Costa Rica will host the 2026 Latin American Karting Championship this weekend, bringing one of the region’s largest karting events to the P1 Speedway circuit beside Parque Diversiones in San José. The championship is scheduled for May 15 to 17 and is expected to draw more than 200 drivers from Costa Rica and abroad. Organizers say the event will set a new participation mark for karting in the country, with 13 categories ranging from youth divisions to high-performance classes.
The event comes as Costa Rican motorsport continues to grow its presence in regional competition. For local drivers, the championship offers a rare chance to compete against international fields without leaving the country. It also gives fans in the Central Valley a chance to see a larger and deeper karting lineup than Costa Rica usually hosts.
One of the biggest signs of that growth is the size of the grids. For the first time, one of the event’s categories is expected to exceed 36 karts, which will require elimination rounds to decide which drivers advance through the championship.
The field will include several international names. Among those expected to compete are Dutch driver Marijn Kremers, a 2019 FIA karting world champion, and Brazilian Rubens Carrapatoso, a 1998 world champion. Other reported entrants include Brazilian driver Diego Ramos and U.S. driver Chase Gassiot-Lee.
Costa Rican fans will also have local drivers to follow. Danny Formal, one of the country’s best-known motorsport figures, is listed among the national competitors. Sofía Calderón, one of the rising names in Costa Rican karting, is also expected to take part after building a strong record in regional competition.
The championship will also count toward Costa Rica’s national karting calendar, meaning local drivers can earn points for both the Latin American event and the domestic championship during the same weekend.
For ACEK president Gerardo Moreno, the size and quality of the field show how much the sport has advanced in Latin America. He said the need for elimination rounds and the presence of world champions reflect the current level of regional karting, while giving Costa Rican drivers a chance to measure themselves against top international competition at home.
The event will be broadcast live through social media, giving fans who cannot attend a way to follow the races throughout the weekend. Organizers also expect the championship to bring together teams, mechanics, coaches, families, and motorsport fans around one of the biggest karting weekends Costa Rica has hosted.
With more than 200 drivers, international champions, and a packed race program, the 2026 Latin American Karting Championship gives Costa Rica a major place on the regional motorsport calendar. For drivers, it is a test against some of the best competition in the hemisphere. For spectators, it is a rare chance to see a major international karting event in San José.
