Mohamed Bin Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), confirmed that the new “Welcome and Drive” Karting World Cup, which launches today, reduces the financial and technological barriers associated with karting, making it more accessible and expanding the scope of global participation.
The upcoming new Karting World Cup will be launched for the first time with the participation of emerging drivers in the junior and adult categories at the Lille International Circuit in Malaysia, which is the largest karting circuit in Asia.
The three-day competition in Kuala Lumpur brought together 107 drivers from 50 nationalities around the world to compete in identical and standardized karts presented by the OTK Group. The lineup includes 15 girls, which is the largest number of girls participating in FIA karting competitions.
Two drivers from the United Arab Emirates are participating in this historic event: Aryan Singh in the junior category, and Zain Al Homsani, the recent winner of the Middle East and North Africa Cup of Nations Karting Championship in Qatar, in the adult category.
Driver development is a key focus of the competition, as workshops affiliated with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) were held before the start of the race, focusing on driver safety, nutrition, anti-doping, media training, and enhancing knowledge of the FIA’s international karting classification system. These workshops provide an opportunity for drivers to develop their skills on and off the race track.
In this context, Mohamed Bin Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “The first edition of the ‘Welcome and Drive’ Karting World Cup represents an exciting new chapter for popular motorsport around the world. We are pleased to extend our sincere thanks to the FIA member clubs that participated in the event, to President Tan Sri Mukhazani Mahathir, the Automobile Club of Malaysia, and the Government of Malaysia for hosting this historic event.
“The support for the new format of the event has been amazing, and demonstrates our global commitment to increasing accessibility, growing participation in motorsport, and empowering the next generation of talent.”
For her part, Her Excellency Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports in the Malaysian Federal Government, said: “We are proud to host this historic event in Malaysia, which confirms our commitment to promoting the development of motorsport in the country. We thank the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) for this cooperation.”
Akbar Ibrahim, Chairman of the FIA Karting Committee, said: “The Welcome and Drive Karting World Cup is more than just a race. Rather, it will be an opportunity for promising racing talents from all over the world to prove their racing skills and develop them as full-fledged drivers at the beginning of their careers.”
He added: “As the highlight of the karting calendar, this month all eyes will be on Malaysia, as we showcase accessible and affordable motorsport that puts drivers at the heart of the action.”
The event is available to watch live and for free on YouTube via the link: http://www.youtube.com/@fiakartingchampionship9818
