- Interview & text: Guillaume Alvarez
- Photos: RGMMC
UPDATE: This article is an updated version of an exclusive interview from Mr. James Geidel with new information regarding some dates and locations of the “Champions of the Future” Series (see below).
The “Champions of the Future” Series will see three international rounds placed on the calendar and include a set of different classes: 60 Mini, OK-Junior, OK and KZ2.
“We decided to come up with this new Competition due to the rise of interest from lots of teams and drivers to try the OK class”, explains James Geidel. “But we didn’t want to commit to a big Championship because the teams already competing in OK already have a full calendar. So, with only three races, you have a good amount for people to take part in. Also, it’s not only in countries that drivers know too well like Italy or Germany and, on the other side, if one of the teams competing in another CIK Championship wants to test it, they can. It’s not a big commitment.”
Along with OK, OK-Junior and KZ2, the will to run the 60 Mini came from more and more interest amongst the competitors for this category to be included in the CIK-FIA rulebook from this season. “Over the years, we have seen a rise of attention on the Mini class, as we run it in the IAME Series. So, we came to a point where we need to give the Minis a proper championship that goes a little bit more around Europe.”
The tracks selected will be the Circuito Internacional de Zuera, in Spain, to host the opening round from April 3rd to 5th, followed by the second meeting on the 7 Laghi Circuit of Castelletto di Branduzzo, in Italy, from April 24th to 26th, and the third and closing round to take place on the Asüm Ring of Kristianstad, in Sweden, from June 26th to 28th.
Two of the locations, Castelletto excepted, will appear in the FIA Karting Calendar, which also explains why RGMMC picked up those destinations as the “Champions of the Future” Series will offer teams and drivers the chance to train on these tracks before taking part in the European Competition.
The races will take place over four days and be organized to the highest of standards which will include streaming throughout the weekend. “Each event will include a full-weekend stream, race control, everything you can expect from a high-quality competition, which is also a good opportunity for us to test and improve material for our other CIK commitments during the season.”
“We will see where this new project takes us but the will is, for now, to keep it with three races. Maybe in the future, we could always add additional events like special opens or festivals. But, for the time being, the three-round format is where it will sit. I don’t want to extend to another six-race calendar because it would be too much for people to commit to.”
“The ‘Champions of the Future’ Series is to be considered as a new stepping stone for teams and drivers to try the OK class.”
Thank you for your time, Mr. Geidel! More information about the new “Champions of the Future” Series can be found here. Registrations officially open on January 6th.
