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International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

GO KARTING!
A Guide To The World's Most Popular Motorsport.

Kart Expo International

Harrisburg, North Carolina -  Layout your welcome mat Formula One because one of World Karting Association’s (WKA) American heroes is making his way up to your front doorsteps. “WKA has been the proving ground for some of today’s professional drivers.” Said Randy Kugler, president of WKA. “Half of our racers want to eventually compete in Formula One and Phillip Giebler is one of them.”

Now 21, Giebler had five national karting titles under his belt by the age of 17 when he decided to take on the WKA Constructor’s Cup Series in 1997, a six-race crusade across North America. Out of 170 entries, he ended his journey with two wins and was honored as the highest finishing American at the North American Karting Championship (NAKC) race in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Southern California native’s performance earned him a trip to Japan and Brazil to race Formula A (considered to be the “Formula One” of karting). “The Constructor’s Series has been my best karting experience since I began my racing career,” Giebler said. “It gave me the racing knowledge to succeed in international competition.”

Kart Racing is the stepping stone that has brought Formula One World Champions like Michael Schumacher (1994 and 1995) and Mika Hakkinen (1998 and 1999) to the top-level in motor racing. Giebler is looking forward to become the first American to get a seat in Formula One since Michael Andretti’s departure in 1993. 

In 1998, Giebler became the first American in 15 years to win the North American Formula A International Karting Championship and was offered the chance to race in the Elf/Formula La Filliere Campus Series, touring France, Portugal and China. The series showcases 26 of the world’s finest up and coming drivers competing in open-wheel Renault-powered Formula cars. A year later, he made history by becoming the first American to win a La Filliere Campus Series race and be runner-up in the championships - collecting three wins, seven podiums, five pole positions and ten top-five finishes.

This year, Giebler has taken another step closer to Formula One by racing in a Formula Three car against some of the best drivers from England, France, Germany and Italy. He stands second in points with two races left in the 2000 season. “I want to set a new standard for young American drivers”, Giebler said, “and prove that we can survive and thrive in every level of European racing.” 
 
 

SEARS POINT RACEWAY BEING MODERNIZED

Sonoma, California - One intriguing point of discussion in the last couple of years has been the proposed modernization of Sears Point Raceway, located in Sonoma, California. The original plans caught the attention of the northern California karters with the mention of a purpose-built kart track. Back then (circa 1997), the plan being bandied about included a 5/8-scale sprint track in the shape of a full-size road course, complete with all 12 turns and scales elevation changes. As time went on, and studies and impact reports were conducted and filed, Sears Point management continued to refine their plans and it was wondered if the kart track would survive the changes.

With the much-publicized start of construction in early September, 2000, the question has risen anew: 1) will there be a kart track and 2) what will it be like?  Like many others, the Sears Point web site (www.searspoint.com) was scoured and as well as all the press releases that could be found for any kart track news. Little was found. But NorCal-Karting.com recently talked to the Sears Point Director of Public Relations John Cardinale and here is what they found out.

The sprint kart track will be part of construction Phase 2, which is scheduled to start after the 2001 racing season. Its location will be near the new industrial park/tenant garage area now being built on the hill known as Helicopter Hill at the south end of the property. The layout will almost definitely not be the scaled-down version of the road course, but probably be some combination of an oval and sprint course and will also probably be designed for multi-use (karts, Legends, YSR-type motorcycles, etc.). To date, no design work has been done although the rough grading will be completed as part of the garage construction.

Road racers, take note: Contrary to announcements in the past, there will be virtually no changes to the road course. The exception will be to move Turn 12 and the front straight to Turn 1 farther west so that the road course does not overlap the drag strip. This should make everyone happy because on one likes it the way it is now, but it (the changes) won’t take place until Phase 2 after the 2001 season. Article courtesy: NorCal-Karting.com .
 

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