The IKR in mid-May: Dries van Langendonck in the lead

The FIA International Karting Ranking (IKR) has been relatively quiet since the start of the 2024 season. It’s worth taking a look at the situation on 14th May, when the FIA Karting European OK and Junior Championships have passed the mid-season mark, as has the RGMMC Champions of the Future Euro Series.

There are three preliminary points that should set the scene. First of all, the OK-N and OK-N Junior categories are making their debut at international level, which may seem paradoxical given the national orientation that was the impetus for their creation, thanks to WSK Promotion and the new RGMMC Champions of the Future Academy Program series. These two private series embody two extremes in the approach to competition, with WSK retaining the classic scheme of multi-brand equipment operated by professional teams, while the Academy Program uses the ‘arrive & drive’ concept with its turnkey services on one-design equipment. This latter solution could be the way of the future.

Secondly, the IKR evolved at the start of the year with the creation of a separate tab for national competitions containing Mini, Mini U10, OK-N and OK-N Junior, as well as Micro Max, Mini Max, Max Junior N and Max Senior N, as well as DSKC, the KZ2 Cup of the German Championship. In this National tab, the top five results are counted instead of the top eight in International.

Finally, the KZ2/KZ2 Masters are in a special situation in 2024. The European Championship lost an event and was delayed until the beginning of July due to the late choice of Dunlop ‘Option’ tyres by the FIA. The results counted in the IKR in KZ2 and KZ2 Master come solely from WSK Promotion events.

As of 14th May 2024, 20 events are counted in the IKR, involving five different European countries and 13 international categories for 663 drivers. 584 drivers are currently classified in the National category.

General International Ranking

Three OK-Junior drivers occupy the top three with Dries van Langendonck (BEL) leading ahead of Niklas Schaufler (AUT) and Christian Costoya (ESP), which is different from the provisional European Championship standings in which van Langendonck leads ahead of Costoya and Iacopo Martinese (ITA). Ean Eyckmans (BEL) is the top OK-rated driver in the IKR in 4th place, while Filippo Sala (ITA) OK-Junior is 5th.

Thomas Pradier (OKJ and X30 J) is the best-placed Frenchman in 22nd position, 26th-placed Tom Leuillet (KZ2) is 2nd and Emilien Denner (KZ2) 3rd with his 48th position.

National general standings

Nicolo Perico (ITA) leads ahead of four other Mini drivers, Daniel Miron Lorente (NLD), William Calleja (AUS), then Cristian Blandino (ITA) and Mason Robertson (GBR). In 6th place, Bogdan Cosma Cristofor (ROU) is the top OK-NJ.

The top Frenchman, Jean Poujol (Mini) is 19th, well ahead of Lucas Bohomme (Mini) 86th and Mathis Brageot (Mini) 100th.

Consult the IKR and use the various sorting options to display the ranking that you’re interested in.

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