La Conca, Italy, November 5, 2026: The 2026 Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship for the OK and Junior categories takes place this weekend at the iconic World Circuit La Conca in southern Italy, with 194 young drivers competing for two of the most prestigious titles in karting.

The event carries added significance as karting celebrates the 70th anniversary of its invention in 1956. The two drivers crowned world champions this weekend will join an illustrious list of past winners dating back to 1964, which includes François Goldstein, Mike Wilson, Nyck de Vries and reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris.

The OK category will see Noah Baglin attempt to secure back-to-back World Championship titles, while newly crowned 2026 FIA Karting European Champion Will Green heads the list of contenders in the Junior category.

The weekend’s racing will also be influenced by the unpredictable November weather, adding another challenge for the competitors at La Conca.

Noah Baglin Leads OK World Championship Contenders

Noah Baglin arrives at La Conca as the leading contender in the OK category after a highly successful 2026 season. The Kart Republic driver won the 2026 Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship at Kristianstad and is now targeting the OK World Championship title.

The British driver has already enjoyed considerable success at La Conca, winning almost every heat, along with the Super Heat and final, during the opening round of the European Championship earlier this year. A member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Baglin will be looking to add another major title before moving up to FIA-certified Formula 4 next year.

Fellow Briton Zac Drummond is expected to provide one of the strongest challenges. The European Championship runner-up has demonstrated impressive pace in wet conditions, including a victory at Mülsen, which could prove valuable if the weather becomes a factor this weekend.

Parolin drivers Dean Hoogendoorn and William Calleja are also among the leading contenders. Hoogendoorn finished third in the European Championship, level on points with Drummond, and will be looking to improve his qualifying performances. Calleja, meanwhile, has shown strong one-lap pace, securing pole position at Mülsen and converting his Super Heat pole at Kristianstad into a race victory.

Joe Turney will make his seventh appearance at the FIA Karting World Championship, hoping to finally take the title after finishing runner-up in 2020, 2024 and 2025. He will once again race alongside Baglin with Kart Republic.

Niklas Schaufler, who has enjoyed a competitive season with DPK, will also be looking to challenge for the title. Another major contender is Viktor Gustafsson. The CRG driver arrives after dominating the KZ World Championship in September and will be aiming to add another world title to his 2026 achievements.

Other drivers to watch in the OK category include Luke Kornder, Valerio Viapiana and Manuel Scognamiglio.

Will Green Heads Junior World Championship Entry

The Junior category features another strong field, led by newly crowned 2026 FIA Karting European Champion Will Green. The Kart Republic driver and Williams F1 Team Driver Academy member finished the European season more than 70 points clear of his nearest rival, following victories at La Conca and Mülsen.

Green will face competition from several promising young drivers, including Daniel Miron Lorente, who won in Valencia and has recently joined the Ferrari Driver Academy. Miron will compete with MP Motorsport at La Conca.

Niccolò Perico is another driver carrying strong momentum into the weekend. He recently won the 2026 FIA Karting OK-N Junior World Cup at Viterbo, winning every heat before taking the final by almost six seconds.

Many Nuvolini, who finished third in the European Championship, is also among the favourites. The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Junior Driver demonstrated consistent form throughout the season and will be looking to convert that pace into a World Championship challenge.

Tony Kart Racing Team will field a strong pairing in Julian Frasnelli and Emerson MacAndrew-Uren. MacAndrew-Uren ended the European season with a victory in Sweden, while Frasnelli showed competitive pace at both La Conca and the Swedish round.

Parolin’s Junior line-up includes Priam Bruno and Gioele Girardello. Bruno secured the first pole position of the 2026 FIA Karting season, while Girardello has emerged as one of the category’s promising talents after finishing second in the opening race of the season and challenging for victory in Valencia.

Other names to watch include Oskari Walle, Luigi D’Ascoli and Kristianstad podium finisher Zack Zhu.

Karting Celebrates 70 Years at La Conca

The 2026 FIA Karting World Championship will also mark 70 years since the invention of karting in 1956. A special display of historic karts will feature on the weekend’s programme, with the first kart built by Art Ingels and Lou Borelli serving as the centrepiece.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the championships represent some of the most prestigious titles in karting and highlighted the discipline’s role in developing generations of racing talent who have gone on to achieve success at the highest levels of motorsport.

FIA Karting Commission President Akbar Ebrahim also welcomed the return of the championships to La Conca, highlighting the quality of the entry lists and the opportunity for young drivers to add their names to the sport’s history.

All the action from the 2026 Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championships in the OK and Junior categories will be streamed live and free on the FIA Karting YouTube channel throughout the weekend.