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KF1 was the top level ofkarting. It is open to drivers aged 15 and up.
This class used to be calledFormula A and has changed since January 2007 whenCIK-FIA decided to replace the 100 cc water-cooledtwo-stroke engines with 125 cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) water-cooled two-stroke engines (KF type). The engines produce 40 hp (30 kW).KF1 class karts use hand-operated front brakes. The front brakes are activated by a Lever. Chassis and engines must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Minimum weight is 160 kg (350 lb) with driver.[1][2]
Karts are equipped with an electric starter and clutch. The enginerpm is limited at 16,000 rpm. Top speed is around 140 km/h (87 mph), depending on circuits.[3][4]
As theFormula One of karting, KF1 has high costs and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. It is needed to finance much practice, training and testing, team costs, chassis and engines, tires and parts, and traveling. Most teams in this category are factory teams or financed by chassis or engine manufacturers.[1]
Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in theKF3 orKF2 classes where they must finish in the top 34 to qualify to compete in KF1. Once in KF1, drivers either stay for a few years to improve their skills before moving on tocar racing, or they become professional kart racers and race in KF1 until they retire.[5] Many successful racing drivers and all current F1 drivers started their careers in karts, and KF1 has been home to rivalries involving the likes ofLewis Hamilton,Nico Rosberg andRobert Kubica in the early 2000s,[6][7] as well asMax Verstappen andNicklas Nielsen in more recent times.[8][9] The class also played a leading role in the so-called golden era of karting in the 80s and 90s.[10]
There is aEuropean KF1 Championship, a World Cup, and aWorld Championship, the sport's main event.[2][11] Since 2016 the new generation of Original Karts (OK) machines have taken over from the old KF engines.[12][13]
| Year | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  Lewis Hamilton | CRG | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2001 |  Carlo van Dam | Gillard | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2002 |  David Hemkemeyer | Mach 1 | KZH | Bridgestone |
| 2003 | Bas Lammers | Swiss Hutless | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2004 | Nick de Bruijn | Gillard | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2005 |  Marco Ardigò | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2006 | Marco Ardigò | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2007 | Marco Ardigò | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2008 | Marco Ardigò | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2009 |  Aaro Vainio | Maranello | Maxter | Bridgestone |
| 2010 | ||||
| 2011 |  Alexander Albon | Intrepid | TM | Bridgestone |
| 2012 | Ben Barnicoat | ART GP | Parilla | Vega |
| 2013 | Max Verstappen | CRG | TM | Vega |
| 2014 | Callum Ilott | Zanardi | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2015 | Ben Hanley | Mad-Croc | TM | Vega |
| 2016 |  Pedro Hiltbrand | CRG | Parilla | Vega |
| 2017 |  Sami Taoufik | FA Kart | Vortex | LeCont |
| 2018 | Hannes Janker | Kart Republic | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2019 | Lorenzo Travisanutto | Kart Republic | Parilla | LeCont |
| 2020 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Kart Republic | Parilla | LeCont |
| 2021 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Kart Republic | Parilla | MG |
| 2022 |  Kean Nakamura-Berta | Kart Republic | Parilla | MG |
| 2023 | René Lammers | Parolin | TM | MG |
| Year | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |  Wade Cunningham | CRG | Maxter | Bridgestone |
| 2004 | Davide Forè | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2005 | Oliver Oakes | Gillard | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2006 | Davide Forè | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2007 | Marco Ardigò | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2008 | Marco Ardigò | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2009 |  Arnaud Kozlinski | CRG | Maxter | Bridgestone |
| 2010 | Nyck de Vries | Zanardi | Parilla | Dunlop |
| 2011 | Nyck de Vries | Zanardi | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2012 | Flavio Camponeschi | Tony Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2013 | Tom Joyner | Zanardi | TM | Vega |
| 2014 | Lando Norris | FA Kart | Vortex | Bridgestone |
| 2015 |  Karol Basz | Kosmic | Vortex | Vega |
| 2016 | Pedro Hiltbrand | CRG | Parilla | Vega |
| 2017 | Danny Keirle | Zanardi | Parilla | LeCont |
| 2018 | Lorenzo Travisanutto | Kart Republic | Parilla | Bridgestone |
| 2019 | Lorenzo Travisanutto | Kart Republic | Parilla | LeCont |
| 2020 | Callum Bradshaw | Tony Kart | Vortex | LeCont |
| 2021 | Tuukka Taponen | Tony Kart | Vortex | MG |
| 2022 |  Matheus Morgatto | Kart Republic | Parilla | MG |
| 2023 |  Kirill Kutskov | Kart Republic | IAME | MG |
