Dear friends,
As you know, karting is an essential link in the Motor Sport pyramid.
This is why the FIA is devoting all the energy necessary.
2018 was a year marked by a further increase in entries for the OK and OK-Junior categories. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the CIK-FIA, the members of the FIA Karting Commission and in particular of its new President, Felipe Massa, an important personality in Motor Sport, who fills this position with great enthusiasm and energy.
I want to recall that the positive evolution of the discipline in recent years also owes a lot to the actions of the Vice-President of CIK-FIA, Kees van ve Grint, and the former chairman of the karting commission Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa. They were able to give new life to karting by refocusing on its original values.
A new Promoter of FIA Karting Competitions for the period 2018-2020 has been appointed by the FIA, to succeed WSK Promotion at the end of its contract. RGMMC Group has taken up the baton dynamically, showing a willingness to advance the level of organisation of Competitions and the promotion of Karting.
Now, congratulations to the 2018 winners, including the three FIA Karting World Champions Lorenzo Travisanutto (OK), Victor Bernier (Junior) and Patrik Hajek (KZ), as well as the FIA Karting Rookie of the Year, Harry Thompson (OK).
The success of the FIA Karting World Championships - OK and Junior in Kristianstad (SWE) and the FIA ??Karting World Championship - KZ in Genk (BEL) show that this category is able to attract the general public and the media.
In addition, the FIA Karting Academy Trophy brought together 40 nations. The quality of the equipment and services provided by the technical partner, OTK Kart Group, contributed to intense races revealing new talents.
The appeal of the OK category has extended to the FIA Karting Endurance Championship, in which a factory team won at the Le Mans 24 Hours Karting for the first time. This is a positive sign for the involvement of brands in this discipline.
Last but not least, the organisation of an e-karting event during the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee, testifies that karting is at a crossroads in the international sporting community.
Karting is therefore a training ground for access to the most prestigious disciplines of motor sport.
Yours faithfully,
Jean Todt
President of the FIA
