The event has become over the years a special rendezvous for many drivers who consider it as a perfect opportunity to get some pre-season serious testing, especially in the warmer climate of Valencia, before the IAME nationals and Euro series commence.
Not only great racing for three days, but also great food, attractions, and sights are to be excepted by the teams and drivers who will take part in the third installment of the competition. A world event-quality service thanks to the hard work pulled together by RGMMC, the famous and long-experienced karting events organizer also at the helm of the FIA Karting European and World Championships since 2018.
Entry list
58 in 2017, then up to 170 last year, the 2019 edition of the IAME Winter Cup will see more than 200 drivers from 16 countries warm up the tarmac of the Kartodromo Lucas Guerrero with three out of four categories completely sold out for weeks, forcing several drivers to register on waiting lists.
The categories hitting the track from Friday to Sunday will
Josep Marti (FA Racing Spain) will be one to watch in the Juniors. On home soil, the Spaniard will certainly give it 100% to perform well in front of his peers. British driver Aaron Walker (Strawberry Racing) is another one who knows his way around a track where he won his class at the premiere edition of the Spanish Winter Series last January (read here our report).
In the Seniors, look out for the Dutchman Joey Van Splunteren (Super B ), but also last year’s class winner Clayton Ravenscroft (KR Sport), his teammate and recent IAME International Final winner Joe Turney (KR Sport) but also Mari Boya (Monlau Competición) who won the 2018 Winter Cup in the Junior class, his fellow countryman Isidro Gomez (Kart Republic Spain) as well as the 2018 Junior Euro Series winner Lewis Gilbert (KR Sport).
Finally, in the Shifter class, let’s mention the presence of reigning Euro Series title winner Thierry Delré (Delré Racing / Mach1 Motorsport ), one of the most experienced and successful drivers in IAME classes over the past seasons.
Click here to find the complete entry list for the 2019 IAME Winter Cup.
Prizes
The winner in each class will be awarded a complete free season in the 2019 IAME Euro Series with other prizes including entry fee, free practice day, 2 sets of slick tires and one liter of oil. Drivers coming in 2nd and 3rd places will also be awarded one race free entry into this year’s IAME Euro Series kicking off on the Karting des Fagnes of Mariembourg, in Belgium, at the end of March.
Rules
The IAME Winter Cup will follow the CIK-FIA regulations. This means that the recent CIK-FIA rule change prohibiting the warm-up of engines in the paddock zone is applied to this weekend and has already proved to be successful creating a silent and peaceful atmosphere in the paddock.
A new engine system has been decided for the Mini class. From this year, the promoter no longer supplies teams with engines from the “pool” system as it was done before, which means those willing to compete in the category will be free to bring their own engine.
The Junior and Senior classes each run a new exhaust system that emphasizes among others the gap between the two categories, by reducing the power of the Junior and giving a further advantage to the more experienced Senior class.
Also, because of the new obligation for international events to use tires homologated by the CIK-FIA, the compounds for this year are no longer provided by Komet but by their manufacturing company, MG, to the exception of the Mini class. A change that applies as well to the entire season of the IAME Euro Series.
The Shifter class run as usual with gearbox-powered engines of 175 CC but teams are also allowed to use the new Tillotson Carburetor if they choose to do so, or the old generation Dell’Orto carburetor.
Schedule
Friday will be reserved to Practice from 11:00 until 14:42 before Qualifying from 15:00 to 17:20 with the Juniors being split into two groups and Seniors into three. Saturday will see the first proper races taking place with the Qualifying Heats from 10:00 until 18:00. Sunday is the day of Finals with Second Chance Heats at 10:00, Prefinals from 11:10 and Finals from 13:30.
Click here to download the complete schedule of the event.
To help you follow this year’s IAME Winter Cup by RGMMC, a special page will be available on this website with Live Timing on Friday, Live Streaming (by
More information to be found on the official website of the IAME Euro Series by RGMMC.
Info: IAME Euro Series
Text: Guillaume Alvarez
Photos: IAME Euro Series Archives
