A record entry list of 266 drivers across the OK-N and OK-N Junior categories will take to the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo, Italy this week for the 2026 FIA Karting World Cup.
The continued growth of the OK-N concept is reflected in a remarkable 50% increase in entries compared to 2025, demonstrating both the accessibility of the category and the strength of the qualification pathway from national and regional competitions to FIA Karting’s international stage. A total of 149 OK-N and 117 OK-N Junior drivers will compete for World Cup honours, including returning winners and those taking their first laps in FIA Karting.
The third and final round of the 2026 FIA Karting Academy Trophy Junior will also be held in Viterbo to decide the second-ever winner of the trophy. John Han of Hong Kong holds a 38-point advantage over home hope Domenico Coco, while first round winner Zoltan Coigny remains mathematically in contention.
The 16 corners of the Leopard Circuit welcome the FIA Karting paddock again after staging last year’s third round of the European Championship for OK and Junior drivers. All of the racing is available to watch live and free on the FIA Karting YouTube Channel.
OK-N
Leading the field in defence of his 2025 title is reigning World Cup winner Manuel Scognamiglio, who races with Pantano by Dam this year. The Italian clinched the title in Cremona last year with an eight-second lead over compatriot Danny Carenini, who arrives on a high after winning the final race of the 2026 ACI Karting Italian Championship last month.
In total, 34 returning drivers from the 2025 World Cup line up on the grid, including Frederico Nardozi (fourth), Cristian Tonalini (sixth) and Frederico Rossi (eighth), who returns for a third year in OK-N after finishing in the top 10 in both 2024 and 2025. Several drivers have moved up from the FIA Karting Academy Trophy, including 2026 Academy Senior winner Albie Lapper, who secured the title in Kristianstad and races with Tony Kart as part of an OTK team thanks to his free-entry prize. He is the only British driver in OK-N. Alexis Genolet (runner-up in the Academy), Ioan Tudor Jercan and Oliver Kurg also make the step up.
Elsewhere, 62 of the 149 drivers race under the Italian flag, reflecting the strength of the OK-N concept in national championships. Nicholas Tomasella competes in his third World Cup in a row, Luisa Maria Della Pietra (16th last year) is Scognamiglio’s teammate, and Mike Parhiala, who completed just one lap of the Cremona final, is back with the Tony Kart Racing Team looking to put that result behind him.
OK-N Junior
After debuting in 2025, OK-N Junior — which shares the engine, carburettor and exhaust of OK-N but adds a 26mm exhaust flange to marginally reduce performance — returns with a successor to 2025 winner Gioele Girardello to be crowned. Girardello went on to the FIA Karting Shootout, competing for free tyres, fuel and entries for up to five FIA Karting events plus a €6,000 contribution per event to his team. This season he joined the Junior grid with Parolin in the European Championship and finished an impressive fourth.
Leading the entry list is Troy Ferguson, fellow 2025 Shootout competitor (second place) and 2025 Arrive and Drive World Cup winner, who has also raced with Parolin in the European Championship this year and is a favourite for the title. Eight drivers return from the inaugural edition, led by Antoni Ociepa and Orlando Rovelli (eighth and ninth in Cremona). Luigi D’Ascoli arrives fresh from a race win in the Italian National Championship, with Greece’s Kolovos Ioannis and Italy’s Gioele Carrer, second and third in that championship, also early favourites. Victor Gorun and Matteo Turchiato are other names to watch. In total, 117 drivers from 33 nationalities make up the grid, with action starting on Friday with Qualifying Practice.
Academy Junior
After a clean sweep of every session in the previous round in Sarno, John Han arrives in Italy with a 38-point lead and the momentum of winning last month’s FIA Karting Arrive and Drive Asia-Pacific Championship, taking pole and every heat and race. Domenico Coco, second in Sarno, will have the support of a home crowd, and with a maximum haul in a single round worth 75 points, the gap is far from insurmountable.
The biggest swing of the season belongs to Zoltan Coigny: the round one leader struggled in Sarno and retired from the final, leaving him third on 75 points and 67 behind Han. Behind the title contenders the battle is tight: Takeru Shimbashi is fourth on 56 points, Kevin Pentell has 54, Georgios Psaroudakis 53 and Sebastián Galeano Grinó 52. All 52 drivers race with identical Exprit karts and Vortex engines, with Vega’s Option tyre.
Provisional timings
Friday 9 October: 08:50–11:35 Free Practice; 11:45–14:20 Qualifying Practice; 15:15–17:45 Qualifying Heats (OK-N).
Saturday 10 October: 08:00–18:20 Qualifying Heats.
Sunday 11 October: 09:50–12:10 Super Heats; 13:20 Drivers’ Presentation; 14:00 Academy Junior Final; 15:00 OK-N Junior Final; 16:00 OK-N Final.
FormulaRapida.net will follow the FIA Karting World Cup in Viterbo closely. Photography: FIA Karting/KSP.