After only a few months in existence, the International Karting Ranking (IKR) is already fully operational with many results and will become even more attractive as competitions are held and its use becomes more diverse.
According to the presentation made by the FIA Karting at the time of its launch: “The IKR is a computerised ranking system including all drivers holding a licence issued by a National Sporting Authority recognised by the FIA and taking part in a karting competition registered on the FIA Karting international calendar, the results of which produce an overall ranking of the drivers.”
Launched at the very beginning of the year, the IKR currently exceeds 800 drivers ranked following some fifteen events. The tool has therefore reached a sufficiently high threshold to offer true representativeness with 14 categories taken into account. The next stage is close at hand: the first drivers will soon reach the maximum of eight events counted per year and the ranking will then be based solely on the eight best results, the worst ones being automatically discounted. This will gradually remove the disparity caused by the lack of weighting in the initial phase. The sharpness of the comparison of performances will then become even finer.
A wide range of categories represented
The IKR is far from being limited to the FIA Karting categories and the cups of approved brands are perfectly integrated (Rotax Max Challenge Euro Trophy and IAME Euro Series for the moment). Very active in Italy, the Group 3 Minis are also strongly represented. Several coefficients have been introduced to harmonise the results of a growing database.
Multiple possibilities
Of course, the top position in the general classification, which will crown the best driver of 2023 at the end of the year, is the dream of many contenders. This remains a total unknown, with so many competitions still to be contested and so many points to be distributed… The category classification is also attracting a great deal of attention in addition to the official titles awarded by FIA Karting. The different criteria used offer several possibilities for ranking to add excitement to the current season and to enhance the performances at the end of the year. Everyone can use the IKR as they wish to gain more publicity or facilitate their search for new partners on a new basis administered by the FIA.
A simulator allows you to estimate the number of points that an event can earn according to its characteristics. The progression in the ranking can also be displayed in the form of a graph with just a click on a driver’s name.
What does the IKR currently show?
The Mini drivers still have an advantage in the overall ranking due to the higher number of races they have been able to participate in since the season started. But this will not last, as all categories are gradually approaching the eight competitions counted. At the moment, the young Turkish driver Iskender Zulfikari (Mini) is leading the ranking with 4901 points, followed by the Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn, with 4796 points, and the Spanish Bosco Arias Chavari, 4753 points. The gaps are thus tight depending on the large number of points awarded. Other categories appear in the top 10 with Italian Cristian Bertuca (KZ2) in 7th with 4325 points and OK-Junior driver Stepan Antonov in 10th with 3571 points.
The FIA Karting event in Zuera has just opened the score in KZ, by allocating points that will be added to those previously registered in other categories. For example, Latvian Tomass Stolcermanis, 13th, moved up eight places at the end of the weekend, his 570 points scored in KZ2 being added to the 2910 previously scored in OK.
The IKR is a very interesting tool that should be a great success with competitors, enthusiasts and professionals.
Find the International Karting Ranking on the FIA Karting website.
Info Kartcom