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KR2. THE WORLD CHAMPION DIRECT DRIVE CHASSIS

Max Bernardi

15 September 2019

CIK-FIA 2018 – 2020

HOMOLOGATION
The approval of the KR2 dates back to 2018 and expires in 2020. It is valid for all classes

CONFIGURATION
The chassis was designed for use with single-speed engines (in this article’s photos), but can also be used with geared engines

30/32

TUBES DIAMETER
All the tubes of the KR2’s body are both 30 mm and 32 mm in diameter

ROBOT

WELDIING
Two “schools of thought”: by Hand or Automated. The Kart Republic chassis are manufactured by Breda Racing utilizing a robotic system

MAGNESIUM

ACCESSORIES
Standard magnesium accessories for the Kart Republic chassis. The aluminium version is not available

Winning two world championships and two European championships in the OK class in the first two years of its approval (2018, 2019) is a business reference that leaves no room for doubt about the quality of a chassis. It was the KR2 kart that did this, the result of the new Kart Republic project launched in 2018 by Dino Chiesa, one of the most successful karting team managers, Italian technicians and talent scouts. In the same year he won the FIA Karting World Championship at Kristianstad, the KR2 did the encore in 2019 in Alahärma, always with the Italian driver Lorenzo Travisanutto at the wheel. Without doubt, the secrets of this winning project are worth analysing.

The first aspect that can be noticed by looking at the KR2 kart is undoubtedly its look, characterised by its Eurostar Dynamica fairings (Parolin Racing Kart accessory department) developed in a wind tunnel. In particular, the front fairing has an original design which improves the impact of the air against the driver, avoiding the turbulence that is created in near the helmet, shoulders, legs and body. In regard to the front spoiler, the Parolin Racing Kart study focused on channelling the air into two main flows: one that cools the radiator and braking system, and the other that impacts against the engine. Another characteristic that has led KR to choose the Dynamica fairing kit is its low weight, a factor that repeats itself in all the accessories of Dino Chiesa’s chassis.

Dynamica fairings and unusual colours give the KR2 chassis an original aesthetic impact

The KR2 longitudinal stringers become thinner in the central part of the body, allowing greater rotation

The footrest is adjustable with nine holes made on the steering column support

The floor is made of resin, a trademark of all Kart Republic chassis

The Easy Caster is the new system for adjusting the geometry at the front

The graphics are undoubtedly unconventional: yellow, orange and red, inserted in the KR brand’s wing motif, reflect the colours of the Serenissima Republic, which from 697 to 1797 marked the history of the land where the Kart Republic brand was established. The wing motif is a reference to the wings of the lion of San Marco, the symbol of Venice, the city that was the capital of the Venetian Republic.
Having finished with the aesthetic aspect, the technical analysis of the KR2 starts from the welding, performed, as for all the Kart Republic chassis, by a Breda Racing robot, an Italian company specialised for 30 years in the manufacturing of accessories and equipment for Motorsport. The chassis tubes are both 30 mm and 32 mm in diameter. The colour is chrome grey, already used by Dino Chiesa on Zanardi karts.
Compared to the KR1 chassis (already analysed by TKART here LINK ARTICOLO ), the KR2 differs, in addition to the diameter of the tubes, in the design of the body, with the longitudinal stringers being thinner in the middle, allowing greater rotation. These features give the KR2 a softer front end.
The Kart Republic project pays great attention to weight: consider that the KR2 weighs about 2.5/3 kg less than the Zanardi chassis, used for 12 years by Dino Chiesa's Chiesa Corse team. Every detail of the kart is lighter: from the pedals to the braking kit; from the silencer supports to the resin floor. The latter, fitted as standard on all KR chassis, is one of the accessories on which Dino Chiesa most insists: “All our chassis, KR1, KR2, KR3 and Minikart, have a resin floor: a distinctive feature compared to our competitors.”

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