Pro Kart racing returns to Le Mans in 2023
Image © 24 Hour Karting Series
When you think of endurance racing, there are a couple of venues that come to mind, the most prolific of which being Le Mans. The home for the infamous 24 hour race, also plays host to various other events, including the CIK FIA World Endurance Karting event, which sees teams race around the kart circuit for 24 hours in OK and Rotax machines.
It also played host to a round of the 24 hour karting series, which saw both owner drivers and rental karts race around the shorter ‘Circuit Alain Prost’, one of 3 kart circuits nestled within the Circuit de la Sarthe. However, since 2014 the event has just hosted rental karts after a rule change prevented the faster owner driver karts sharing the circuit with the slower, heavier rentals.
That though, is about to change, with an announcement from the 24 hour karting series bringing a new 24 hour race to the fabled French circuit. The event itself will see the first use of the full international circuit, providing teams with an all new challenge for this year’s event. The event will take place in the cooler temperatures of April, providing a good test for teams before the British 24 hour event on the first weekend of August.
The race is open to 200 Extreme Pro karts only with engines supplied and sealed by RPM, drivers will also need to have an MSUK Kart Clubman licence, available from MSUK for £45 without the need for an ARKS test. Chassis must also be from a recognised company and pass pre-race scrutineering, all regulations that will be familiar to those who compete in BPEC already. That being said, the event will run to FFSA regulations, so there will be some differences that experienced teams will need to take note of. The event itself will consist of a Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and then the 24 hour event itself, all included in the £2,100 entry fee.
The interesting part of this race should be the drivers and teams, with many still around the sport in the BPEC paddock, so it will be interesting to see how many of those teams make the trip over the channel. Currently, there are 48 places on the French grid over the usual 3 classes: Elite, Pro & Clubman. For reference, 36 teams contested the British 24 hours in 2022 while BPEC boasts average grids of 43 karts per round, so a full grid should be expected come race day.
For more information on the 2023 event, head over to 24hourkarting.co.uk to find details of how to enter & how to get involved.
