Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc has started his own kart brand in association with Birel ART.
Leclerc teased about an announcement on Tuesday, which many thought would be about his fashion brand after his initial reveal during the Mexico GP, when discussing about the environmental impact. He stated of building an eco-friendly brand.
However, his Wednesday announcement, isn’t about his fashion but his kart brand, which Leclerc has started together with Birel ART. The Monegasque has his own kart chassis now, which is being produced in the Birel ART factory in Lissone, Italy.
It is not just one category chassis which is being produced but there is a wide range for young racers competing in Baby, Mini, OK/Junior, KZ, Rotax and other rental categories. “You must always remember where you come from,” said Leclerc.
“I know what I owe to karting: everything! It was there that my passion for motor sport was established, it was there that I learned the basics that allowed me to progress to the top of the pyramid and it was also there that I met some of the important people who supported me afterwards.
“I had been determined to do something for karting for a long time, and I think now is the right time. Birel ART’s skills were recently confirmed by a magnificent double at the KZ World Championship.
“I wanted the chassis bearing my name to be able to perform very well in a wide range of conditions. Only a major factory like Birel ART can guarantee such a high quality of production on a large scale.”
Leclerc has been with Birel ART since his early days in motor racing, where he even won the WSK Euro Series KF2 with the Italian outfit in 2010. He then clinched the 2016 GP3 Series title with ART Grand Prix – which was his first single-seater championship.
Here’s what Charles Leclerc said after the US GP