With a view to developing its base, FIA Karting created the OK-N category in 2022 to make the discipline more accessible and to offer all national sporting authorities a universal category open to drivers aged 14 and over. OK-N Junior quickly followed this attractive concept for 12-14 year olds, using the same engine with the simple addition of an exhaust restrictor. In both cases, reliability and performance are guaranteed for this CIK-FIA homologated equipment, in addition to accessibility.

This FIA Karting World Cup has attracted a large number of participants this year in a sign of the growing strength of FIA Karting events. Applications exceeded expectations so much so that FIA Karting had to close OK-N applications just hours after they opened. A total of 90 OK-N and 83 OK-N drivers will compete in Cremona in these two competitions, which promise to be very open.

With 52 entrants, the FIA Karting Junior Academy Trophy will also be of great interest, as the title will be awarded at the end of this third and final round in 2025. No fewer than seven drivers have a real chance of winning this trophy, which has revealed drivers such as Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

It should be noted that the FIA Karting Academy Trophy is a unique formula, designed to identify and train young talent representing more than 50 countries and five continents, with strong involvement from national federations. Drivers compete with identical equipment thanks to the participation of OTK Kart Group (Exprit chassis and Vortex OK-Junior engines drawn at random).

LeCont will supply the tyres for OK-Junior and Academy-Junior, while Maxxis will supply those for OK-N.

Who will succeed Korea's Kyuho Lee in OK-N?

On home turf, the Italian drivers will be ones to watch, especially as the Automobile Club of Italy, which governs the discipline, has been promoting the OK-N category since its launch. However, many drivers from other countries have been coming to familiarise themselves with the Cremona circuit since the start of the season during official competitions or Free Practice sessions. 26 different nationalities will be represented.

In 2024, on the British PFI circuit in wet conditions, Korea's Kyuho Lee was the first to add his name to the competition's list of winners. His absence this year is likely to fuel the competition in the Final.

OK-N Junior will be celebrating its first World Cup and, at this stage, it seems difficult to make any predictions with drivers who have had varied careers before coming to Cremona.

Junior Academy: Vettenranta and Le Marchand in the lead

France's Maël Le Marchand dominated the first event in Valencia (Spain) in May, and Finland's Oiva Vettenranta won in Mülsen (Germany) in July. The two drivers are tied for the lead in the standings ahead of the Cremona event! The tension is likely to be palpable between these two rising stars. With 75 points up for grabs, mathematically speaking, many drivers have not given up on their chances of a podium finish or even the title. In fact, the five drivers behind Vettenranta and Le Marchand in the standings will be closely followed from the Qualifying Heats onwards. The competition promises to be spectacular on the 1210-metre Cremona circuit, which features two sequences of winding corners interspersed with two faster sections.

Standings in the 2025 FIA Karting Junior Academy Trophy after the second of three competitions:

1- Vettenranta, Oiva (FIN) 84 pts
2- Le Marchand, Maël (FRA) 84 pts
3- Rivera Salas, Julian (ECU) 83 pts
4- Lines, Finlay (GBR) 64 pts
5- Frigg, Nicola (SUI) 63 pts
6- Stasionis, Nojus (LTU) 60 pts
7- Poulsen, Erik (SWE) 60 pts
8- Bernd, Emilio (GER) 48 pts
9- Rodriguez Fuente, Hernan (ESP) 47 pts
10- Reistrup, Marc Alexander (DEN) 45 pts
...

The FIA Karting World Cup takes place from 18th to 21st September 2025 in Cremona, Italy. Entries, timetable, information, results and live coverage can be viewed on the FIA Karting website.