The whole karting community welcomed the introduction in 2015 by the CIK-FIA of the new front fairing fasteners with great satisfaction to reduce bad behaviour on the track. However, it was soon found in the Competitions that not all equipment responded equivalently on impact. The CIK-FIA Sporting Working Group has discussed this problem already at the end of last season. The CIK-FIA has taken on the difficult task of overcoming this drawback by taking into account a maximum of parameters. Several tests have been performed on bodywork from various sources by the independent laboratory CSI, of Bollatte in Italy.
A new homologation regulation concerning front fairings will be enacted for 2017, but the new rules for international karting events will already be applicable from 1st November 2016, before the CIK-FIA World Championship in Bahrain. These decisions were taken in response to several unsporting interpretations of the current regulation or significant differences in hardness of the material used, generating inequalities among participants. It should also be recalled that each bodywork part is approved with its steel and plastic parts inseparable.
The regulatory changes relate firstly to the tubes of the front fairing and also the front fairing control process itself, both to be approved at the end of a race.
The steel part of the front bumper is made of two tubes connected together, and the spacing of the front fairing must be at least 27 mm at all points. The size and shape of these bars will be more closely regulated. The two corners of the upper bar must have one constant radius of curvature. The same applies for the lower bar. The straight length of the lower bar must be between 300 and 310 mm (+/- 5 mm) and the straight length of the upper bar must be between 380 and 390 mm (+/- 5 mm), in relation to the longitudinal axis of the kart.
Front fairings approved to be used on a kart at an international event will be able to constantly satisfy impact and pushing tests provided for in the Technical Regulations according to detailed procedures. The CIK-FIA or the ASN responsible may request that any front fairing used in racing undergo additional laboratory analysis at the end of the competition to verify compliance. Any refusal or non-conformity will be punished by exclusion.
