Formula A

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Sauro Cesetti, a leading international Formula A driver who holds a drive for the Italian chassis manufacturer Birel S.p.A.

Formula A (FA) is the top level of Go-kart racing or karting. It is open to the best drivers aged 15 and up. This class uses 100cc water cooled two-stroke engines, which must be approved by the CIK-FIA. Chassis must be made by a manufacturer approved for Intercontinental A (ICA) or Intercontinental C but they can be prototypes. Minimum weight is 150 kg with driver.

As the Formula One of karting, Formula A has very high costs, and drivers typically spend $100,000 per year to compete. From 2007 it will be using the cheaper 125cc Touch-and-Go (TaG) engines to increase participation. Starting January 2007, Formula A will be renamed KF1.

Drivers typically compete in national competitions, then move into international racing in the ICA or JICA (Junior ICA) classes where they have to finish in the top 34 to qualify to compete in FA. Once in FA, drivers either stay for a few years to improve their skills before moving on to car racing, or they become professional kart racers and race in FA until they retire. Many—if not most—successful open-wheel racing drivers started their careers in karts.