The World Karting Championship’s previous visit to the UK was back in 2017, marking the first time the prestigious international event had been held in the country for more than 50 years. This year, after beating 18 other countries that applied for the opportunity to host, it returns again, to play host to some of motorsports biggest future stars.

“It’s hard to put into words, but this is the ultimate event in the karting world,” explains Nigel Edwards, the Chairman of Trent Valley Kart Club, based at PFi. “It is a huge festival of
karting, spread over four days and involving only the most successful drivers in the world – although we do expect to also have some UK ‘wildcards.’

“I am the Karting FIA Race Director and also sit on the FIA Kart Sport Working Group, so with my support, and that of the TVKC Team, we decided we would like to have another go at hosting this event. We were delighted to be selected. It is getting even more popular year by year, with 24 countries applying to host next year’s event!”

The requirements for an international-level event can only be met by few venues around the world, with huge numbers of competitors, team members and officials flocking in for the
big long weekend. The team at PFi has been preparing long and hard, and Edwards says no stone has been left unturned to ensure the event is as successful as possible.

“Even compared to 2017, the level of changes within the sport on and off track are huge,” he explains. “The infrastructure and paddock requirements are more demanding than ever;
hospitality units are getting bigger; support vehicles are bigger, with trucks and articulated trailers the order of the day; and that makes everything much more challenging.

“The team started preparations before Christmas and that is still ongoing right up to the start, with board members and a volunteer team of around 12 people. We will have more than 70 marshals and officials on site, with an additional logistics team involved for parking up vehicles and organising the paddock.”

It is anticipated there will be around 250 drivers taking part in the three classes, which means that with their mechanics, team helpers and support staff there could easily be 1,500
personnel solely participating in the racing in the event, let alone the 2,500 spectators that are expected to come in over the weekend.

“All those people will need accommodation for almost a week, so the local hotels, restaurants and pubs will be very busy indeed,” adds Edwards. “The nearby towns of Lincoln, Newark and Grantham are very popular, and we expect that they will all benefit from this influx of visitors during this event”

Not only are the drivers on show, the circuit organisers and the venue itself are too. The track is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year – with its bridge extension 12 years ago
setting it apart and making it unique. It remains renowned as one of the best karting circuits in the world, and its status as a World Championship venue is just reward.

It is a quite unique venue compared to most, and Edwards explains: “New track developments, large tracks, large buildings and vast spaces typify a modern international kart complex, but PFi is one of the more traditional venues and the track is how a kart track should be. It is regarded as a ‘challenge’ and worthy of holding this prestigious event.

“There have been plenty of challenges in setting the event up this time, in some part due to Brexit tainting some of the overseas drivers for several years, but hopefully ‘breaking the
mould’ this year will show them that we are still open for business, without too many complications getting here.

“The UK is one of the most competitive karting and motorsport countries in the world and we are proud to be flying the flag with this event. The board members of TVKC have worked tirelessly and with meticulous planning and hard work, all of which we know will ensure the event is truly ‘world’ class. All I can say now is bring it on!”

“It is an honour to be acting as Vice President for FIA Karting,” noted Motorsport UK Sport & Safety Director John Ryan, “and a very proud moment to welcome the most elite Karting event of the year to my home country to demonstrate what the UK has to offer. It is thanks to Trent Valley Kart Club and PFI that we can welcome the prestigious FIA Karting Championship back to the UK.

Karting serves as a pathway for many drivers to take the next step in their motorsport career, and we look forward to seeing an action-packed week of racing at a track which is renowned for being thrilling and testing in equal measure. Events of this scale couldn’t go ahead without the support and dedication of the visiting officials and marshals, whose time and expertise ensure that we can host a safe and fun event for everyone involved.”

“It is with great pleasure we return to the United Kingdom to host the world most prestigious karting event,” announced James Geidel, President of the RGMMC Group, promoter of the FIA Karting Championships. “The UK is known for being the home of motorsport, and has a great passion for all forms of the sport. It is the proving ground for drivers, engineers and sporting officials.”

“The 2024 edition of the FIA Karting World championship will bring over 250 drivers across three categories from all corners of the world to compete in the single round event. With live broadcast available throughout the weekend, and with over 60 networks represented in 128 territories airing the post-race highlight package, never before has karting been so visible to the public.

“Over the past six months we have been working hard with all parties to ensure a well-run event and enjoyable experience for the fans. We would like to thank the host-Club, and PFi for all the efforts made to ensure the venue is up to par; Motorsport UK for the support and officials needed to host the event; all our logistic partners which have helped overcome the new challenges of entering the United Kingdom since Brexit; and most of all, the teams and competitors, for the huge effort needed to compete at the FIA Karting World Championship.”

Racing Lines

The race format will include free practice and Qualifying Practice on the Friday, with Qualifying Heats and Super Heats running until Sunday morning and the 36-kart Finals on Sunday afternoon.

The PFi Circuit is one of the UK’s most challenging to drive, and to find out how best to tackle it, Revolution spoke to one of the UK’s most decorated kart drivers, Joe Turney – who in 2018 made history by winning the most British, European and International titles of any British driver in a season, and is currently an official driver for the Kart Republic Racing Team.

Turns 1 and 2

This fast S corner should be easy to take flat-out on warm slicks but becomes a lot more of a challenge if it’s wet. There is very little run off, so any mistake can be very costly.

Turn 3 – The Bowl 

As the drivers come out from under the bridge, they need to bring the kart right to open up the corner and use the banking to carry a lot of speed around it. This makes it a very physical corner, due to the high G-forces.

Turns 4 and 5 

It’s crucial to hold onto the wheel tightly here as its the bumpiest part of the track. Drivers should keep to the left on the exit of Turn 4 to prepare for Turn 5 and the long back straight, off the bridge down to the first hairpin. 

Turn 6 (Hairpin 1) 

This offers the best overtaking opportunity on the track. Drivers need to brake as late as possible, while still keeping an eye on the exit of the corner. Look out here for late overtakes, as well as first and last lap incidents. 

Turn 7 (Hairpin 2) 

This 180-degree corner is a mirror image of Hairpin 1, but the different entry speed and lower grip levels make it a totally different challenge. It offers another good overtaking opportunity, so again look out for incidents and switchback moves throughout the race. 

Turns 8 and 9 – The Chicane 

This is a fast chicane where you drivers need to pick their line – deciding whether to opt for the first kerb or not – be precise and focus on a good exit. 

Turn 10 – 90-right 

This fast 90-degree right hander has a brutal exit kerb and is the place where a lot of last-lap battles are either won or lost. It’s important to keep the kart within track limits on the exit. 

Turns 11 and 12 – Mike Wilson Complex 

Starting with a double-apex long right, drivers need to keep in a good position for the next left, which is the tightest corner on the track, but not exit too wide, as run off is limited and followed by a wall. 

Turns 13 and 14 – Last Chicane 

Get this right, and it sets up the next lap, and drivers need to use the kerb on the left to get the best possible run down the Start / Finish straight. Those who are pushing hard will exit onto the rumble strip, looking up to the left quickly to see any signals from their mechanics. 

Understanding the Categories 

The CIK-FIA organises three different FIA Karting World Championships every year, the OK and OK-Junior categories, which will be run at PFi this year, and the KZ category, which will take place at Portimao in Portugal in mid-October. There is also the first OK-N FIA Karting World Cup, which will be run as a third event at PFi this year. 

OK karts 

This is for drivers aged 14 and up and represents the pinnacle of competition for direct-drive karts. This has created the greatest champions in karting history, and features the best young hopefuls racing before they move to single-seaters. In the past, it has been called Formula A, ICA and KF. 

The series uses a CIK-FIA homologated chassis with rear-only hydraulic brakes. The engine is a water-cooled 125cc 2-stroke with balance shaft, running to a maximum of 16,000rpm. It has a simplified exhaust valve, one-design exhaust, 24mm diameter butterfly carburettor with no gearbox, clutch, starter or battery and a minimum weight of 150kg with driver. 

OK Junior karts 

This is aimed at 12-14-year-olds and sees fierce competition, with many big teams. Its most recent notable alumni, Logan Sargent, now races in F1 with Williams. It follows a similar specification to OK on chassis and engine, but runs at a lower 14,000rpm with no exhaust valve, a 20mm diameter butterfly carburettor and a minimum weight of 140 kg with driver. 

OK-N karts 

This new concept, derived from the premier OK class, was launched last year to develop the karting base. The aim is to enable National Championships to use a universal category, adapted to all the Competitors of each National Sporting Authority (NSA), to strengthen competition from the bottom up. 

The category is for drivers aged 15 years of age and over, with a CIK-FIA approved chassis, rear brake only, hydraulic control. The engine is a water-cooled 125cc two-stroke with balance shaft and maximum of 15,000rpm. There is no gear change, no clutch, no starter and no battery, with a minimum weight of 155kg including driver. 

KZ / KZ2 karts  

These two categories are for gearbox karts and share the same specifications except for chassis and brakes, which are open in KZ. The 125cc two-stroke engine provides close to 50bhp, with a six-speed gearbox, hydraulic brakes on all wheels, and a minimum weight of 170kg in KZ and 175kg in KZ2, with driver. The KZ category was won by Max Verstappen in 2013, and this year’s battle will take place at Portimao, and are not racing at PFI in September.