The Grand Prix Open (GPO) FFSA Karting are one of the best national championships presently organised in the spirit of CIK-FIA regulations. In addition to being a showcase for French karting, the GPOs provide their entrants in KF3, KF2 and KZ2 with an opportunity to toughen in international categories before facing the world elite at major events, such as the European Championships, the World Cups and the CIK-FIA World Championships.

For their fourth season, the GPOs have put in place a tremendous organisational effort to bring out the performances of all competitors entering the French Championships. GPO high quality standards attract both the public and the media and provide a worthwhile framework for partners of all teams. The competition level is very high and this is something that also attracts foreign drivers to events that have nothing to envy to more renowned races.

This year the Varennes and Angerville GPOs will benefit from the added value of being held some time before major world events. Indeed, the circuit of Varennes will host the European KF3 Championship and the World KF1 Championship just one month after the first GPO. As for the Angerville track, it will have the honour of hosting the U18 World Championship, an event that is enjoying increasing popularity and which gathers all the best young drivers in the world.

As in 2011, Vega tyres will be adopted for the GPOs - same as in CIK KF3. KF2 and KZ2 will use Vega XM (medium) while KF3 will use Vega XH (hard), and in case of wet weather, everybody will switch to Vega W5. The FFSA will supply a free-of-charge set of tyres per meeting to each entrant.

But the originality of the GPOs does not just lie in its high level of performance, because national categories will also be in the spotlight during these special weekends. X30 and X30 Gentleman, Rotax Max and Rotax Master, KZ125 and K125 Gentleman will hold their French Cup during the Varennes, Angerville and Laval GPOs, while two out of three French "Nationale" Championship rounds will join the party at the Ostricourt and Essay GPOs.

The 2012 GPO calendar has been carefully prepared by the FFSA to avoid conflicting with the dates of other important events:
- 31 March-1 April: Varennes / Allier - GPO + French Cup X30 & X30 Gentleman
- 12-13 May: Angerville - GPO + French Cup Rotax & Rotax Master
- 14-15 July: Ostricourt - GPO + French Championship Nationale 1
- 29-30 September: Essay: GPO + French Championship Nationale 3
- 27-28 October - Laval: GPO + French Cup KZ 125 and KZ 125 Gentleman

Registrations for all the meetings and all the categories are now open on www.gpokarting.com through an online secure payment system. As far as KF3, KF2 and KZ2 are concerned, a special fee is granted to entrants registering for the whole Championship.

Useful information about events, circuits and regulations are available on www.gpokarting.com.