Lately, karting relies heavily on top-notch competitions. Paradoxically, among its very participants, one feels the lack of a truly top category, which stands above the others, both technically and agonistically. Let us analyze the situation prompted by a LeCont press release.

THE OPINION… IN VOLT

In the statement entitled “Mission accomplished for LeCont at the World Championship” and published on its website, LeCont took stock of the situation following the Genk World Championship. In the words of marketing manager Paolo Bombara, they highlighted how their tires had shown good standards of performance and uniformity, despite the rains making the track surface difficult, washing the rubber previously deposited and thus making the surface more slippery. After this summing up, however, another interesting topic was also tackled: the excessive similarity in performance between KZ and KZ2, especially this year when, in addition to substantially identical frames and engines, the same LeCont “Prime” tires were used. Below, the passage that prompted and gave us the opportunity to return to a series of considerations we’ve spoken of before.

LECONT PRESS RELEASE

A MORE MARKED DIFERENCE BETWEEN KZ AND KZ2?

In the KZ World Championship, of the first 15 in the final, 10 drivers achieved their best laps in 52.7 seconds. The other four did 52.5, 52.6, 52.8 and 52.9. While many appreciated these times, with laughable gaps between the main frontrunners of the leading group, others would prefer more effective tires in this karting category: «On the occasion of the homologation, the tires must last for a distance of 150 km and LeCont wishes to respect CIK-FIA regulation», Paolo Bombara pointed out, «but I agree that the difference in performance between F1 and F2 of karting with gearbox should be more important ». Why not keep this type of CIK-FIA-approved Prime tire for KZ2 and propose stickier tires in KZ? It is up to the manufacturer in question to supply KZ with a tire capable of creating a real difference between the two categories. In a KZ race, a tire never does more than 100 km. On changing, one the one hand, drivers would have more fun and this could attract new participants who would increase the KZ parterre, which is indeed called for. On the other hand, the show or fun factor for fans and spectators would also increase with an greater number of overtakes».