KZ (karting)

KZ is a kart racing class for drivers aged 15 and over, sanctioned by the CIK-FIA. Described as "the [Formula One] of karting", KZ is the primary gearbox class in FIA championships.

The class was originally called Formula C (FC), first introduced in 1974 at the European Championship as the first gearbox class in international kart racing. FC was contested at the World Championship from 1983 until 2000. In 2002—after 28 seasons of racing—FC was replaced by Super-ICC (S-ICC) and downgraded to World Cup status. In 2007, Super-ICC was replaced by KZ1 and renamed to KZ in 2013, when it returned to the World Championship.

KZ is contested as the primary gearbox class at the Karting World Championship and the Karting European Championship.

History

Formula C (1974–2001)

In 1974, Formula C (FC) was introduced as a 125 cc gearbox class for the European Championship, the first of its kind. FC was first held at the World Championship in 1983, remaining there until 2000.

Super-ICC (2002–2006)

In 2002, Super-ICC (S-ICC) regulations replaced FC, being downgraded to World Cup status.

KZ1/KZ (2007–present)

KZ1 replaced S-ICC in 2007. In 2013, KZ1 was renamed to KZ, returning to the World Championship.

Specification

There are eight main technical features of the KZ regulations, sharing the same specification as KZ2 except for chassis and brakes, which are open in KZ, as well as minimum weight:

125 cc direct-coupled, water-cooled two-stroke, mixed-lubrication engine.

Valve inlet in the piston skirt.

Carburettor with a maximum diameter of 30 mm.

Manual clutch.

Six-speed sequential gearbox.

Front and rear brakes with hydraulic foot control.

Premium tyres, medium gum compound.

Minimum weight 170 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.

Reception In 2024, the CIK-FIA mandated the use of Dunlop tyres in international KZ competition. Several drivers and teams criticised the move ahead of the following Karting European Championship, addressing concerns with their competitive performance.

Champions

KZ has been contested at the European Championship since 1974 and the World Championship/World Cup since 1983.

Gianluca Beggio holds the record for most KZ World Championships, with five. Notable KZ World Champions include four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen and two-time World Touring Car Champion Gabriele Tarquini. Verstappen is the only driver to win a CIK-FIA gearbox championship and the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

Gianfranco Baroni and Francesco Laudato hold the joint-record for most KZ European Championships, each with four.

By year

YearWorld ChampionshipEuropean ChampionshipYearWorld ChampionChassisEngineTyresEuropean ChampionChassisEngineTyres1974 FC regulations created for the European Championship1974 Not held Aad van Daalen Landia Yamaha1975 Ben van Velzen Mach1 Yamaha19751976 Gianfranco Baroni All Kart BMC19761977 Gianfranco Baroni (2) All Kart BMC19771978 Gianfranco Baroni (3) All Kart BMC19781979 Giancarlo Vanaria Kalì Kart Pavesi19791980 Frank Leuze Mach1 KZH19801981 Gianfranco Baroni (4) Birel BMC19811982 Alessandro Piccini All Kart 19821983 FC mandated at the World Championship and replaced by ICC at the European Championship1983 Gianni Mazzola Birel Balen Not held1984 Gabriele Tarquini Kalì Kart Balen19841985 Piermario Cantoni Kalì Kart Balen19851986 Fabrizio Giovanardi Tony Kart 19861987 Alessandro Piccini DAP Pavesi19871988 Peter Rydell All Kart Pavesi19881989 Gianluca Giorgi Kalì Kart 19891990 Birel Pavesi19901991 Birel Pavesi19911992 Danilo Rossi Kalì Kart Pavesi19921993 Kalì Kart Pavesi19931994 Jarno Trulli Tony Kart Pavesi19941995 Gianluca Beggio Biesse TM19951996 FC mandated at the European Championship1996 Gianluca Beggio (2) Biesse TM Alessandro Piccini (2) CRG Pavesi1997 Gianluca Beggio (3) Birel TM Gianluca Beggio Birel TM19971998 Gianluca Beggio (4) Birel TM Gianluca Beggio (2) Birel TM19981999 Francesco Laudato Birel TM Ronnie Quintarelli Tony Kart Vortex19992000 Gianluca Beggio (5) Birel TM Francesco Laudato Birel TM20002001 FC removed from the World Championship2001 Not held Alessandro Piccini (3) CRG TM2002 FC replaced by S-ICC2002 Not held Sauro Cesetti Birel Kosmic TM Vortex2003 S-ICC mandated at the World Cup2003 Robert Dirks Birel TM CRG 2004 Ennio Gandolfi Birel TM Francesco Laudato (3) Birel TM20042005 Francesco Laudato Birel TM Birel TM20052006 Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Roberto Toninelli BRM TM20062007 S-ICC replaced by KZ12007 Jonathan Thonon CRG Maxter Intrepid TM2008 Jonathan Thonon (2) CRG Maxter Jonathan Thonon CRG Maxter20082009 Jonathan Thonon (3) CRG Maxter Bas Lammers Intrepid TM20092010 Bas Lammers Intrepid TM Bas Lammers (2) Intrepid TM20102011 CRG Maxter Paolo De Conto TM20112012 Bas Lammers (2) Praga Parilla Jorrit Pex CRG TM20122013 KZ1 renamed to KZ and upgraded to World Championship status2013 Max Verstappen CRG TM Max Verstappen CRG TM2014 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Rick Dreezen Zanardi Parilla20142015 Jorrit Pex CRG TM Flavio Camponeschi Tony Kart Vortex20152016 Paolo De Conto CRG TM Marco Ardigò Tony Kart TM20162017 CRG TM Paolo De Conto (2) CRG TM20172018 Patrik Hájek Kosmic Vortex Jorrit Pex (2) CRG TM20182019 Marijn Kremers Birel ART TM Jorrit Pex (3) TM20192020 Jérémy Iglesias Formula K TM Marijn Kremers Ricciardo TM20202021 Noah Milell Tony Kart Vortex Riccardo Longhi Birel ART TM20212022 Viktor Gustafsson CRG TM Paolo Ippolito Kart Republic IAME20222023 Paolo Ippolito IAME Danilo Albanese IAME20232024 Giuseppe Palomba Sodi TM Parolin TM2024YearWorld ChampionChassisEngineTyresEuropean ChampionChassisEngineTyresYearWorld ChampionshipEuropean ChampionshipSource:

By driver

table

Notes

KZ (karting)

Bron en licentie