The first FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup arrived in Kuala Lumpur with a clear purpose. The event was designed to reduce technical and financial barriers and to bring new drivers into international competition. With 50 nationalities on the grid and nearly one in seven competitors making their global debut, the World Cup marked a meaningful step for accessible karting in the Asia-Pacific region.
The format delivered close racing in both Senior and Junior finals at the LYL International Circuit. Changing conditions, late moves, and a dramatic red flag shaped the outcome of the Senior race, while the Junior category produced one of the most unpredictable final laps of the season.
Senior Final
Image by Srinivasa Krishnan/FIA Karting
New Zealand’s Zach Tucker managed the changing conditions with composure. After advancing from fifth on the grid, he kept himself in the lead fight through the opening laps and regained control of the race just before the weather turned. When a sudden downpour sent multiple drivers off at Turn 3, the race was stopped and not resumed. With more than 75 per cent completed, Tucker was confirmed as the Senior World Cup winner.
Among the Asian drivers, Singapore’s Dillan Tan delivered the strongest run. He stayed clear of the late chaos and finished seventh, closing his weekend as the highest-placed Asian driver in the Senior field.
Junior Final
Image by Srinivasa Krishnan/FIA Karting
The Junior race offered the closest competition of the weekend. Simba Motoda and Tommy Hart traded the lead through the middle phase, while the pack behind them tightened with each lap. A final-lap battle involving more than nine karts reshaped the order entirely.
Motoda crossed the line first, but a five-second time penalty for a front-fairing infringement dropped him down the order. The win went to Troy Ferguson of the United States, who had started ninth and positioned himself well during the final-lap shuffle. Hart was classified second and Tomasz Cichoracki completed the podium.
Asia delivered two strong results in the Junior final. Seira Kojima of the Philippines finished fourth after staying in the lead group through the closing laps. Indonesia’s Micah Vino Satrio finished fifth, continuing a steady and consistent weekend.
The first edition of the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup has offered a clear indication of what an accessible format can achieve. It brought new nations into the paddock, created space for emerging talent, and delivered a finals day that reflected the competitive depth of young karting across the world.
