Champions of the Future (COTF) is a kart racing competition organised by the RGMMC Group and sanctioned by FIA Karting (). Founded in 2020, COTF is one of 11 competitions on the international kart racing calendar in classes.
Initially a two-round series in OK and ()âÂÂwith single-round finals in KZ2 and 60 MiniâÂÂthe championship has since expanded to all eight classes across the: Euro Series (OK, ), Shifters (KZ, KZ2, ), and Academy Program (, , 60 Mini), the latter supported by F1 Academy. COTF also hosted the one-off Winter Series at Franciacorta in 2022. COTF is set to expand to national series in 2026, hosting a British title with Motorsport UK, an Emirati title, a Macanese title, and an American title.
The Euro Series and Shifters events traditionally take place in the two weeks prior to a World or European Championship round at the same circuit. Notable former champions include Nikita Bedrin (2020, OK), Arvid Lindblad (2020, ), Rafael Câmara (2021, OK), Freddie Slater (2021, ), Alex Powell (2023, OK), and Dries Van Langendonck (2024, ). Luna Fluxá (2024, ) is the only female driver to win a title.
The Commission Internationale de Karting () was founded in 1962 by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to govern the rising international sport of kart racing. The inaugural CIK-FIA World Championship was hosted two years later at the Pista d'Oro in Rome, which again held the event in 1965. The began its homologation of distinct classes in the discipline in 1974, when the first 125 cc gearbox category was created for the European Championship: Formula C (FC). The 100 cc category was clarified in 1976, when Formula Europe was introduced to control technical evolutions and costs. The single-speed classes were adapted in 1981, when the 135 cc Formula K (FK), 100 cc Intercontinental A (ICA), and Junior Intercontinental A () were introduced to the World Championship, European Championship, and World Cup, respectively.
By 2020, there were five classes: OK, the primary senior direct-drive class; (), the under-15 direct-drive class; KZ, the primary gearbox class; KZ2, the secondary gearbox class; and 60 Mini, the under-12 international class. Rotax was founded in 1920 as an internal combustion engine manufacturer and entered the FK class in 1983, later founding the Rotax Max Challenge in 2000. Italian American Motor Engineering (IAME) was founded as a kart manufacturer in 1968 as a merger between Parilla and Komet; it began operating its single-design championships, the IAME Series, in 2007. The Switzerland-based RGMMC Group had been established in 2004, later becoming the promoter of Rotax events in 2006, IAME events in 2016, and events in 2018. Across 2018 and 2019 with the latter, RGMMC promoted six World Championships, two World Cups, and eight European Championships.
COTF was founded in 2020 by the RGMMC Group to promote and develop four classesâÂÂOK, , KZ2, and 60 Mini. Its inaugural round at Wackersdorf on 7âÂÂ10 May was delayed and cancelled amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, as was the Kristianstad round on 25âÂÂ28 June, leaving Zuera as the debut circuit of the series on 16âÂÂ19 July. Over 170 drivers entered in preparation for the opening round of the European Championship that month. The second and final round was held on 1 November at Portimão in the OK and classes, serving as direct preparation for the World Championship one week later. The inaugural champions were Nikita Bedrin (OK), Arvid Lindblad (), Paolo Ippolito (KZ2), and Dmitry Matveev (60 Mini).
The 2021 season was contested in OK and across three rounds at Genk, Zuera, and Campillos. The latter round replaced the Franciacorta and Castelletto roundsâÂÂwhich were cancelled due to logistical challengesâÂÂand provided support for the upcoming World Championship. Rafael Câmara and reigning World Champion Freddie Slater claimed the championships in OK and , respectively. Prior to the 2022 season, the one-off Champions of the Future Winter Series was held at Franciacorta in: OK, won by Tomass à  tolcermanis; , won by Maciej Gà Âadysz; and KZ2, won by Simo Puhakka. The regular season was re-branded as the Champions of the Future Euro SeriesâÂÂheld over four rounds timetabled by factory-backed teams at Portimão, Zuera, Kristianstad, and FranciacortaâÂÂand won by British drivers Joe Turney (OK) and Nathan Tye ().
In 2023, COTF founded the Champions of the Future Academy Program (COTFA) in collaboration with F1 Academy, a single-round event at Al ForsanâÂÂthe series' first expansion beyond continental EuropeâÂÂin the recently established low-cost () and () classes, as well as 60 Mini. F1 Academy sponsored the entries of three female drivers in each class, which Fred Smith of Road & Track opined "could completely alter the access women have to Formula One" within a decade. Austin Gale (), James Anagnostiadis (), and Dan Allemann (60 Mini) were the inaugural winners. The five-round Euro Series was held at Valencia, Tà Âinec, Rødby, Cremona, and FranciacortaâÂÂeach preceding rounds of the European and World Championships and won by Alex Powell in OK and Lewis Wherrell in . The Tà Âinec round marked the first appearance of competition in the Czech Republic since the 1990s. TKART described the series that year as "a must" for the leading international drivers and teams.
With the creation of Champions of the Future Shifters in 2024, COTF expanded into all eight classes: OK, , KZ, KZ2, (), , , and 60 Mini. The one-round championship at Portimão was won by 2020 World Champion Jérémy Iglesias in KZ, Daniel Vasile in KZ2, and Anthony Abbasse in . The Euro Series was again held over five rounds at Valencia, Val d'Argenton, Slovakia, Kristianstad, and PF International, being won for the second time by Turney in OK, and Dries Van Langendonck in . The COTFA was expanded to six roundsâÂÂCremona, Valencia, Franciacorta, Dubai, Al Ain, and Al ForsainâÂÂand was won by Luna Fluxá (), defending champion Anagnostiadis (), and Priam Bruno (60 Mini). Fluxá became the fifth woman in history to win a major senior international karting title, and the first in a global championship since Susanna Raganelli in 1966. Vroomkart described the COTFA that year as an "innovative model based on inclusion, cost efficiency, and equal competition opportunities", noting its use of driver coaches from FIA Formula 2 and F1 Academy, including Isack Hadjar. It was used to scout driver talent by the Mercedes Junior Team and the Sauber Academy.
The Shifters series expanded to two rounds in 2025 at Valencia and Franciacorta, won by the to-be World Champion in each category: Senna van Walstijn (KZ), Maksim Orlov (KZ2), and Angelo Lombardo (); the former event was marred by controversy as 21 drivers, including six World Champions, boycotted the KZ final in a dispute with the over its mandating Dunlop tyres. Speedcafe stated that RGMMC "[had] become the unwilling pawn in the middle of the game between the drivers and the FIA" and was unaware of the issue priorâÂÂ19 of the 23 finalists withdrew or retired mid-race. The subsequently dropped Dunlop as a tyre supplier. The five-round Euro Series was claimed by two British drivers: reigning junior World Champion Kenzo Craigie (OK) and Noah Baglin (), the latter overturning a 31-point deficit to William Calleja. Half of the entrants in COTFA were female, where Markas à  ilkà «nas was victorious over Chiara Bättig across six rounds at Portimão, Valencia, Jesolo, Slovakia, Al Ain, and Al Forsan; Conor Clancy won in as Angelina Simons ended third, whilst Italian prodigy Niccoló Perico dominated in 60 Mini.
In 2026, COTFA is set to expand into the United Kingdom in collaboration with Motorsport UK, forming the four-round British Champions of the Future Academy Programme (British COTFA). It is also due to hold an Emirati title, held across two rounds in November 2025 and February 2026 as another feeder series to the international COTFA, and a single-round Macanese title at in January. F1 Academy are set to expand their support to nine drivers in both the British and Emirati series for a total of 27. The Champions of the Future America Series (COTFAS) is set to debut across 10 rounds from January to September in partnership with K1 at K1 Circuit in California and Spring Mountain in Nevada, featuring a prize pool.
The inaugural edition of COTF held four-day weekends: free practice sessions on the Thursday and Friday mornings, qualifying practice on Friday afternoon, qualifying heats on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and pre-finals/finals on the Sunday afternoon. The registration fees were per round for 60 Mini and â¬595 for OK, , and KZ2. By 2024, the round fees increased to â¬675 for the Euro Series and Shifters, with an additional â¬100 charge for free practice. The season fees for the arrive-and-drive Academy Program that year were â¬29,000 ( and ) and â¬23,000 (60 Mini), including a new chassis, engines, tyres, fuel, a paddock area, logistical support, travel, and accommodation.
As of 2025, the Euro Series is held over a three-day weekend composed of free practice (FP), time trials (TT), qualifying heats (QH), super heats (SH), and the finals:
The Euro Series follows the general CIK-FIA points system, with a maximum of: 25 for QH, 25 for SH, and 50 for finals; dead heats are settled via count-back in finals.
As of 2025, Shifters is held over a three-day weekend composed of free practice (FP), qualifying practice (QP), qualifying heats (QH), super heats (SH), and the finals:
Shifters follows the general points system, with a maximum of: 25 for QH, 25 for SH, and 50 for finals; dead heats are settled via count-back in finals.
As of 2025, the Academy Program is held over a three-day weekend composed of free practice (FP), qualifying practice (QP), qualifying heats (QH), and two finals in each class:
The Academy Program follows the general points system, with a maximum of: 25 for QH and 50 for finals; dead heats are settled via count-back in finals.
COTF exclusively operates on kart circuits with homologation from the CIK-FIA. As of 2025, 18 circuits have appeared on the international COTF calendar:
COTF is broadcast on YouTube and Motorsport.tv with live footage, commentary, and interviews for all competitive sessions. The final round of the 2025 Shifters at Franciacorta had a record viewership of over 19 thousand people, with over six thousand watching the opening round of the 2024 Academy Program at Cremona. Apex Timing provides live timing for each COTF event, including free practice and all competitive sessions, via their website.
The Champions of the Future Academy Program Macau (; COTFA Macau) is the national championship of Macau sanctioned by the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC), which debuted in 2026 at as a support race to the Macau International Kart Grand Prix.
The Champions of the Future Academy Program UAE (COTFA UAE) is the national championship of the United Arab Emirates sanctioned by the Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO), which is set to debut across two rounds in 2025 and 2026 at Al Forsan.
The British Champions of the Future Academy Programme (British COTFA) is the national championship of the United Kingdom sanctioned by Motorsport UK, which is set to debut across eight rounds in 2026 at Silverstone, PF International, Larkhall, and Whilton Mill.
The Champions of the Future American Series (COTFAS) is the national championship of the United States sanctioned by K1, which is set to debut across 10 rounds in 2026 at K1 Circuit and Spring Mountain.
The Champions of the Future Winter Series, also known simply as the Winter Series, was held as a one-off event at Franciacorta on 24âÂÂ27 February 2022.
In August 2025, RGMMCâÂÂin partnership with its sister company Motorsport Performance AcademyâÂÂannounced the creation of the Champions of the Future Racing Academy, a year-long driver development programme led by Augusto Farfus with extensive Formula 4 testing for drivers in their final season of kart racing. The COTFA champions will additionally receive test sessions, with the champion receiving an F4 test and the champion a legends car test.