Applications are now open to represent Motorsport UK in the 2024 FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a prestigious international championship for 12–14-year-olds. 

The FIA Karting Academy Trophy is a unique competition designed to pit the best young kart racers from around the world against each other on equal terms. Drivers are randomly assigned karts with OTK chassis and equipped with Vortex engines from the OK-Junior category, plus a controlled tyre. 

Past representatives who have flown the flag for Motorsport UK have gone on to achieve great success in motorsport with this year’s representative, Harry Bartle, recently becoming the 2023 IWF IAME Junior Champion. 2020 representative, Theo Micouris recently secured the 2023 Radical SR1 Champion and Henry Joslyn, 2022 participant, finished 12th overall in the 2023 Ginetta G40 Series.  

The 2024 FIA Karting Academy Trophy will unfold over three rounds, kicking off the series at Val d’Argenton, France from 25–28 April, then heading to Slovak Karting Centre, Slovakia on 20–23 June before wrapping things up in Kristianstad, Sweden from 1–4 August.  

Dan Parker, Head of Karting at Motorsport UK commented: “The FIA Karting Academy Trophy provides a unique opportunity for drivers to represent Motorsport UK on the global karting stage. Competing against some of the best junior kart drivers in the world, offering drivers the opportunity to master some of the best karting tracks in Europe, is an invaluable experience for a driver’s career development. 

“Equipment supplied by the OTK Kart Group ensures the championship is a true test of the driver and also their ability to give good feedback, working closely with their mechanic, to optimise the equipment at tracks that they are not often familiar with. The list of previous winners speaks for itself, and Motorsport UK has an impressive track record of results in the competition, which has seen many of today’s future and present stars compete.” 

Motorsport UK’s selection process to find the young driver that will represent the nation will involve a practical assessment at a UK kart track early next year, along with a fitness assessment, sim session and interview with the selection panel. 

Applications will be considered from competitors who have experience participating in the Wera Tools British Kart Championship. Activity in non-Motorsport UK licenced Championships will not be considered. Competitors must also hold a valid UK passport, hold (or be eligible to hold) the relevant international competition licence, entrant licence and must be able to commit financially to the entire championship. 

Eligible drivers must be born in 2010, 2011 or 2012 and be at least 12 years old (or reach their 12th birthday in 2024) and not be older than 14 years of age as a maximum (not reaching their 15th birthday before 31 December 2024). 

Please note that drivers who have scored point(s) in an FIA Karting European or World Championship OK-Junior event, in the previous and/or current year, are not allowed to participate in the 2024 FIA Karting Academy Trophy. 

To apply, drivers should fill in the online application form HERE by 17:00 Monday 11 December 2023. Following the closing date, the applications will be reviewed by the judging panel and shortlisted drivers will be contacted shortly after. Applications must be submitted with permission from a parent/guardian, however we do encourage drivers to complete the content of the application themselves.  

Please contact academy@motorsportuk.org if you have any questions and you can find out more about the FIA Karting Academy Trophy here.