International engine statistics at the start of the 2024 season

The trend noted last year was confirmed at the first 2024 international events, and the statistics published for each competition on Kartcom provide an overview of the situation. The only engine manufacturer not to have its own brand cup, TM Kart takes the lion’s share with around 55% of the market in the KZ2, OK, OK-Junior, OK-N Junior and Mini Gr.3 categories. IAME follows in 2nd place with 35% of participants, ahead of Vortex, which attracts almost 10% of the field.

IAME has another larger market thanks to its numerous international and national IAME Series around the X30 throughout the world, while Vortex successfully operates several Rok Cup series on different continents.

The current decline in the proportion of Vortex engines in the international and Mini Gr.3 categories appears to have two main causes. OTK Kart Group has reviewed its competition strategy since the COVID-19 pandemic, concentrating exclusively on the Tony Kart Racing Team at the expense of the Kosmic Racing Department and the Exprit Racing Team.

On the other hand, several major private teams have abandoned their usual Vortex engines in favour of TM Kart or IAME. Forza Racing switched to TM Kart well before the others, abandoning the Vortex brand in 2018.

The switch to TM Kart by Ricky Flynn Motorsport 2023 was a resounding change. It should be noted that the British team’s favourite Vortex tuner, ONE Engines, based in Denmark, has since refocused its business away from top-level competition. Both from Finland and former Vortex customers, Kohtala Sports used Gillard/TM Karts last season and Koski Motorsport equipped its Tony Kart chassis with IAME engines in 2023. Swedish team Ward Racing, a long-time Vortex loyalist, also turned to TM Kart this year to power its Tony Kart chassis.

In absolute terms, Vortex’s results remain excellent. Lindblom finished on the podium of the Junior World Championship last year, Vortex won the 2022 Junior World Championship with Tarnvanichkul and finished 2nd in OK with Taponen and 2nd in KZ with Millel.

At Franciacorta in the WSK Super Master Series last weekend, Tom Leuillet (Tony Kart/Vortex) won in KZ2, while Sebastiano Pavan (Tony Kart/Vortex) was the big OK leader before the Final.

The fact remains that the combination of KR chassis with IAME engines is currently very popular and that TM Kart still offers a very good base for many tuners. What is certain is that a few races at the start of the season only give a few indications of the overall result for the year and that many things can happen to qualify this rapid winter observation.

Info KARTCOM Selection / Photo © KSP