It’s been almost 30 years since planning began for the first Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race. This will be the 28^th year. The sport has changed a lot in that time and sometimes it’s hard to notice changes when you host one race a year. Rock Island organizers have taken a look at how they are doing and what might need to change. There are 2 major challenges and, in a sense, they go hand in hand: the racing needs to be safer; more support is needed from karters and sponsors due to growing costs to keep the event thriving.

From 3rd to 5th March, as was the case a month earlier, WSK Promotion organised a Super Master Series event in Italy, while RGMMC once again hosted the IAME Challenge categories in Spain. In both cases, KR chassis helped several drivers to the podium, especially in Mini, with a sensational triple in Zuera and a success in Sarno with a 3rd place!

René Lammers put in another top performance this weekend in Italy in the highly competitive WSK. The 14-year-old karter from Zandvoort (The Netherlands) finished second in the OK class in the third round of the WSK Super Master Series at the Sarno kart track near Napoli. All weekend, the Dutch factory driver from Parolin Motorsport was in a very good position and his speed was rewarded with a second podium place.

American driver David Morales will switch to the JHR Developments team for his GB3 return in 2023. The 19-year-old from Florida scored a podium during his debut GB3 campaign in 2022, and has already tasted victory this year with a triumph at Highlands Motorsport Park in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. 

After clinching another Top 5 finish – the fifth in five races – young 14-year-old Jimmy Hélias from Normandy is now installed in the no. 1 spot in the International Karting Ranking in the top-tier OK category! This official classification of international kart drivers was introduced this year by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the body that governs the whole motorsport pyramid from the base up to Formula 1. It operates in a similar fashion to the ATP and WTA rankings in tennis. It is yet another honour for Jimmy who, don’t forget, is part of the rookies who made their debut in OK last November!