Like last year, the Autombile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has chosen to match the date of the 24-hour Karting with another very popular event, the 24-hour Trucks on the famous Bugatti circuit next to the kart track. This means that the FIA Karting Endurance Championship and the penultimate round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship which will be held concomitantly in Le Mans (FRA) from 27th to 29th September 2019 can count on a large cumulative contingent of fans.
This year, the karts of the GP1 category competing for the FIA Karting Endurance Champion title will use MG tyres for the first time, as the brand has won the FIA call for tenders for endurance karting.
Factory Sodikart team defends its title
Crowned in 2018, the Sodikart team was the first time a manufacturer was represented on the top step of the podium. The French factory has decided to embark on the adventure again with a Sodi / TM Racing kart which will be driven by Anthony Abbasse and Bas Lammers, two big names in the international KZ category, as well as two rising stars, Adrien Renaudin, the FIA Karting European Champion - KZ2 of 2018, and Jean Nomblot, whose talent is shining through during the major races.
The race is no foregone conclusion for the Nantes brand, as its team will face very experienced private teams, real specialists in the discipline. In particular "Rouen Espace Karting", the French team managed by Nicolas Scelles, victorious in 2018, this year will use a very well prepared Sodi / Iame in the hands of drivers with several victories in the 24 hours to their credit. Wintec, another French team led by Rodolphe Besnard using a Sodi / Vortex, is also very successful. The Kart Mag team and its legendary number 50 this year brings together a rejuvenated line-up driving a Tony Kart / Vortex under the direction of Thierry Hardouin. Finally the Czech Endurance Karting team led by Jaromir Badgar will again use a CRG / Iame.
The 34th edition of the 24 Hours Karting will have a total field of 27 teams thanks to karts in the GP2 category, which usually participate in the French Endurance Championship. The event will also feature a competition for 8-12 year olds from the FFSA Minime and Cadet categories in two 24-minute races. Lastly, historic karts will traditionally have their place in the 20,000 rpm formula.
Provisional Timetable of the FIA Karting Endurance Championship
Thursday, 26th September
16:00 - 19:30: Free Practice
21:00 - 23:30: Free Night Practice
Friday, 27th September
08:30 - 10:30: Free Practice
13:50 - 14:20: Free Practice
15:25 - 15:35: Qualifying Practice Q4
16:05 - 16:15: Qualifying Practice Q3
17:00 - 17:10: Qualifying Practice Q2
17:40 - 17:50: Qualifying Practice Q1
Saturday, 28th September
09:00 - 09:30: Warm up
13:50 - 14:40: Grid layout and team presentation
15:00: Start of the 24Hrs
Sunday, 29th September
15:00: Finish of the 24Hrs and podiums