Background (1962–2019) of events—the
World and
European Championships—since 2018.|alt=The pre-grid of the 2015 KZ World Championship at Le Mans The
Commission Internationale de Karting () was founded in 1962 by the
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to govern the rising international sport of
kart racing. The inaugural
CIK-FIA World Championship was hosted two years later at the ''
Pista d'Oro'' in
Rome, which again held the event in 1965. The began its
homologation of distinct classes in the discipline in 1974, when the first 125 cc
gearbox category was created for the
European Championship:
Formula C (FC). The 100 cc category was clarified in 1976, when
Formula Europe was introduced to control technical evolutions and costs. The single-speed classes were adapted in 1981, when the 135 cc
Formula K (FK), 100 cc
Intercontinental A (ICA), and
Junior Intercontinental A () were introduced to the World Championship, European Championship, and
World Cup, respectively. By 2020, there were five
classes:
OK, the primary senior direct-drive class; (), the under-15 direct-drive class;
KZ, the primary gearbox class;
KZ2, the secondary gearbox class; and
60 Mini, the under-12 international class.
Rotax was founded in 1920 as an
internal combustion engine manufacturer and entered the FK class in 1983, later founding the
Rotax Max Challenge in 2000.
Italian American Motor Engineering (IAME) was founded as a
kart manufacturer in 1968 as a
merger between
Parilla and
Komet; it began operating its
single-design championships, the
IAME Series, in 2007. The Switzerland-based RGMMC Group had been established in 2004, later becoming the
promoter of Rotax events in 2006, IAME events in 2016, and events in 2018. Across 2018 and 2019 with the latter, RGMMC promoted six World Championships, two World Cups, and eight European Championships.
Championship beginnings (2020–2023) 2020: Debut during COVID-19 pandemic (pictured in
2025) won the inaugural title in 2020.|alt=Arvid Lindblad driving the Dallara F2-2025 at the 2025 Spielberg Formula 2 round COTF was founded in 2020 by the RGMMC Group to promote and develop four classes—OK, , KZ2, and 60 Mini. Its inaugural round at
Wackersdorf on 7–10 May was delayed and cancelled amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, as was the
Kristianstad round on 25–28 June, leaving
Zuera as the debut
circuit of the series on 16–19 July. Over 170 drivers entered in preparation for the opening round of the European Championship that month. The second and final round was held on 1 November at
Portimão in the OK and classes, serving as direct preparation for the World Championship one week later. The inaugural champions were
Nikita Bedrin (OK),
Arvid Lindblad (),
Paolo Ippolito (KZ2), and
Dmitry Matveev (60 Mini). The latter round replaced the
Franciacorta and
Castelletto rounds—which were cancelled due to logistical challenges—and provided support for the upcoming World Championship. Prior to the 2022 season, the one-off
Champions of the Future Winter Series was held at Franciacorta in: OK, won by
Tomass Štolcermanis; , won by
Maciej Gładysz; and KZ2, won by
Simo Puhakka. The regular season was re-branded as the
Champions of the Future Euro Series—held over four rounds timetabled by
factory-backed teams at Portimão, Zuera, Kristianstad, and Franciacorta—and won by British drivers
Joe Turney (OK) and
Nathan Tye (). (pictured in
2024) won the
OK Euro Series in 2023.|alt=Alex Powell behind the wheel of the Tatuus F4-T421 in the 2024 Italian F4 Championship at Mugello In 2023, COTF founded the
Champions of the Future Academy Program (
COTFA) in collaboration with
F1 Academy, a single-round event at
Al Forsan—the series' first expansion beyond
continental Europe—in the recently established low-cost () and () classes, as well as 60 Mini. F1 Academy sponsored the entries of three
female drivers in each class, which Fred Smith of
Road & Track opined "could completely alter the access women have to
Formula One" within a decade.
Austin Gale (),
James Anagnostiadis (), and
Dan Allemann (60 Mini) were the inaugural winners. The Třinec round marked the first appearance of competition in the Czech Republic since the 1990s.
TKART described the series that year as "a must" for the leading international drivers and teams.
Expansion into eight classes and national series (2024–present) 2024–2025: Establishment of gearbox classes served as a driver coach in the 2024 COTFA.|alt=Isack Hadjar driving the Dallara F2-2024 at the 2024 Spielberg Formula 2 round With the creation of
Champions of the Future Shifters in 2024, COTF expanded into all eight classes: OK, ,
KZ,
KZ2, (), , , and 60 Mini. The one-round championship at Portimão was won by 2020 World Champion
Jérémy Iglesias in KZ,
Daniel Vasile in KZ2, and
Anthony Abbasse in . The COTFA was expanded to six rounds—Cremona, Valencia, Franciacorta,
Dubai,
Al Ain, and Al Forsain—and was won by
Luna Fluxá (), defending champion Anagnostiadis (), and
Priam Bruno (60 Mini). Fluxá became the fifth woman in history to
win a major senior international karting title, and the first in a
global championship since
Susanna Raganelli in 1966.
Vroomkart described the COTFA that year as an "innovative model based on inclusion, cost efficiency, and equal competition opportunities", noting its use of driver coaches from
FIA Formula 2 and F1 Academy, including
Isack Hadjar. It was used to
scout driver talent by the
Mercedes Junior Team and the
Sauber Academy. The Shifters series expanded to two rounds in 2025 at Valencia and Franciacorta, won by the to-be World Champion in each category:
Senna van Walstijn (KZ),
Maksim Orlov (KZ2), and
Angelo Lombardo (); the former event was marred by controversy as 21 drivers, including six World Champions,
boycotted the KZ final in a dispute with the over its mandating
Dunlop tyres.
Speedcafe stated that RGMMC "[had] become the unwilling pawn in the middle of the game between the drivers and the
FIA" and was unaware of the issue prior—19 of the 23 finalists withdrew or retired mid-race. The subsequently dropped Dunlop as a tyre supplier. The five-round Euro Series was claimed by two British drivers: reigning junior World Champion
Kenzo Craigie (OK) and
Noah Baglin (), the latter overturning a 31-point deficit to
William Calleja. Half of the entrants in COTFA were female, where
Markas Šilkūnas was victorious over
Chiara Bättig across six rounds at Portimão, Valencia,
Jesolo, Slovakia, Al Ain, and Al Forsan;
Conor Clancy won in as
Angelina Simons ended third, whilst Italian prodigy
Niccoló Perico dominated in 60 Mini.
2026: National championships In 2026, COTFA is set to expand into the United Kingdom in collaboration with
Motorsport UK, forming the four-round
British Champions of the Future Academy Programme (
British COTFA). It is also due to hold an
Emirati title, held across two rounds in November 2025 and February 2026 as another
feeder series to the international COTFA, and a single-round
Macanese title at in January. F1 Academy are set to expand their support to nine drivers in both the British and Emirati series for a total of 27. == Format ==