Sanctioning bodies and organizations
1. INTERNATIONAL
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International karting
The sport is popular world-wide
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Kart racing is organized by different sanctioning bodies or by various clubs and organizers who adhere to the rules set
by sanctioning bodies. Every country has its own sanctioning organization or even multiple organizations. On an
international level, karting is organized by the CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting), which is located in Paris,
France. Their web-site can be found at www.cikfia.com. The CIK is
associated with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), also headquartered in Paris, which organizes races
on many levels, including Formula-1 Grand Prix racing. Therefore, the CIK is the most 'official' of all karting
sanctioning bodies and organizations.
International competitions, such as European- or World-Championships, but also competitions in other parts of the world,
are typically organized by the CIK or at least according to CIK rules. The classes which compete in those competitions
are typically the ICC, ICA and F-A. The CIK defines certain 'homologations', which specify which karts and kart-parts
are allowed. The CIK also determines the regulations for how these competitions are to be conducted.
2. NATIONAL
National sanctioning bodies in different countries may choose to closely follow and adhere to CIK rules and homologations,
and indeed do exactly that in most countries. But they are of course not required to do so for all or any classes or
events which take place on a national level only. Most races in the U.S., for example, are run outside of the CIK rules
framework.
We cannot possibly list all the sanctioning bodies of all countries here. However, since this site has a large number of
visitors from the United States, we can at least mention the largest sanctioning bodies in that country. Each of these
sanctioning bodies tends to organize races in certain, and not always exactly specified, geographical areas, or specializes
on specific types of karting.
The WKA (World Karting Association, www.worldkarting.com) tends to be
popular in the eastern part of the United States, and not the entire world, as the name seems to imply. The IKF
(International Kart Federation, www.ikfkarting.com) actually
organizes races across the entire US, mostly from Louisiana on westward, and even some events in Canada. KART (Karters of
America Racing Triad, www.kart.org), is mostly active in the mid-western states.
SKUSA (Super Karts USA, www.skusaonline.com), is a national organization,
which specializes in shifter kart racing. Another independent organization is the Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow, home-page
at www.cartstars.com, which organizes races across the country and is intended
as a first step on the ladder to Champ car (CART) racing. Recently, the latter two organizations have started negotiations
for a merger.
As a beginner you most likely will not make a conscious decision to join one or the other organization. Instead, you will
likely join the nearest tracks and racing series' to where you live. Whichever sanctioning body's rules are observed there
will determine which sanctioning body you will 'belong' to.
