Record entry for the FIA Karting season opener in Spain
Spain will host the inaugural event of the 2023 FIA Karting season from March 23-26. The Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero de Valencia will make its debut on the FIA Karting calendar with the first round of the European Championship - OK & Junior.
This event has attracted 182 entries (90 for OK and 92 for Junior) from 50 countries, which is a significant increase on last year. Prime tyres for the OK class will be supplied by MG Tyres, while Vega will supply the Option tyres for the OK-Junior class.
A new fuel
In line with the FIA's overall sustainability strategy, the 2023 FIA Karting season will see the introduction of a new 100% sustainable fuel, using second generation bio-components and supplied by Irish company P1 Racing Fuel.
New points distribution
The points system for the Qualifying and Super Heats has changed to a more generous descending ranking for the top finishers. This will further stimulate the quest for better results among the participants as specified in Articles 18C and 18D of the FIA Karting Specific Prescriptions.
A new circuit
The Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero de Valencia will host an FIA Karting event for the first time. An international circuit frequently used for single-make competitions, the 1428m long track allows a fast pace with few hard braking manoeuvres. The width of the track at the first corner favours fluid starts and reduces the usual handicap of starting from the outside lane. The numerous overtaking possibilities contribute to interesting and competitive races.
The next generation is here in OK
The FIA Karting European Champion - OK, Kean Nakamura-Berta (GBR), is putting his title on the line against his top rivals like Alex Powell (JAM) and Joe Turney (GBR). The FIA Karting World Champion - OK, Matheus Morgatto, will also be present as will Italy’s Luigi Coluccio, another experienced driver. Drivers with one or two seasons of experience in the category are not lacking in ambition, such as David Walther (DNK), Tomass Stolcermanis (LVA), Maksim Orlov, Ean Eyckmans (BEL), Nicolo Cuman (ITA), and James Egozi (ITA). But rookies coming directly from OK-Junior have already revealed significant potential in OK. Anatoly Khavalkin, Jan Przyrowski (POL), Nathan Tye (GBR), Dmitry Matveev, Enzo Tarvanichkul (THA), Rene Lammers (NLD) and Jimmy Hélias (FRA) are not at all intimidated by their seniors. Hélias is currently in first place in the International Karting Ranking (IKR). The interest for the OK category has rarely been so strong with its 90 entries in Valencia including only four wild cards.
Junior: no shortage of contenders
The OK-Junior 2023 field is already looking very dynamic with the 92 entries in the FIA Karting European Junior Championship in Valencia, including nine wild cards. The Belgian Thibaut Ramaekers, the Britons Lewis Wherrell, and Zac Drummond, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Bondarev, Sweden’s Eliott Kaczynski, Austria’s Niklas Shaufler, the Dutchman Dries van Langendonck and Salim Hanna of Colombia, Stepan Antonov, and Kirill Dzitiev, have already made their mark this season. The performances of Filippo Sala (ITA) are all the more impressive as he has moved up from the Mini category and is competing in his first Junior season. He currently leads the International Karting Ranking (IKR) ahead of Antonov and Schaufler.
The provisional programme for FIA Karting European Championship – OK and Junior, Valencia
Friday 24th March
09:00 - 11:55: Free Practice
12:05 - 13:31: Qualifying Practice
14:40 - 17:55: Qualifying Heats
Saturday 25th March
09:00 - 10:13: Warm-up
10:15 - 17.55: Qualifying Heats
Sunday 26th March
09:00 - 10:05: Warm-up
10:10 - 11:45: Super Heats
13:15 - 14:40: Finals