EXCLUSIVE: KEES VAN DE GRINT

REVEALS THE CONTROVERSIAL STORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF OK ENGINES

The 2024 edition was undoubtedly one of the best editions of the FIA Karting World Championship OK/OKJ in the 21st century. This event showcased the best of our sport, with record entries in both the OK and OK-Junior classes, fierce competition and dramatic final laps that were decisive for the world titles. An essential element behind this success was the OK engine concept. Yet, to say that at the beginning the introduction of this type of engine was difficult would be an understatement! When I presented my idea, almost no one supported it, except for President Sheikh Abdulla and Executive Secretary Vincent Caro. However, let's take a step back in the history of our sport: the golden age of karting (to learn more, read “Once in a lifetime | A journey into the 4 technical eras of karting history”, editor’s note) It is marked by the famous 100 cc, engines widely appreciated for their performance, but at the same time infamous for the high costs associated with their management and maintenance. The main reason? The extremely high rotational speeds, which subject the piston and connecting rods to intense stress.  Thus, towards the end of the 1990s, the one-make series began to gain popularity, providing engines that were easier to manage and less expensive to maintain, making karting more accessible to many fans. When the FIA reorganised the CIK in 2001, establishing new regulations for engines became a priority. However, the initial proposal, represented by the introduction of 4-stroke engines, was not favourably received by the engine manufacturers of the time. This is why it took a few years before the President of the CIK, Luigi Macaluso, introduced the KF engine concept, during a press conference at the Paul Ricard Circuit, in France. Since 2007, therefore, all CIK Direct Drive classes have adopted the new regulations related to KF engines. The KF is a 125cc Direct Drive engine, with a centrifugal clutch, starter motor and rev limiter. Despite strict regulations, these engines are difficult to control.