In 2015, the CIK-FIA introduced a front fairing mounting kit to limit deliberate collisions and penalise excessive contact. The idea was simple: if a driver hit an opponent with a speed difference of more than 5 km/h, his spoiler would come off slightly and he would be penalised. However, ten years after its introduction, the system still raises questions.

Relative effectiveness

"Movable" spoilers have changed racing behaviour, but not always as intended. While the initial intention was to deter contact, the reality on the track shows that many races end with an impressive proportion of penalties. At the last WSK Super Master Series race at Lonato this weekend, a very large number of riders received a five-second penalty. A figure that raises questions. In fact, a total of 328 five-second penalties were given for 'front fairing incorrectly positioned', 39 in Mini GR3, 80 in KZ2, 66 OK, 68 OK Junior, 43 OK-N Junior and 32 Mini U10 (unless there is an error or omission on our part). It's fair to say that the officials had their hands full, with so many penalties, and that the drivers took all the risks.

Admittedly, weather conditions sometimes influence the number of penalties, as was the case at the last WSK event in Lonato, but even under clear skies, front fairings continue to fall off en masse. Contact in karting seems to have become an inevitability, and the teams, like the drivers, are resigned to it as a hazard of racing. Far from deterring collisions, the system has actually shifted the problem by normalising these situations.

A tool to judge, a strategy to trap

From a regulatory point of view, the front fairing assembly kit offers an undeniable advantage: it provides indisputable mechanical proof of contact, thus avoiding endless debates and disputes. For the officials, this invaluable tool simplifies their work. However, it has also led to certain abuses, with some drivers learning to misuse it by braking earlier than necessary to cause a penalty for an opponent.

In the 2010s, the use of video in racing had already shown its limits. Race control, which is expensive and dependent on the positioning of the cameras, has never proved to be a universal and infallible solution. The fairing assembly kit, on the other hand, has the merit of being more affordable, systematic and included in the regulations. But should we be content with a system that punishes without really preventing?

What does the future hold for contact in karting?

Karting has never been a 'non-contact' sport, and it is unfortunately utopian to imagine races without collisions. However, the question today is whether the current approach is the right one. Should the fairing mounting system be reviewed to make it more relevant?

Another aspect, often overlooked, is the impact of these penalties on the image of the sport. For journalists and photographers, seeing a podium modified after the finish is often a headache. Unusable shots, winners who no longer dare to celebrate their success... These last-minute changes inevitably damage the spectacle, the communication and the joy of the result around the races.

Towards a dead end or a necessary evolution?

Ten years after the introduction of fairing kits, the facts are clear: they have certainly limited certain abuses, but they have not eradicated contact in karting, because it is impossible. The sport is based on adrenaline and neck-and-neck combat, and no rules can eradicate this reality.

Can the rules be fine-tuned, monitoring improved and drivers made more aware? Yes, but believing that a simple technical device will suffice is an illusion. As long as aggressiveness is seen as a strategy rather than an excess, the problem will remain. Karting is a combat sport, but should it be a regulatory war of attrition? However, it is not certain that THE solution really exists... Something to think about.