karts used hand-operated front brakes via a lever. The chassis had to be CIK-approved, with a minimum weight of 160 kg and 158 kg for national and international events, respectively. KF2 karts were equipped with an electric starter and a centrifugal clutch. The engine was limited to 15,000 rpm.

In 2010, karts of the KF2 category were mandated at the Karting World Championship as the primary direct-drive category, alongside the European Championship, replacing KF1 in both.[1] KF1 returned to the World Championship in 2011 and 2012, reverting KF2 back to World Cup status, but met its demise at the end of the 2012 season. With the end of KF1 regulations, KF2 became known as simply KF and returned to the World Championship as the primary class once more.

Original Kart (2016–present)

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In 2016, Original Kart (OK) regulations replaced KF in the direct-drive category, after its perceived failure within the kart racing community and restrictive regulations resulted in reduced entries at international competitions.[2] OK karts had much of the electronics removed, and had to be push-started.

Specification

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Original Kart (OK)

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There are eight main technical features of the OK regulations:[3]

  • 125 cc direct-coupled, water-cooled two-stroke, mixed-lubrication engine.
  • Valve inlet in the piston skirt.
  • Power valve at the exhaust.
  • Single rear brake with hydraulic control.
  • Minimum weight 150 kg, driver included.

Engines, chassis, bodywork, brakes and tyres are subject to the homologation system put in place by the CIK-FIA. Each year, the tyres and the fuel for each category, as well as the KZ and KZ2 carburettor, are chosen after a call for tenders.

Champions

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OK has been contested at the European Championship since 1981 and the World Championship/World Cup since 2006, becoming the primary direct-drive class in 2010.

Italian driver Lorenzo Travisanutto is the only driver to win multiple OK World Championships. Notable OK World Champions include 2020–21 Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries and Formula One driver Lando Norris.

Italian Formula One drivers Stefano Modena and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are the only drivers to win multiple OK European Championships. Notable OK European Champions include Formula One World Drivers' Champions Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen.

By year

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Key
* Driver has competed in Formula One
Formula One World Drivers' Champion
FIA World Champion in an auto racing discipline
Year World Championship European Championship Year
World Champion[a] Chassis Engine Tyres European Champion Chassis Engine Tyres
1981 ICA regulations created for the European Championship 1981
Not held   Peter De Bruijn   Tecno   Parilla
1982   Josef Bertzen   Zipkart   Parilla 1982
1983   Stefano Modena*   DAP   DAP 1983
1984   Stefano Modena* (2)   DAP   DAP 1984
1985   Jukka Virtanen   Birel   Parilla 1985
1986   Linus Lundberg   Dino   Dino 1986
1987   Michael Schumacher   CRG   Parilla 1987
1988   Martijn Koene   Tony Kart   Rotax 1988
1989   Jos Verstappen*   Swiss Hutless   Rotax 1989
1990   Eddy Coubard   Dino   Rotax 1990
1991   Daniele Parrilla   Birel   Rotax 1991
1992   Oliver Fiorucci   Merlin   Atomik 1992
1993   Arnaud Sarrazin   Tecno   Rotax 1993
1994   Narcis Callens   Biesse   Fox 1994
1995   Arnaud Leconte   Tecno   Rotax 1995
1996   Ludovic Veve   Biesse   Rotax 1996
1997   Alessandro Balzan   Top-Kart   Comer 1997
1998   Julien Poncelet   CRG   CRG 1998
1999   Stefano Fabi   Top-Kart   Comer B 1999
2000   Julien Menard   Tony Kart   Vortex 2000
2001   Jean-Philippe Guignet   Tony Kart   Vortex VEGA 2001
2002   Jonathan Thonon   CRG   Maxter VEGA 2002
2003   Nicola Bocchi   CRG   Maxter VEGA 2003
2004   Kévin Estre   Sodi   TM VEGA 2004
2005   James Calado   Tony Kart   Vortex B 2005
2006 ICA mandated at the World Cup 2006
  Mike Courquin   Sodi   TM VEGA   Nicola Nolé   CRG   TM VEGA
2007 ICA replaced by KF2 2007
  Michael Ryall   Birel   TM D   Will Stevens*‡   Tony Kart   Vortex D
2008   Oliver Rowland   Tony Kart   Vortex   Flavio Camponeschi   Tony Kart   Vortex 2008
2009   David da Luz   Zanardi   Parilla   Jordan Chamberlain   Tony Kart   TM 2009
2010 KF2 becomes the primary direct-drive class and upgraded to World Championship status 2010
  Nyck de Vries*‡   Zanardi   Parilla B   Nicolaj Møller Madsen   Energy Corse   TM B
2011 KF2 replaced by KF1 at the World Championship and downgraded to World Cup status[b] 2011
  Loris Spinelli   Tony Kart   Vortex VEGA   Sami Luka   Intrepid   TM B
2012   Felice Tiene   CRG   BMB VEGA   Ben Barnicoat   ART   Parilla VEGA 2012
2013 KF2 renamed to KF and upgraded to World Championship status 2013
  Tom Joyner   Zanardi   TM VEGA   Max Verstappen   CRG   TM VEGA
2014   Lando Norris*   FA Kart   Vortex D   Callum Ilott   Zanardi   Parilla B 2014
2015   Karol Basz   Kosmic   Vortex VEGA   Ben Hanley   Mad-Croc   TM VEGA 2015
2016 KF replaced by OK 2016
  Pedro Hiltbrand   CRG   Parilla VEGA   Pedro Hiltbrand   CRG   Parilla VEGA
2017   Danny Keirle   Zanardi   Parilla LC   Sami Taoufik   FA Kart   Vortex LC 2017
2018   Lorenzo Travisanutto   Kart Republic   Parilla B   Hannes Janker   Kart Republic   Parilla B 2018
2019   Lorenzo Travisanutto (2)   Kart Republic   Parilla LC   Lorenzo Travisanutto   Kart Republic   Parilla LC 2019
2020   Callum Bradshaw   Tony Kart   Vortex LC   Andrea Kimi Antonelli   Kart Republic   Parilla LC 2020
2021   Tuukka Taponen   Tony Kart   Vortex MG   Andrea Kimi Antonelli (2)   Kart Republic   IAME MG 2021
2022   Matheus Morgatto   Kart Republic   Parilla MG   Kean Nakamura-Berta   Kart Republic   IAME MG 2022
2023   Kutskov Kirill   Kart Republic   IAME MG   René Lammers   Parolin   TM MG 2023
2024   Ethan Jeff-Hall   CRG   IAME M   Joe Turney   Kart Republic   IAME M 2024
Year World Champion[a] Chassis Engine Tyres European Champion Chassis Engine Tyres Year
World Championship European Championship
Source:[4][5][6][7][8][9]

By driver

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table

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Italics indicates years contested as a World Cup, not an FIA World Championship: 2006–2009, 2011–2012.
  2. ^ KF2 remained the primary direct-drive class at the European Championship in 2011 and 2012.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ CIK-FIA World Karting Championship For Drivers Zuera (ESP) – 16-19.09.2010 - KartCafe, 16 September 2010
  2. ^ "Official presentation of the new 2016 engines at PF Intl". FIA. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "FIA Karting - Categories". Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  4. ^ "FIA Karting - History". FIA Karting. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  5. ^ "FIA Karting - Calendar". FIA Karting. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Vroom Kart International #175 - January 2016". Vroom International Karting. January 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Automobile Championships - Motorsport Top 20". Motorsport Top 20. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  8. ^ "FIA Karting European OK Championship - Driver Database". Driver Database. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  9. ^ "FIA Karting European KF Championship - Driver Database". Driver Database. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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