It had to happen, karts are set to be the next big thing in historic motor sport. And the first-ever Historic Kart World Championships will add to the action at the 2012 Donington Historic Festival on 5-6 May.
Some 150 historic karts, including machines originally campaigned by Graham Hill and Ayrton Senna, will compete on a specially laid-out circuit using the Donington GP Loop, pedalled by 200 drivers from the USA, Australia, New Zealand and all over Europe.
Among the stars already entered is British Historic Kart Club Patron, the historics hero Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, who will race one of his father’s creations, a 1959 Fastakart/Villiers.
Karting legends also scheduled to appear include the 1967 World Karting Champion Edgardo Rossi (Switzerland) and 1978 World Champion Lake Speed (USA), plus former British champions Reg Gange Jnr, Bill Longden and Bob Phair.
There will also be a strong contingent of lady competitors, including the current European Champion, 100cc vintage, Tania le Couilliard, British Champion 250cc classic, Claire Atkinson and the Dutch racer Miranda van Middendorp.
Significant karts taking part include the 1959 Progress in which Graham Hill won the first ever kart race held in the UK. This will compete alongside the famous front-engined Del-kart/Suzuki that was part of the Donington Collection for 30 years; both karts racing for the first time in several decades.
