The French Motorsports Federation have announced that superkarts will be on track at Magny-Cours during the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. The weekend is already full of motoring events such as the GP2 series, F3 Euroseries and Porsche Supercup however the FFSA felt that the addition of the superkarts would add further excitement to the weekend.
Superkarting first appeared in the UK in the 1970s, and the sport soon found popularity throughout northern Europe, the US, South Africa and Australia. With the sudden popularity of the sport, international championships were setup in the late 1970s/early 1980s. The winner of the first French Superkart championship was Michel Trolle in 1982.
The prescence of the superkarts at Magny-Cours will allow Formula 1 fans to gain an insight into how many of the Formula 1 drivers started racing. During the three-day weekend, as well as racing, karts will be on display in the heart of the circuit allowing closer inspection of the machinery. Information on training programmes and apprenticeships will also be available for those who aspire to the world of Formula 1 racing.
The superkart specifications are:
Twin-cylinder two-stroke liquid-cooled 250 ccs
Power output: Around 95 bhp
Maximum revs: 14.000 rpm
Weight of driver/kart: 215 kgs
Maximum speed: 250 km/h Fared-in tubular chassis
Disc brakes front and rear
Rack and pinion steering
6-inch tyres
