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KZ (karting)

International kart racing class

Field	Value
name	KZ
category	Kart racing
region	International
inaugural	(as Formula C)
affiliations	CIK-FIA
champion driver	{{plainlist
champion team	{{plainlist
website	Official website

ITA Giuseppe Palomba
(World, 2024)
FRA Mattéo Spirgel
(European, 2025)
FRA Sodi-TM
(World, 2024)
FRA Sodi-TM
(European, 2025)

KZ is a kart racing class for drivers aged 15 and over, sanctioned by the CIK-FIA. Described as "the [Formula One] of karting", KZ is the primary gearbox class in FIA championships.

The class was originally called Formula C (FC), first introduced in 1974 at the European Championship as the first gearbox class in international kart racing. FC was contested at the World Championship from 1983 until 2000. In 2002—after 28 seasons of racing—FC was replaced by Super-ICC (S-ICC) and downgraded to World Cup status. In 2007, Super-ICC was replaced by KZ1 and renamed to KZ in 2013, when it returned to the World Championship.

KZ is contested as the primary gearbox class at the Karting World Championship and the Karting European Championship.

History

Formula C (1974–2001)

In 1974, Formula C (FC) was introduced as a 125 cc gearbox class for the European Championship, the first of its kind. FC was first held at the World Championship in 1983, remaining there until 2000.

Super-ICC (2002–2006)

In 2002, Super-ICC (S-ICC) regulations replaced FC, being downgraded to World Cup status.

KZ1/KZ (2007–present)

KZ1 replaced S-ICC in 2007. In 2013, KZ1 was renamed to KZ, returning to the World Championship.

Specification

KZ

There are eight main technical features of the KZ regulations, sharing the same specification as KZ2 except for chassis and brakes, which are open in KZ, as well as minimum weight:

125 cc direct-coupled, water-cooled two-stroke, mixed-lubrication engine.
Valve inlet in the piston skirt.
Carburettor with a maximum diameter of 30 mm.
Manual clutch.
Six-speed sequential gearbox.
Front and rear brakes with hydraulic foot control.
Premium tyres, medium gum compound.
Minimum weight 170 kg, driver included.

Engines, chassis, bodywork, brakes and tyres are subject to the homologation system put in place by the CIK-FIA. Each year, the tyres and the fuel for each category, as well as the KZ and KZ2 carburettor, are chosen after a call for tenders.

Reception

In 2024, the CIK-FIA mandated the use of Dunlop tyres in international KZ competition. Several drivers and teams criticised the move ahead of the following Karting European Championship, addressing concerns with their competitive performance.

Champions

KZ has been contested at the European Championship since 1974 and the World Championship/World Cup since 1983.

Gianluca Beggio holds the record for most KZ World Championships, with five. Notable KZ World Champions include four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen and two-time World Touring Car Champion Gabriele Tarquini. Verstappen is the only driver to win a CIK-FIA gearbox championship and the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

Gianfranco Baroni and Francesco Laudato hold the joint-record for most KZ European Championships, each with four.

By year

Year	World Championship	European Championship	Year	World Champion	Chassis	Engine
FC regulations created for the European Championship
Not held	NED Aad van Daalen	NED Landia	JAP Yamaha
NED Ben van Velzen	GER Mach1	JAP Yamaha
ITA Gianfranco Baroni	ITA All Kart	GBR BMC
ITA Gianfranco Baroni (2)	ITA All Kart	GBR BMC
ITA Gianfranco Baroni (3)	ITA All Kart	GBR BMC
ITA Giancarlo Vanaria	ITA Kalì Kart	ITA Pavesi
GER Frank Leuze	GER Mach1	GER KZH
ITA Gianfranco Baroni (4)	ITA Birel	GBR BMC
ITA Alessandro Piccini	ITA All Kart	ITA Morbidelli
FC mandated at the World Championship and replaced by ICC at the European Championship
ITA Gianni Mazzola	ITA Birel	ITA Balen		Not held
ITA Gabriele Tarquini	ITA Kalì Kart	ITA Balen
ITA Piermario Cantoni	ITA Kalì Kart	ITA Balen
ITA Fabrizio Giovanardi	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Pavesi
ITA Alessandro Piccini	ITA DAP	ITA Pavesi
SWE Peter Rydell	ITA All Kart	ITA Pavesi
ITA Gianluca Giorgi	ITA Kalì Kart	ITA Kalì Kart
ITA Alessandro Piccini (2)	ITA Birel	ITA Pavesi
ITA Alessandro Piccini (3)	ITA Birel	ITA Pavesi
ITA Danilo Rossi	ITA Kalì Kart	ITA Pavesi
ITA Alessandro Piccini (4)	ITA Kalì Kart	ITA Pavesi
ITA Jarno Trulli	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Pavesi
ITA Gianluca Beggio	ITA Biesse	ITA TM
FC mandated at the European Championship
ITA Gianluca Beggio (2)	ITA Biesse	ITA TM		ITA Alessandro Piccini (2)	ITA CRG	ITA Pavesi
ITA Gianluca Beggio (3)	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Gianluca Beggio	ITA Birel	ITA TM
ITA Gianluca Beggio (4)	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Gianluca Beggio (2)	ITA Birel	ITA TM
ITA Francesco Laudato	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Ronnie Quintarelli	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Vortex
ITA Gianluca Beggio (5)	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Francesco Laudato	ITA Birel	ITA TM
FC removed from the World Championship
Not held	ITA Alessandro Piccini (3)	ITA CRG	ITA TM
FC replaced by S-ICC**
Not held	ITA Francesco Laudato (2)
ITA Sauro Cesetti	ITA Birel
ITA Kosmic	ITA TM
ITA Vortex
S-ICC mandated at the World Cup
NED Robert Dirks	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Alessandro Manetti	ITA CRG	ITA Pavesi
ITA Ennio Gandolfi	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Francesco Laudato (3)	ITA Birel	ITA TM
ITA Francesco Laudato	ITA Birel	ITA TM		ITA Francesco Laudato (4)	ITA Birel	ITA TM
ITA Davide Forè	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Vortex		ITA Roberto Toninelli	ITA BRM	ITA TM
S-ICC replaced by KZ1**
BEL Jonathan Thonon	ITA CRG	ITA Maxter		ITA Alessandro Manetti (2)	ITA Intrepid	ITA TM
BEL Jonathan Thonon (2)	ITA CRG	ITA Maxter		BEL Jonathan Thonon	ITA CRG	ITA Maxter
BEL Jonathan Thonon (3)	ITA CRG	ITA Maxter		NED Bas Lammers	ITA Intrepid	ITA TM
NED Bas Lammers	ITA Intrepid	ITA TM		NED Bas Lammers (2)	ITA Intrepid	ITA TM
BEL Jonathan Thonon (4)	ITA CRG	ITA Maxter		ITA Paolo De Conto	ITA Energy Corse	ITA TM
NED Bas Lammers (2)	CZE Praga	ITA Parilla		NED Jorrit Pex	ITA CRG	ITA TM
KZ1 renamed to KZ and upgraded to World Championship status
NED Max Verstappen	ITA CRG	ITA TM		NED Max Verstappen	ITA CRG	ITA TM
ITA Marco Ardigò	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Vortex		BEL Rick Dreezen	ITA Zanardi	ITA Parilla
NED Jorrit Pex	ITA CRG	ITA TM		ITA Flavio Camponeschi	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Vortex
ITA Paolo De Conto	ITA CRG	ITA TM		ITA Marco Ardigò	ITA Tony Kart	ITA TM
ITA Paolo De Conto (2)	ITA CRG	ITA TM		ITA Paolo De Conto (2)	ITA CRG	ITA TM
CZE Patrik Hájek	ITA Kosmic	ITA Vortex		NED Jorrit Pex (2)	ITA CRG	ITA TM
NED Marijn Kremers	ITA Birel ART	ITA TM		NED Jorrit Pex (3)	ITA Kart Republic	ITA TM
FRA Jérémy Iglesias	GBR Formula K	ITA TM		NED Marijn Kremers	ITA Ricciardo	ITA TM
SWE Noah Milell	ITA Tony Kart	ITA Vortex		ITA Riccardo Longhi	ITA Birel ART	ITA TM
SWE Viktor Gustafsson	ITA CRG	ITA TM		ITA Paolo Ippolito	ITA Kart Republic	ITA IAME
ITA Paolo Ippolito	ITA Kart Republic	ITA IAME		ITA Danilo Albanese	ITA Kart Republic	ITA IAME
ITA Giuseppe Palomba	FRA Sodi	ITA TM		ITA Lorenzo Travisanutto	ITA Parolin	ITA TM

By driver

table

Notes

References

(13 May 2025). "Does this FIA KZ still make sense? | Kart News".
"FIA Karting - Categories".
(13 May 2025). "Does this FIA KZ still make sense? | Kart News".
"FIA Karting - History".
"FIA Karting - Calendar".
(January 2016). "Vroom Kart International #175 - January 2016".
"Automobile Championships - Motorsport Top 20".

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