Monaco Kart Cup

History

Early years (1995–2000)

The Monaco Kart Cup was founded in 1995 by the Automobile Club de Monaco. It was initially contested in the direct-drive Formula A (FA) and Junior Intercontinental A (ICA-J) classes, as well as the gearbox Intercontinental C (ICC) class. The inaugural FA event was won by Nicola Gianniberti, with Éric Salignon winning the junior event and Portuguese driver Jaime Correia winning the ICC race.

In 1996, reigning two-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Michael Schumacher entered the senior FA class, dominating the final to add the Monaco Kart Cup to his racing accolades.

The 1997 edition saw Salignon add to his 1995 title by winning the senior class, becoming the only driver to win in both the junior and the senior classes at the Monaco Kart Cup. Gianluca Beggio secured his second consecutive ICC title, adding to his five World Championships and three European Championships. The gearbox class was discontinued after the 1999 edition, not returning until 2009.

Robert Kubica took back-to-back junior titles in 1998 and 1999, becoming the first—and to this date, only—driver to win multiple Junior Monaco Kart Cups. Jérôme d'Ambrosio ended his reign in 2000, beating Michael Ammermüller and Carlo van Dam to the title.

Expansion and first cancellation (2001–2005)

The Monaco Stars Cup was hosted in 2001 and 2002 as an all-star race, won by Formula One drivers Gianni Morbidelli and Giorgio Pantano, respectively. The one-off Challenge Star Team was also contested in 2001, won by Italian driver Stefano Tilly. That year's junior event saw future four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Sebastian Vettel's victory, adding to his European Championship that season.

The 2002 Monaco Kart Cup saw the introduction of the 6 Hours of Monte Carlo, a six-hour endurance race around the Principality, held continuously until the final meeting in 2010. It was also the final year of the senior direct-drive FA class, with Benjamin Horstman successfully defending his 2001 title; Alexander Sims took the junior crown.

From 2003 to 2004, development work to the harbour at Port Hercules saw the cancellation of the event in those years. The 2005 edition saw the introduction of the Monaco Four-Stroke Contest, using 250cc four-stroke engines. The one-off Monaco Rok Up was also contested that year, won by Swiss driver Antonio Ruggiero.

Junior Monaco Grand Prix and second cancellation (2006–2010)

The Junior Monaco Kart Cup was revived in 2006 as the Junior Monaco Grand Prix, now running as the primary class. Scott Jenkins beat compatriot Oliver Rowland, driving for Intrepid.

The all-star race returned in electric karts in 2007 as the one-off Monaco Elec-Kart Trophy, won by 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Stéphane Ortelli, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win an individual event at the Monaco Kart Cup. The junior class was contested under the newly-established KF3 regulations, won by Max Goff.

The senior gearbox class returned in 2009, replacing the four-stroke event and running the secondary KZ2 regulations. French driver Anthony Abbasse won the first KZ2 event, with Carlos Sainz Jr. winning the Junior Monaco Grand Prix.

2010—the final year of the event—saw hometown hero Charles Leclerc take the KF3 crown ahead of Dennis Olsen and Pierre Gasly. The KZ2 race was won by Norman Nato, driving for CRG. The 2011 edition was cancelled due to unspecified technical reasons, marking the end of the Monaco Kart Cup.

Circuit

Main article: Circuit de Monaco

The Monaco Kart Cup was contested at the Circuit de Monaco, a street circuit in Monte Carlo, home of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix since 1929. The track featured the port complex of the Grand Prix circuit—Tabac, La Piscine and La Rascasse—as well as the Formula One pit lane. The exit of the pit lane was connected to the port via a ramp and a hairpin corner. The 1,075 m circuit featured over 2,400 Tecpro barrier modules, 120 marshals, eight cameras, and four jumbotrons.

Winners

Junior direct-drive class (1995–2010)

The junior direct-drive class was held from the inaugural 1995 edition until its final 2010 edition. Until 2007, it was contested under ICA-J regulations, prior to the class being replaced by KF3 in international competition.

Robert Kubica was the only driver to win multiple Junior Monaco Grands Prix, winning back-to-back in 1998 and 1999. Notable winners in the junior class also include four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Sebastian Vettel and Formula One drivers Jérôme d'Ambrosio, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc.

Senior direct-drive class (1995–2002)

From 1995 to 2002, the senior class at the Monaco Kart Cup was run under the secondary direct-drive Formula A (FA) regulations.

Benjamin Horstman was the only driver to win multiple senior direct-drive Monaco Kart Cups, winning back-to-back in 2001 and 2002. Notable winners include seven-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion Michael Schumacher, who entered the event upon winning his second World Championship.

Senior gearbox class (1995–2010)

The secondary gearbox class Intercontinental C (ICC) was contested as a tertiary competition at the Monaco Kart Cup from 1995 to 1999. After a seven-year hiatus, the senior class returned in 2009 under KZ2 regulations, replacing FA.

Gianluca Beggio was the only driver to win multiple gearbox Monaco Grands Prix, winning back-to-back in 1998 and 1999.

6 Hours of Monte Carlo

From 2002 to 2010, a six-hour endurance race was held at the Monaco Kart Cup, contested as the Six Heures de Monte-Carlo.

Winners of the 6 Hours of Monte Carlo

Monaco Stars Cup

From 2001 to 2002, the Monaco Stars Cup was held as an all-star race, contested again in 2007 as the Monaco Elec-Kart Trophy, or the VIP Electric Trophée, in electric karts.

Winners of the Monaco Stars Cup

Monaco Four-Stroke Contest

From 2005 to 2008, a 250cc four-stroke race was held at the Monaco Kart Cup, contested as the Monaco Four-Stroke Contest.

Winners of the Monaco Four-Stroke Contest

Notes

References

References

1. (26 July 2011). "Cancellation of the Monaco Kart Cup".
2. (17 September 2009). "13th Monaco Kart Cup - Vroom Karting".
3. https://www.kartcom.com/en/pressrel/monaco-kart-cup-2007/
7. "CIK-FIA KF3 Monaco Kart Cup - Driver Database".
8. "CIK-FIA ICA-J Monaco Kart Cup - Driver Database".
9. "CIK-FIA FA Monaco Kart Cup - Driver Database".
10. "CIK-FIA KZ2 Monaco Kart Cup - Driver Database".
11. (10 October 2008). "12th Monaco Kart Cup - Kartcom".
12. (2 October 2007). "11th Monaco Kart Cup - Vroom Kart".