The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, is pleased to confirm that the Global Karting Plan, announced during the General Assemblies week in December 2024, is already delivering impressive results across one of its core pillars – increasing participation.

The introduction of FIA President’s Medals, combined with a coordinated outreach programme to National Sporting Authorities (ASNs), has led to a projected 50 per cent increase in the number of drivers enlisted in National Karting Rankings around the world compared to 2024.

Since its launch in 2023 the National Karting Ranking has been steadily growing, with over 1000 drivers registered globally in 2024. That number is now expected to reach over 1,500 in 2025, thanks to the incentivisation of the FIA President’s Medals and direct action by the FIA.

The FIA’s Karting Department has been working closely with the Sport Club Development Department to reach out to 59 ASNs since the start of the year. This direct flow of information has led to a sharp uptick in interest, with Member Clubs across the Americas, MENA, Asia-Pacific and Africa, South America and Europe responding positively.

Setting the stage for further growth in the second half of this year and into 2026, a further round of in-person meetings on the topic is planned over the second half of the year.

The National Karting Ranking system is a vital bridge between national-level competitions and the FIA’s international competitions, rewarding drivers who have performed at the highest level nationally, but who have not had the opportunity to compete on the international stage. This puts a spotlight onto drivers who may potentially have not had the budget to race outside of their home country, but who have demonstrated the raw talent that will make them strong prospects for the future.

Akbar Ebrahim, President of the FIA Karting Commission (CIK), said: “We created the Global Karting Plan to give more young drivers from all over the world the opportunity to demonstrate their talents, which is a crucial element to delivering the FIA President’s goal of doubling motor sport participation. The introduction of the GKP World Cup in 2025, the proposed GKP Continental Championships in 2026 along with the Karting Excellence Centres and the FIA scholarship prize fund, which is the first of its kind, is a testament to the FIA President's commitment towards affordability, accessibility and diversity. The National Karting Ranking is a really important detection tool for drivers competing in national championships, and thanks to the hard work of the FIA teams and the introduction of up to three FIA President’s Medals awarded to each ASN that adopts the system, we are already seeing fantastic uptake from our ASNs, and I encourage every single ASN that is running a karting championship to speak with the FIA and understand the full benefits of being a part of this system.”

Valerio Iachizzi, FIA Secretary General for Sport, said: “Our federation is built on its incredible network of members, and thanks to the vision of our President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, it is one of our core missions to double participation in motor sport by working together with our ASNs. The Global Karting Plan is a great example of this, and at the heart of this plan is an understanding that we need to lower barriers to entry and ensure that talent can shine through no matter the budget of the competitor. The link between the FIA President’s Medals and the Karting Excellence Centre shows how the impact of this plan is designed for the long-term, and I am sure that we will see many more drivers registered in the coming years.”