The historic reenactment of the Champions Cup was born almost by chance following an exhibition event at the Caselle di Altivole circuit (ironically, a track that permanently closed just a few weeks ago) on a Sunday in May during the early 2010s. The idea, both simple and evocative, was to honor Ayrton Senna by completing a few laps in a “replica” of his DAP kart.

“In reality, it wasn’t a replica at all,” explains Longino Volpato, Vice President of the ASI Karting Commission “It had absolutely nothing to do with Senna’s original kart, but Ayrton had left such a profound mark on everyone who knew him in the raw and spartan world of karting between the late ’70s and early ’80s — and he raced with DAP. For us, that was enough. The kart on track that day wasn’t his, but symbolically, he was there with us. One phone call to Angelo Parilla was all it took: he provided the kart immediately and came to the track himself.”

“The following day we said to ourselves that it would be wonderful to put some old karts back on track every year, not only to keep Ayrton’s memory alive, but also the entire history of our sport,” Volpato continues. “Those were the years of the KF era, and karting itself was going through a difficult period. These track days were genuine breaths of fresh air: we spent time together remembering the epic rivalries of those years — we’re talking about a generation of drivers who literally made history: Modena, Zanardi, De Simone, Orsini, Beggio, Simoni, Sospiri, Wilson, Haase, and the list could go on. At the same time, we restored true mechanical jewels, often the result of the ingenuity of chassis builders and engine tuners who had begun to flourish in Italy and across Europe after the boom years of the 1960s. We gathered not only at Caselle, but also here in Jesolo, Pomposa, and Cervia, mainly on old-style circuits.”

 

“After the pandemic stoppage in 2020, we asked ourselves what we wanted to become ‘when we grew up,’ and we decided to transform what had been a simple track gathering among friends into an event with greater appeal. We chose a legendary venue like Jesolo and tried to extend the invitation beyond Italy’s borders. The response was astonishing: we went from just a few dozen drivers to more than three hundred, with delegations coming from 15 countries,” proudly explains Beppe Soverini, President of the Karting Commission. Drawing on previous experience in the world of historic racing, he and his staff took on the challenge of creating a karting event that could become a true calendar classic — indeed, "the" Classic. That the Champions Cup has become a key event is evident from the fact that many drivers wait for the Jesolo dates to be announced before planning the rest of their racing commitments. “For many of our loyal participants, the entire season revolves around Jesolo. Considering how difficult it is to find spare parts nowadays, many prefer to avoid taking risks before this race. That says a lot about how much drivers and collectors care about being here.”

 

So the spirit of bygone times remains alive, combined with professional-level organization — calibrated to FIA standards, one might say. And then come the awards: but if there are no transponders, what exactly do competitors win at these events?
The prizes are awarded primarily to the karts themselves, which are divided into categories as listed below. They are judged by an expert panel of technicians who certify each kart’s age, restoration quality, historical value (including faithful reconstructions of original models), and compile rankings using an impartial evaluation system based on cross-assessments by both Italian and international technical commissioners. This too serves as motivation for restoration enthusiasts striving to win a trophy at the next edition.
 

Categories Featured
CIK 1 (1956–1963)
CIK 2 (1964–1971)
CIK 3 (1964–1974)
CIK 4 WITHOUT GEARBOX (1974–1984)
CIK 4 WITH GEARBOX (1974–1984)
CIK 5 WITHOUT GEARBOX (1985–1989)
CIK 5 WITH GEARBOX (1985–1989)
CLASSIC WITHOUT GEARBOX (1990–2005)

Special guests at this year’s edition included former two-time World Champion Nicola Gianniberti (FA World Champion in 1992 and FSA World Champion in 1993), who climbed back into a kart for the first time in 25 years; Ruggero Melgrati (third place at the 1981 World Championship and a frequent rival of Senna in previous editions); Michele Peruch (Italian Champion in 1984); and, of course, the ever-present Kees van de Grint, who never misses an edition of the Jesolo Champions Cup and always brings along his complete collection of historic karts.

The next appointments are now set for the upcoming ASI-sponsored events:
May 31 – Happy Valley Circuit, Cervia (RA)
Happy Birthday Happy Valley

July 26 – Pomposa Circuit (FE)
4th Summer Gathering

September 13 – Happy Valley Circuit, Cervia (RA)
4th Historic Kart Revival

November 8 – Pomposa Circuit (FE)
12th Tony & Kalì Memorial

November 15 – Siena Circuit (SI)
2nd Historical Kart Winter Cup

Photocredit: mattiaspada.jpg