Karting | Junior Open Wheel Talent

CIK-FIA Entry List released for 2011 U18 Championship

Posted May 27, 2011 at 11:21 am • Karting • Comments

The CIK-FIA released the 2011 entry list for the U18 World Championship earlier this week. The number of entrants is up 20 percent from last season — the inaugural season.

You can view the 2011 CIK-FIA U18 entry list here.

The lone American to enter this season is 15-year-old Raquel Martinez, aka “Rocky.” The up-and-comer has been busy in 2011 competing in both the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup in North America and the WSK Masters Series internationally.

Martinez made her debut in a KF2 kart on May 13-15 at the Val Vibrata circuit in Italy finishing 17th in the 33-kart field.

Carlton inks deal with Chiesa Corsa

Posted March 9, 2011 at 1:38 pm • European Karting, Karting • Comments

: Gary Carlton driving his No. 5 CRG in the SKUSA SuperNationals XIV KZ2 Final.
(Photo: CJ – JuniorOpenWheelTalent.com)

American Gary Carlton has inked a deal with Italian-based team Chiesa Corsa to pilot a Zanardi/Iame KZ1 kart in several top-level karting series in Europe for 2011.

Carlton’s busy schedule will begin this weekend as the WSK Euro Series gets underway in Sarno, Italy. In addition to the Euro Series, the talented 25-year-old will also compete in the CIK-FIA KZ1 European Championship, the WSK Champions Cup, the CIK-FIA KZ1 World Cup, the Monaco Kart Cup, and the WSK Final Cup.

This is great news for Gary — one of the hardest working drivers out there. Make sure to follow JuniorOpenWheelTalent.com all season for updates on Carlton’s European Adventures. Also, be sure to visit Carlton’s feature page on eKartingNews.com.

Road to Indy adds Scouting Combine

Posted March 9, 2011 at 1:34 pm • Karting, U.S. F2000 National Championship • Comments

Keegan Laithwaite drafts down the straightaway during the SKUSA SuperNats in Las Vegas last November.
(Photo: CJ - JuniorOpenWheelTalent.com)

The Mazda Road to Indy announced today that they will be holding a scouting combine on Nov. 28-30, 2011 at Andersen Race Park in Palmetto, Fla.

The program aims to provide drivers from the World Karting Association (WKA), SuperKarts! USA (SKUSA), International Karting Federation (IKF), the Rock Island Grand Prix (RIGP) and the Rotax championships — as well as invitees from regional kart series and USAC — the chance to win an entry into the St. Petersburg round of the 2012 USF2000 National Championship. Participants will be evaluated on-and-off the track by a panel of judges during a three-day shootout at Andersen RacePark.

“The Mazda Road to Indy’s goal is to develop formula car drivers, and forming a link to karting is essential in achieving that,” said Jason Penix, manager of grassroots marketing for IndyCar. “Karting plays such an important role in the career of a young driver, and the Scouting Combine will give someone the chance to make the step into cars. Hopefully, we will find several young drivers ready to make the Mazda Road to Indy their next racing home.”

This is certainly another step in the right direction by INDYCAR and the Mazda Road to Indy development program.

Monday Morning Reading

Posted February 14, 2011 at 10:34 am • Karting, open wheel racing news • Comments

eKartingNews.com is putting together its annual Awards program this week. The first of five winners was announced this morning.

Nick Neri, a talented up-and-coming motorsports star, picked up the well-deserved Young Driver of the Year award against some very stiff competition. Read more about Neri and his accomplishments here.

Neri was also the 2009 Young Driver of the Year — only the second driver in history to repeat the honor. Cole Whitt was the first.

SKUSA SuperNationals XIV Photo Gallery: S1

Posted November 29, 2010 at 1:25 pm • Karting, SKUSA SuperNationals • Comments

This is the eighth and final edition in a series of photo galleries from the SKUSA SuperNationals XIV. This particular slideshow features the top 125cc stock-moto shifter kart drivers. For additional galleries, please check out the related reading links below.