The World Championship returns to Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is proud to host one of the two CIK-FIA World Competitions of the 2016 season at the circuit of Kristianstad. Three categories, 173 Drivers, 45 nations and five continents are the elements of the CIK-FIA World Championship for KZ, the CIK-FIA International Super Cup for KZ2 and CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy to be held together from 1st to 4th September 2016 on the Asum Ring circuit.

After Le Mans (FRA) in 2015 and Sarno (ITA) in 2014, Sweden is soon to organise the CIK-FIA World Competition open to the KZ, KZ2 and Academy categories. The Kristianstad circuit, the organising club and the Swedish ASN, the SBF, have been deservedly rewarded for the efforts made over several years to reach the level of organisation required for such a Competition, 34 years after the last World Karting Championship held on Swedish soil, at Kalmar in 1982. The 1231 m of the Asum Ring track offers a particularly technical framework for sporting confrontation and surprises may well decide the outcome. Italy tops the best represented nations with 29 Drivers entered, ahead of Sweden with 25 Drivers. In total, nearly 50 Scandinavian Drivers are on the lists, proof of the dynamism of the discipline in northern Europe.

Barrichello among the professionals in World KZ
A professional competition for many, the CIK-FIA World Championship for KZ will bring together the elite of the Karting world totaling an impressive international record. The Italian Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) will arrive in Sweden crowned as the European Champion in late July against the Czech Patrik Hajek (Kosmic / Vortex / Vega) and the Frenchman Jérémy Iglesias (Sodi / TM Racing / Vega). The Italian clan can also count on Paolo De Conto (CRG / TM Racing / Vega), Flavio Camponeschi (CRG / Parilla / Vega), Davide Fore (Righetti Ridolfi / TM Racing / Vega) and Leonardo Lorandi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), a young man moving up from KZ2. This is also the case for the Dutchman Stan Pex (CRG / Vortex / Vega) supporting his brother Jorrit (CRG / Vortex / Vega), the 2015 World Champion. Anthony Abbasse (Sodi / TM Racing / Vega) will again set off in search of a major title for France in the company of Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG / TM Racing / Vega), who will make a comeback for this occasion. We will also watch out for the Swedes Joel Johansson (Righetti Ridolfi / TM Racing / Vega) and Douglas Lundberg (Mach 1 / TM Racing / Vega) who are always formidable at home. The Brazilian former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello, who has regularly competed in karting for several seasons, has decided to take on a worthy challenge by taking part in this Championship driving a BirelART / Parilla / Vega against the specialists in the category.

Eclectic and very tough field in KZ2
The CIK-FIA International Super Cup for KZ2 promises an absorbing spectacle with 89 entries including the top seeds of the recent CIK-FIA European Championship for KZ2. The Champion, the Italian Fabian Federer (CRG / Modena Engines / Vega), will again face most of the European top 10 with his compatriots Matteo Vigano (Top Kart / Parilla / Vega), Alessandro Irlando ( Energy / TM Racing / Vega) and Luca Corberi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega). Other specialists in the category will join the confrontation. This is the case for the Frenchman Alexandre Arrue (Righetti Ridolfi / TM Racing / Vega), 3rd in 2013, or for the Spaniard Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG / Maxter / Vega), the Vice-European Champion of 2015. But the 2016 Competition will feature several top drivers more used to direct-drive karts who are ready to try their luck with the gearbox engines. These include the Briton Tom Joyner (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega), the Spaniard Marta Garcia Lopez (Evokart / Parilla / Vega), the Swede Noah Milell (Exprit / Vortex / Vega), the Russian Alexander Smolyar (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and the Dutchmen Martijn Van Leeuwen (BirelART / Parilla / Vega) and Bent Viscaal (CRG / TM Racing / Vega).

Coronation expected for Bradshaw in the Academy
This one-make Competition aimed at revealing young talents from around the world this year uses new equipment provided by OTK Kart Group. 51 drivers from 39 nations are using Exprit chassis and the Vortex OK-Junior engine, but with a specific carburetor, and Vega tyres. The CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy should go to the Briton Callum Bradshaw after the third and final Competition of 2016 with his lead of almost 30 points in the standings and his performance on the track. Only the Belgian Xavier Handsaeme can mathematically deny him the overall victory. The places of honour should be decided between the Dane Mads Eielso Hansen, the Briton Oliver Clarke and the Swede Alfred Nilsson. The final top 10 will no doubt be full of fierce battles between many participants.