GPOs on the Home Stretch!

Now that there is less than one month to go before the launching of the Grand Prix Open Karting FFSA, all available forces have been mobilised to ensure the success of the new GPO concept from its very first round, to be held on 28 and 29 March on the international circuit of Angerville (91). The Internet site “gpokarting.com” is now a fundamental reference point for all the information (updated daily) needed by competitors, the media and kart fans. It is now time to review major innovations introduced by the GPOs.

Despite an unfavourable international economic context, the current number of registrations shows that the GPO spirit promoted by Thierry Germanovitch and his team has provided the right answer to the expectations of drivers and teams, both in France and abroad. Official supporter of the GPOs, Alain Prost was not wrong. Everybody has understood that the GPOs mark an epic change in international karting, to favour sportsmanship, friendship and access for a higher number of drivers.

Important: the Angerville GPO will offer Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, Swiss, etc. drivers the only opportunity to get ready before the qualifying round of the European KF2 & KF3 Championship!

Improvements made to the Championship have taken into account the observations made by drivers and teams throughout the 2008 season, especially as far as sports fairness is concerned.

Tyres. With a quality similar to that of the tyres used in FIA-CIK races, Bridgestone tyres for the GPOs will be marked by the same bar code used by the International federation. A perfectly even quality, guaranteed by the traceability of the covers supplied and by the simplified checks.

KF Clutches. To avoid temptations and reassure all the participants, the FFSA and the GPOs have invested in an electronic check system installed on each kart. It is the new Alspy by Alfano, also adopted in official CIK races. The issue of KF clutch conformity has therefore been solved for the GPOs…

Race commissioners. The FFSA and GPO promoters are on the same wavelength on the subject. Regardless of whether they are sport or technical commissioners, they have been chosen by the FFSA based on their competence, but also on their determination to contribute to an important and pleasant event for everybody, in line with the GPO spirit.

Constructors. The new Constructor French Championship (chassis) is supported by Kartmag. Like in F1, in 2009, a constructor will win and all the registered drivers will be able to contribute to its victory. Indeed, for each GPO, the two best GPO results will be taken into account for each constructor, regardless of the driver. An excellent opportunity for a private driver to be noticed by the constructor interested in these rankings.

Points. The GPOs focus mostly on drivers, from the first to the last of them. According to this assumption, the point system has been completely revised. Drivers will set points in the final, but also in the pre-finals, in timed qualifying and also if they gain the best lap.

Awards. At least 60.000 euro “cash” will be distributed in addition to other prizes, such as a day of tests in single-seaters – offered thanks to a partnership with Auto Sport Academy – or invitations to race in the US at the Florida Winter Tour! Upon request of many drivers, the promoter has decided to pay these prizes “race by race”, according to a table that will soon be communicated.

Media. The partnership with Motors TV will allow full coverage of the GPOs by a TV with a very large audience (36 countries!). However, the GPO coverage will also be ensured by the press, in particular French Kartmag and Auto Hebdo, Italian TKart, and British Karting Magazine. On the Internet, the extraordinary site “gpokarting.com” is already available, with full information about the GPO, thanks to its partnership with Kartcom.