THE BIRTH OF ASIA KARTING OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The year was 2002, the month of January, there was a call from IM, the CIK appointed governing body for Karting in Indonesia to AAP, Automobile Association of the Philippines, also the governing body for karting in the Philippines, inviting karting officials for a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia to discuss the possibility of an Asian Karting Series patterned after the European Kart Championships. The Singapore ASN was also invited to join the meeting. Mr. Johnny G. Tan and Mr. Jun Espino of the AAP went to Jakarta to meet Mr. Djembar Kartasasmita, Mr. Dolly Nasution and Mr. Bambang of IMI.

The meeting was held for two (2) days and the founding directors from the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore decided to invite Malaysia to be part of the core group or inner circle of the Asia Karting Open Championship Series. With an initial of three(3) rounds to be held in Manila, Philippines, Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The first year of the Asia Karting Open Championship was held in the same year 2002 with the following classes of karting categories : Formula A, Intercontinental A, Intercontinental A Junior, Rotax Max 125 Seniors and Formula Cadet 85. There was tremendous interest among Asian Karters because for the first time, there was competition among the best Asian karters within the region. With the huge interest of Formula 1 in the region, a lot of kids dream of becoming a Schumacher someday. The AKOC series brings their dreams one step up to reality. A total of 60 karters from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines joined the initial year. The second year brought new categories in AKOC to answer and to follow the ever changing trends in the world of karting. The Rotax Max 125 Junior Challenge was introduced in replacement of Intercontinental A category. Formula A was renamed Formula 100 Open without changing the rules and regulation of the said class. The three remaining category Rotax Max 125 Seniors, Intercontinental A Junior and Formula Cadet 85 was retained. The third year of the series showed a dynamic expansion of the AKOC in the region. Apart from the traditional rounds in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, India in the southwest of Asia joined the AKOC and held the third rounds of the series in Coimbatore, India. With karters from India joining, we might be able to see Pakistan, Sri Lankan karters in the future.

Macau, the home of the Macau Grand Prix featuring the F3 cup, World Touring Car Championships (WTCC), Motorcycle Road Race, the Motorsports Capital of Asia, does not want to be left behind. Through the efforts of Engineer Antunes, Mr. Alex Vong and Mr. Chong Coc Veng, Macau joined the AKOC, organizing the fourth round of the series.

The entry of Macau on the AKOC has brought karters from the East Asian region particularly China, Korea, Japan, Hongkong, Taiwan, Macau. For the first time in the history of the Asian Karting, a total of 13 countries will compete side by side in the historic Asian Karting Open Championship in Macau.

For 2005, Bombardier Rotax has joined AKOC by incorporating the Rotax Max 125 Challenge Seniors and Juniors into the Asian Max Challenge for both Seniors and Juniors with the champions of both categories being sponsored by Rotax to join the world Rotax Max Challenge. This will give Asian karters the chance to join the World Cup Rotax Max Challenge and race with the best karters of the world.

There are plans and prospects that Bahrain might be interested to join the AKOC for 2005 with Middle East, Asian karters joining the series. AKOC has become a truly Asian Karting Competition for the entire East region. From a small dream of organizing a truly Asian Karting championships, so that the sports of karting will fully develop in the region and at the same time foster brotherhood and friendship with our Asian brothers, AKOC has finally achieved its objective and dream. The new challenge for AKOC is to be able to sustain the series in the years to come and be able to expand and develop the sport of karting in non karting countries here in the region.

DETAILS OF THE EVENT

Asian Karting Open Champions was started on April , 2002 with three countries : Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia playing host to karters in the region. The Series main objective was to develop karting as a sport and to uplift the skills of Asian Karters to world standard level.

The AKOC, as it was called, became an instant success with participations coming from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Philippines, China, Hongkong, Brunei and Singapore. An average of 80 karters join each, loyal karting teams from the region supports in the series.

AKOC has emerged as the most challenging Karting Series here in Asia, with rounds held in India, Macau, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. A variety of Kart Track awaits the completion and a choice of Six categories of Karting classes:

1) FORMULA 100 OPEN (FORMULA A)
• 15 years old and above are eligible to join
• International B License is required
• 100 cc Rotary or Reed Valve Engines, approved by CIK
• The premier class and the Highest category for AKOC

2) SENIOR ROTAX MAX 125
• 17 years old and above are eligible to join
• International C license is required
• Rotax Max 125cc Engine
• The best attended category

3) JUNIOR ROTAX MAX 125
• 12 years old up to 17 years old are eligible to join
• International C License is required
• Junior Rotax Max 125cc Engine
• A very popular category among the kids

4) JUNIOR INTERCONTINENTAL A
• 13 years old up to 15 years are eligible to join
• Intercontinental C License is required
• 100cc Piston Port Engine with clutch, appointed by CIK
• Karters from this category step up to Formula 100 open

5) CADET 85
• 9 years old up to 13 years old are eligible to join
• Comer K85/W85 engines are used
• The entry level for AKOC karters
• National C-License is required

6) VETERAN ROTAX MAX 125
• 45 years old and above are eligible to join
• International C License is required
• Rotax Max 125 engine
• A popular category for businessman and executives who enjoy karting as a sport

7) MACAU CUP OPEN
• 15 years and above are eligible to join
• National C License is required
• CIK homologated Reed Valve/Rotary valve 100 cc engine.