Introduced in 1991, the CIK-FIA Karting World Cup is traditionally held in Japan, on the Suzuka circuit, next to the famous automobile circuit (except in 2000 when it took place at Motegi).
The quality of the organisation and the specificities of the fast course of Suzuka make this event one of the most interesting and appreciated ones of every international Karting season. The World Cup for KF1, which will be organised on 24 and 25 May 2008, is twinned with an Asia-Pacific Championship for the KF2 category.
Having discovered the performance of the new KF engines in the 2007 edition and especially remarked the excellent reliability of engines (every participant in the 2007 KF2 final at Suzuka saw the chequered flag), the JAF (the Japanese National Sporting Authority) has introduced KF1 and KF2 this season in its national championship, thus replacing the 100 cc Formula A and ICA. This has earned the World Cup for KF1, and even more so the Asia-Pacific KF2 Championship, a strong local participation.
Further to the 2007 season in which he did not put a foot wrong, incidentally with a win at Suzuka, the Italian Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) will be tipped to prevail again; however, the champion concerned is fully aware that competition will be fiercer than twelve months ago. It will firstly come from his own team-mates, Gary Catt, Matias Laine and Will Stevens, the latter also having under his belt a victory at Suzuka, which he landed last year in KF2. Against the drivers racing for Tony-Kart and associate teams (Kosmic and FA Kart), the Birel (with Sauro Cesetti, Jason Parrott and Libor Toman), Maranello (with Davide Fore) and Chiesa (with Luca Giacomello) teams will be well represented. It will also be necessary to keep a close eye on Richard Bradley (Wright-Parilla) further to his very convincing beginning of season in the British Championship. As for Japanese drivers, there will be six of them: Kazuya Ishii (who regularly competes in Europe), Hiroyuki Inoue, Keita Kawaguchi, Toshikazu Harada, Shoji Sato and Hiroyuki Shiraiwa.
With 44 entries, the Asia-Pacific KF2 Championship will cut a fine figure and bring together a high-quality European delegation and the best Japanese kartmen. The 2007 European Junior Champion, the Briton Jack Harvey, will be the leader of European competitors, who will also include the Finn Petri Suvanto, the Spaniard Adria Domenech, the Pole Karol Basz and Italy’s Matteo Vigano, Giacomo Patrono and “Giaguaro Nero”. And as regards Japan, some of the most prominent drivers should be Yoshihaki Maehara, Jun Nakamura and Hiroaki Watanani.
Qualifying practice and heats will be staged on Saturday 24 May, and pre-finals & finals on the Sunday. All the results will be available live on www.cikfia.com
Info CIK/FIA