KF1 was the top level of karting. It is open to drivers aged 15 and up.
This class used to be called Formula A and has changed since January 2007 when CIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke engines (KF type). The engines produce . KF1 class karts use hand-operated front brakes. The front brakes are activated by a Lever. Chassis and engines must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Minimum weight is with driver.
Karts are equipped with an electric starter and clutch. The engine rpm is limited at 16,000 rpm. Top speed is around , depending on circuits.
As the Formula One of karting, KF1 has high costs and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. It is needed to finance much practice, training and testing, team costs, chassis and engines, tires and parts, and traveling. Most teams in this category are factory teams or financed by chassis or engine manufacturers.
Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in the KF3 or KF2 classes where they must finish in the top 34 to qualify to compete in KF1. Once in KF1, drivers either stay for a few years to improve their skills before moving on to car racing, or they become professional kart racers and race in KF1 until they retire. Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers started their careers in karts, and KF1 has been home to rivalries involving the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica in the early 2000s, as well as Max Verstappen and Nicklas Nielsen in more recent times. The class also played a leading role in the so-called golden era of karting in the 80s and 90s.
There is a European KF1 Championship, a World Cup, and a World Championship, the sport's main event. Since 2016 the new generation of Original Karts (OK) machines have taken over from the old KF engines.
Champions +European Champions since 2000 Year Driver Chassis Engine Tyres 2000 Lewis Hamilton CRG Parilla Bridgestone 2001 Carlo van Dam Gillard Parilla Bridgestone 2002 David Hemkemeyer Mach 1 KZH Bridgestone 2003 Bas Lammers Swiss Hutless Vortex Bridgestone 2004 Nick de Bruijn Gillard Parilla Bridgestone 2005 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2006 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2007 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2008 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2009 Aaro Vainio Maranello Maxter Bridgestone 2010 2011 Alexander Albon Intrepid TM Bridgestone 2012 Ben Barnicoat ART GP Parilla Vega 2013 Max Verstappen CRG TM Vega 2014 Callum Ilott Zanardi Parilla Bridgestone 2015 Ben Hanley Mad-Croc TM Vega 2016 Pedro Hiltbrand CRG Parilla Vega 2017 Sami Taoufik FA Kart Vortex LeCont 2018 Hannes Janker Kart Republic Parilla Bridgestone 2019 Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla LeCont 2020 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart Republic Parilla LeCont 2021 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Kart Republic Parilla MG 2022 Kean Nakamura-Berta Kart Republic Parilla MG 2023 René Lammers Parolin TM MG
+World Champions since 2003 Year Driver Chassis Engine Tyres 2003 Wade Cunningham CRG Maxter Bridgestone 2004 Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2005 Oliver Oakes Gillard Parilla Bridgestone 2006 Davide Forè Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2007 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2008 Marco Ardigò Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2009 Arnaud Kozlinski CRG Maxter Bridgestone 2010 Nyck de Vries Zanardi Parilla Dunlop 2011 Nyck de Vries Zanardi Parilla Bridgestone 2012 Flavio Camponeschi Tony Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2013 Tom Joyner Zanardi TM Vega 2014 Lando Norris FA Kart Vortex Bridgestone 2015 Karol Basz Kosmic Vortex Vega 2016 Pedro Hiltbrand CRG Parilla Vega 2017 Danny Keirle Zanardi Parilla LeCont 2018 Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla Bridgestone 2019 Lorenzo Travisanutto Kart Republic Parilla LeCont 2020 Callum Bradshaw Tony Kart Vortex LeCont 2021 Tuukka Taponen Tony Kart Vortex MG 2022 Matheus Morgatto Kart Republic Parilla MG 2023 Kirill Kutskov Kart Republic IAME MG
See also KF2, a KF1 feeder series KF3, a KF1 and KF2 feeder series KZ1, the fastest KZ karting racing category KZ2, the second fastest KZ karting racing category Superkart, road racing with kart sized open-wheel cars
References
External links CIK-FIA website Karting 1 – Karting Information. Tips, Guides, Interviews, and Karting Features