A department by department visit of the historic CRG kart manufacturer

CRG: THE COMPANY

Officially founded in 1986, CRG has its roots in the history of karting, given that its three founders were already involved in Kali Kart, belonging to Calogero Vanaria, one of the "founding fathers" of the sport. Today, CRG is a cutting-edge company, the Tinini Group's flagship brand.

HEADQUARTER

The company’s production site and headquarters are in Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy), in an industrial complex capable of carrying out the design, manufacture and development of chassis for both the racing market and for the rental sector. The complex, spanning a surface area of more than 10,000 square metres, ensures that the know-how gained out on the track during international competitions is conveyed to mass production.

The plan of the first floor of the CRG company: 1. Prototyping room - 2. Tinini office - 3. Meeting room - 4. Installation room - 5. Technical office - 6. Rental assembly - 7. Horizontal warehouse

HISTORY

CRG was founded in 1986 by Giancarlo Tinini, Carlo and Roberto Vanaria, whose three initials make up the name of the company that was built on the foundations of the historic Kalì-Kart, founded years earlier by Calogero Vanaria. It was a period of great expansion for karting and CRG started growing immediately on all fronts: production, racing and commercial. The sectors worked together continuously: the technical solutions and products developed for competitions together with the CRG Racing Team were made available to all enthusiasts.

Giancarlo Tinini, owner of CRG

TOP DRIVERS

Competition is in CRG's DNA: the company's racing department boasts an incredible number of world titles and world champions over the last 30 years. There are also many top drivers who have raced with CRG (for both short periods or by tying their names to the manufacturer for years in karting): Michael Schumacher, Jos and Max Verstappen, Alessandro Zanardi, Giancarlo Fisichella, Nick Heidfeld, Jan Magnussen , Giorgio Pantano, Tonio Liuzzi, Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Robert Kubica, Sébastien Buemi, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado, Giedo Van der Garde and many others.

Max Verstappen Photo © CRG Press

Group photo after Paolo De Conto's victory at the KZ 2017 FIA Karting World Championship Photo © CRG Press

Nico Rosberg during his time in karting Photo © CRG Press

Robert Kubica

Vitantonio Liuzzi

Alessandro Manetti

Giorgio Pantano

Michael Shumacker

Alex Zanardi

PRODUCTS

The offering of the Italian manufacturer has not been limited to the racing sector for quite a while. Indeed, CRG’s Centurion range has also been well received in the rental market, a segment which also includes the technological E-drenaline model powered by an electric engine. CRG has also produced a new line, called FS4, intended for those who want a kart with greater performance compared to a rental, but not as demanding as a competition vehicle. The FS4 kart sports a CRG racing chassis equipped with a 4-stroke Briggs & Stratton 206 engine. Reliability allows many hours of use without the need for an overhaul and the overall simplicity in the use of the kart means that technical assistance is not required to get out on the track.

The CRG Road Rebel, perhaps the most representative (and winning) model in the racing range of the Italian company

The CRG Heron kart

The FS4 kart with a Briggs & Stratton engine

The Centurion Senior model of the CRG kart rental range

TININI GROUP

The evolution was incessant and in 2000 Giancarlo Tinini, who became the sole owner of the company, reorganised the business by creating the Tinini Group, which includes CRG and various brands founded over the years. Furthermore, CRG is increasingly working as a supplier of material for other independent brands.

HEADQUARTERS

Everything started at the headquarters in Lonato del Garda, where the commercial and administrative offices are located, as well as the racing team and the entire production department.

OFFICES

There are 8 offices on the ground floor, including the commercial and administrative offices, where staff are employed in order management and business accounting. The ground floor also houses the "Chief Strategy" office and the graphic office. The first floor is home to the technical office and the office where you can find the "boss", Giancarlo Tinini, as well as a meeting room where encounters with customers, suppliers and staff take place.

TECHNICAL OFFICE

Having a racing department involved in the major races on the international circuit undoubtedly allows the company to have an avant-garde research and development department. The experience gained out on the track is fundamental to confirming the solutions that the technical office is responsible for putting into production, identifying the most appropriate choice of materials and processes. This occurs both through the use of software that allows direct communication with the numerically controlled machinery in production, as well as 3D drawings, which are used to analyse every component of a kart and supply the work sheets necessary to manufacture the products.

SHOWROOM

Part of the 10,000 square metres in CRG is dedicated to a large exhibition space in which all the company's products are displayed. In particular, CRG brand clothing: from the official racing suits of the drivers to sweatshirts, T-shirts and trousers also aimed at technical staff.

CRG: HISTORY AND FUTURE OF KARTING