KZ: Van Walstijn defends his title, Denner goes for his first World Championship
Senna Van Walstijn arrives at Le Mans as the reigning KZ World Champion. The Dutchman, who secured the title at Franciacorta last year, comes into the French event after a less convincing European season, finishing 11th at Genk. Four other former World Champions will line up against him: Giuseppe Palomba (2024), Paolo Ippolito (2023), Viktor Gustafsson (2022) and Jorrit Pex (2015), making this one of the most experienced grids in FIA Karting.
Senna Van Walstijn arrives at Le Mans as the reigning KZ World Champion. The Dutchman, who secured the title at Franciacorta last year, comes into the French event after a less convincing European season, finishing 11th at Genk. Four other former World Champions will line up against him: Giuseppe Palomba (2024), Paolo Ippolito (2023), Viktor Gustafsson (2022) and Jorrit Pex (2015), making this one of the most experienced grids in FIA Karting.
Among the leading contenders is Emilien Denner, fresh from winning the 2026 KZ European Championship and particularly strong at Sarno in the final round of the continental series. The Frenchman will be looking to turn his European title into the first World Championship of his career, in front of his home crowd.
Other leading names from the European Championship include runner-up Danilo Albanese, opening-round winner Adrian Malheiro Suñe and Stan Pex, who finished fourth in the standings. Maksim Orlov also deserves attention. The Russian is making his KZ debut this year after winning the European Championship and the KZ2 World Cup in 2025. He finished seventh at Genk and will be looking to take another step forward at Le Mans.
David Trefilov, Matteo Spirgel, Pedro Hiltbrand and Tom Leuillet bring plenty of international experience, while Lorenzo Camplese, Marijn Kremers and Lorenzo Travisanutto are also among the drivers capable of playing a leading role. Travisanutto is the 2018 OK World Champion and won the KZ2 World Cup in 2021.
KZ2: Tani leads a 122-driver field
The FIA Karting World Cup KZ2 has attracted 122 entries, with Kimi Tani arriving as the 2026 European Champion. The Finn finished the continental season with a maximum points haul in the final round at Sarno and heads to Le Mans looking to maintain his current form.
One of his main challengers will be Matheus Morgatto, who finished second in the European Championship, 13 points behind Tani, and is already a former OK World Champion, having won the title in 2022.
Elie Goldstein will also be one to watch after winning the European round at Genk on home soil, while British driver Noah Wolfe returns to the scene after finishing third in last year’s KZ2 World Cup at Franciacorta.
Maximillian Schleimer, third in the 2025 KZ2 European Championship and fourth in that year’s World Cup, has also shown strong form in 2026. Among the French drivers, Arthur Lehouck stands out after taking pole position at Genk, while Teo Blin will be looking to turn his season around after two retirements.
The grid also features several drivers moving across from the single-gear categories. Niklas Schaufler, fifth in the OK European Championship, returns to karting after his Formula 4 experience and will contest his first FIA Karting event in a gearbox kart. Jindrich Pesl is making the move from OK to KZ2, while Filippo Sala has already competed in both categories this season.
KZ2 Masters: 76 drivers and Barrichello’s return
The KZ2 Masters grid, reserved for drivers aged 35 and over, features 76 entries. The International Super Cup has been awarded since 2022, and three of its previous winners will be on the grid at Le Mans: Davide Fore, Anthony Abbasse and reigning champion Angelo Lombardo. The three also occupied the podium positions last year.
One of the biggest talking points will be the return of Rubens Barrichello to karting. The former Formula 1 and Ferrari driver will race with Birel ART, making his return to international karting after his last FIA Karting World Championship appearance in Kristianstad in 2016, where he finished 24th in KZ.
Stian Paulsen will also be one to follow. The Norwegian has raced extensively in international touring cars and has competed in the Norwegian KZ2 Championship in recent years.
Johan Renaux, Joey Hanssen and Jeroen Bos showed good pace in last month’s preparation race at Le Mans and will be looking to join the fight alongside Fore, Abbasse and Lombardo. Other names worth keeping an eye on include Antonio Piccioni, the 2026 KZ2 Masters European Champion, Riccardo Nalon, the 2024 European Champion, Rasmus Haugaard and Brazilian driver André Nicastro, a familiar name on the international karting scene since the 1990s.
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