205 drivers are expected at the first GPO 2011, on the Varennes-sur-Allier (03) circuit, from 25 to 27 March. The French Championship will attract 116 participants alone, including a third of foreign drivers, in the international KF2, KF3, and KZ2 categories, while the French Cups X30 & X30 Gentleman will gather almost 90 drivers. Therefore the first mission has been accomplished, i.e. presenting a competitive and well-stocked group of drivers for the first major French meeting of the season. FFSA's undisputed know-how in terms of organisation and the spectacular Varennes circuit layout promise an exiting sporting weekend in the land of Auvergne.

One does not change a winning formula, but at least it is possible to improve it. This is exactly what the FFSA is doing to prepare the French Karting Championships 2011 at best. In fact, event dates have been agreed and published well in advance in order not to interfere with other major meetings. The Italian manufacturer Vega has renewed its range of tyres, in line with CIK races. Other partners have joined the GPOs to provide more activities and a filming team will immortalise the event. And the sporting aspect has not been neglected, of course.

There are plenty of experienced drivers who will be aiming for a KF3 victory in Varennes. If current Champion Pierre Gasly has moved to single-seaters with Auto Sport Academy, Charles Leclerc (Sodi/Parilla), the outgoing French vice champion, will have to cross swords with drivers of the calibre of Esteban Ocon (FA Kart/Vortex), Florian Latorre (Sodi/Parilla) and Simon Tirman (Tony Kart/Vortex). Rookies are particularly numerous and determined this year, starting with Cadet French Champion Dorian Boccolacci (Birel/BMB), as well as Paolo Besancenez (Sodi/Parilla), Dorian Guldenfels (Sodi/Parilla), respectively third and fourth in this Championship, and Etienne Mordret (Zanardi/Parilla), French deputy champion in Minime.

Five of the first six drivers in the French KF2 Championship 2010 will still be in the running for the 2011 title, including champion Enzo Guibbert (FA Kart/Vortex), Alex Baron (Sodi/Parilla), Denis Dupont (B-Sodi/parilla), Pascal Belmaaziz (DR/Parilla) and Victor Sendin (Tony Kart/Vortex). Loïc Réguillon (Sodi/Parilla) will run his first race of the year. Spaniards Carlos Gil (Tony Kart/Vortex) and Jordi Oriola (FA Kart/Vortex), as well as Belgian Guillaume De Ridder (Kosmic/Vortex) are also drivers to look out for. Coming from KF3, Léo Roussel (Sodi/Parilla), Anthoine Hubert (Sodi/Parilla), Rémy Deguffroy (Tony Kart/Vortex) and Victor Compère (FA Kart/Vortex) will not content themselves with walk-on parts.

KZ2 will be able to count on the top 5 drivers of Championship 2010 to provide a reference point, with Anthony Abbasse and Pierre Ragues (Sodi/Maxter), Yan Pesce (BRM/TM) in his native lands, Emilien Grosso (Intrepid/TM) and Christophe Benoit (Birel/TM). Italian driver Yuri Lucati (BRM/TM), third at the Italian championship, is someone to keep an eye on. The return of well-known names such as Thomas Mich (Birel/TM), Tony Lavanant (PCR/TM),Anthony Tardieu (Birel/TM) and Hugo Valente (Birel/TM) is also worth noting. In addition to the numerous drivers loyal to 125 gearbox, some young ones have changed category, Vincent Fraïsse (Intrepid/TM) coming from KF2, Nolan Mantione (Sodi/Parilla) and Enzo Marchetti (Intrepid/TM) straight from KF3.