Tying up some loose ends and looking to provide a better overall experience to the World Karting Association (WKA) customer base, series officials are announcing changes to better the overall program. After speaking with the membership base and working closely with the Board of Directors and Trustees, WKA is confident that these changes will improve racing and help in molding the driver base for the future. All rules updates will remain in effect for the remainder of the 2021 race season.
After announcing the Vega Tire program last week, WKA is pleased to confirm that a three-year program is in place. Vega Tires will be the official tire of the WKA Manufacturers Cup, WKA Charlotte Club Summer Series and WKA America program until the completion of the 2023 race season. The tire compounds selected, and tire rules have been listed below:
- Kid Kart – Vega VAH Red 460-5 – New or used tires can be run
- Kid Kart Wheel Diameter 33 ¾ Max
- All Micro, Mini and 206 Cadet – Vega VAH Red 460-5
- 206 Junior and 206 Senior – Vega VAH Red 460-5/600-5 (Max rear wheel width 212mm)
- F100 Junior and F100 Senior – Vega XH3 Green 460-5/710-5
- Manufacturers Cup drivers have option to use three (3) front and three (3) rears for competition for F100 Junior and F100 Senior
- ROK Junior, X30 Senior, X30 Junior and ROK Local Option Classes – Vega XH3 Green 460-5/710
- Rain Tires – Vega W5 or W6 are the only wet weather tires that will be permitted
*All Tires must be “New” for Qualifying in all classes except Kid Kart at all events
Beginning with the WKA Manufacturers Cup event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway along with the Summer Series and WKA America programs and for the balance of the 2021 race season, the following rules changes will be implemented for to the Mini, Micro and Cadet divisions only:
- Front Push Back Bumper Penalty
- One side pushed back – written warning
- Both Sides pushed back – two position penalty
- Tram Line Violation: If more than 50% of the competitor’s chassis is deemed to be outside the tram lines the driver will receive a one position penalty
Beginning with the WKA Manufacturers Cup event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway along with the Summer Series and WKA America programs and for the balance of the 2021 race season, the following rules changes will be implemented for all Divisions:
- Lapped traffic black flag/removal flag will only be used if the lapped competitor ignores the blue flag
- Video review will be permitted in all heats, pre-finals and main events. Protest fee will apply for the main events.
- Video must be the protesting competitor’s on board video and not another competitor’s video. Drivers are permitted two video reviews per day.
Beginning on May 1, 2021 and for the balance of the 2021 race season, the following rules changes will be implemented for the IAME X30 Engine Platform:
- The new IAME X30 exhaust will be mandatory in all Classes.
- The new IAME X30 Senior manifold and the 22.7mm X30 Junior manifold are mandatory.
- The new IAME X30 ignition, airbox and main bearings are all improvements to the engine platform, and these will be at the option of the team and competitor for the balance of the 2021 season and will be reevaluated prior to our first event of 2022, WKA Daytona Kartweek.
- KA100 Engines will be the ONLY legal engines in the WKA Summer Series in the F100 Junior and F100 Senior. F100 Junior will utilize the 22mm Header only. The 27mm F100 Junior header is still the legal header for the F100 Junior class in the Manufacturers Cup.
- Due to a worldwide shortage of the NGK R6254K-105 and the R6254-105 as mandated for the X30, the BR10EG and B10EG will be allowed for the balance of the 2021 season.
“After speaking to competitors in our younger divisions and their family members during the WKA Daytona Kartweek, I brought a list of penalty concerns to our Board of Directors,” explained WKA Chairman of the Board Mike Tetreault. “We discussed in great lengths and it was decided that we need to implement and utilize these rules changes for the balance of the 2021 season as a teaching effort for our younger drivers as they move into the Junior ranks and up the karting ladder of classes.”