Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA President, believes a new Global Karting Plan will open more opportunities in motorsport to drivers from different backgrounds and help usher in the World Champions of tomorrow.
Ben Sulayem, the Emirati former professional rally driver, chaired the 2024 FIA General Assemblies week in Kigali, Rwanda, where the FIA announced the creation of the unprecedented Global Karting Plan.
Karting is the entry point for most motorsport competitors, and the plan focuses on increasing accessibility to a discipline that will provide equal opportunities to drivers all over the world.
Ben Sulayem, who was elected FIA President three years ago, said: “Karting is absolutely critical to the future of all motorsport. If you look at our World Championships, all of the drivers who did not come through the grassroots pathways, and now with a truly global plan, we have shown that we are committed to increasing accessibility and opportunities, ensuring diversity and equality in motorsport. Karting is a sport which is open to all.”
The FIA Global Karting Plan has a core focus on providing National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) with the framework and tools to develop their activities at a local level. Central to this will be the creation of an FIA Karting Task Force – a dedicated group that is responsible for supporting ASNs with expertise and best practice regarding the implementation of the FIA’s initiatives. The scope of the taskforce will be to visit and support between three and five ASNs per continent each year.
The National Karting Ranking (NKR) system, which has grown rapidly over the past years with over 1,000 drivers registered in 2024, will also receive another boost with the introduction of FIA President’s Medals.
In addition, a Karting Excellence Centre is also being created, with its first implementation in 2025. It will provide one-week educational programmes that teach drivers the fundamental skills – centred on driving, technical, physical and mental development – to help them succeed in the highly-competitive world of motorsport. At the end of each year, there will be a selection phase that serves as the final and unifying step in the different pathways throughout the FIA karting structure. During this selection, the winners will compete on equal terms for significant prizes across six days.
The drivers will be evaluated within the four core areas taught at the Excellence Centre. The top junior driver will receive financial support to continue their development in the FIA Karting system, while the best senior driver will receive financial support to progress into a national Formula 4 Championship – certified by FIA.
Meanwhile, the FIA Extreme H World Cup has taken its next step as a landmark competition committed to showcasing hydrogen innovation and gender equality in motorsport.
Having signed a non-binding Heads of Terms, the FIA and Extreme H continue to collaborate on the framework of the competition. This will ensure the values of the FIA Extreme H World Cup align with the FIA’s dedication to promoting sustainable, technologically-advanced, and inclusive racing platforms that reflect the future of global motorsport.
The FIA Extreme H World Cup will be the first hydrogen-powered racing series, utilising cutting-edge fuel cell technology to demonstrate the viability and potential of hydrogen as a zero-emission energy source. More details will be revealed soon.
Ben Sulayem said: “The FIA is committed to supporting initiatives that set new standards for sustainability and equality. We look forward to the positive impact the FIA Extreme H World Cup will have across motorsport, the automotive industry, and beyond, accelerating the transition to clean energy and fostering an inclusive racing culture.
“The FIA is at the forefront of advancing sustainable technologies. Motorsport must evolve and adapt to remain sustainable, and the adoption of hydrogen fuels is a key part of our future.”
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