(Photo: KSP)

Mike Wilson, one of the most legendary figures in karting, has passed away at the age of 66.

As a powerhouse in the sport on so many levels, as a driver, coach, and chassis manufacturer, Mike was as big as they come. His driving record speaks for himself. The Brit won the World Championship karting title six times in the Formula K (135cc category) from 1981 to 1989, cementing his place as a legend in the sport by scoring three straight world championships from 1981 to 1983 racing with Birel and IAME. He returned to claim a fourth title in 1985 and fifth and sixth in 1988 and 1989 with Kali Kart and CRG. It was a historic run that will not likely be topped.

Mike was born in Great Britain, but he made the crucial move to Italy in his late teens to race for the factory Birel team, which set the stage for a remarkable career. Before his run of World Championships, Mike also enjoyed fierce battles with fellow icons Ayrton Senna and Terry Fullerton in the late 1970s.

In the 1990s, once he has retired from competition, Wilson put his name on his own chassis, which was produced into the mid 2000s. The MW chassis was offered here in the USA for many years. The most notable international driver to compete and win on the chassis with Mike was future Formula One star Fernando Alonso. Among his karting successes at home in Spain and in CIK-FIA competitions in Europe, Alonso also raced at the CIK-FIA North American Karting Championships at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the late 90s with Mike and the MW brand.

Over the last four decades, Wilson was also a coach and mentor to countless drivers across the globe, from Europe to North America to Asia and all corners of the world, Wilson worked with numerous drivers in the sport of karting and beyond. Among the more notable include Lance Stroll and Kimi Antonelli. Wilson also worked with up-and-coming stars like Alex Powell, James Wharton, and American Nikita Johnson during their years in karting.

The eKartingNews staff offers our sincerest condolences to the Wilson family.

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