INTERNATIONAL LICENSING & SPV

International Licence & SPV Statement

13 June 2022

Statement from KartSport New Zealand (“KSNZ”) regarding issue of Licences and Starting Permission Visas (“SPVs”)

  1. KSNZ is New Zealand’s delegate National Sporting Authority (“ASN”) for kart sports recognised by the FIA International Karting Commission (“CIK-FIA”). Sanctioned CIK-FIA karting competitions are run in accordance with the rules and regulations set out in the International Sporting Code (“the Code”).
  2. In conjunction with its own Rules and Codes, KSNZ upholds and enforces the Code for kart sport at competitions in New Zealand (“sanctioned competitions”). KSNZ does not regulate unsanctioned kart sport competitons and activities in New Zealand.
  3. Kart sport competitions which do not appear on the KSNZ event calendar, the event calendar of any other FIA recognised ASN, or on the CIK-FIA International Sporting Calendar, are not subject to the Code, and are considered “unrecognised competitions”.
  4. New Zealand competitors who wish to participate in a CIK-FIA event held overseas (such as an international CIK-FIA event, or a national event run by an overseas FIA affiliated ASN), are required to seek authorisation or a “Starting Permission Visa” from KSNZ as well as an international licence (Junior and Senior Age Groups only) to be eligible for entry.

Licences

  1. Licences are issued in accordance with section D of KSNZ’s Manual and Appendix L of the Code, which sets out licence eligibility and requirements. International licences are issued by a competitor’s ASN once the ASN has verified that the competitor’s results, competence and conduct are satisfactory according to the criteria prescribed by the CIK-FIA for the requested grade. For this reason, only participation in sanctioned competitions may count toward licence qualification.
  2. KSNZ will assess whether a competitor has met the criteria of the licence for the requested grade based on the competitor’s participation in sanctioned competitions. Participation in unrecognised competitions will not be considered nor count towards licence qualification.

Starting Permission Visas

  1. KSNZ can issue Starting Permission Visas to KartSport New Zealand licenced competitors having regard to the competitor’s participation in sanctioned competitions. This includes Trans-Tasman Starting Permission Visas required for entry to events sanctioned by Karting Australia and Motorsport Australia (SuperKarts).
  2. Competitors who seek to enter a sanctioned international CIK-FIA competition based on their participation in an unrecognised competition may not be able to obtain authorisation from KSNZ for entry to that event.
  3. Competitors should refer to KSNZ’s competition calendar to clarify whether an event is a KSNZ sanctioned event, or the calendar of the relevant international ASN when considering entry to an overseas event as a precursor to possible participation in a sanctioned international competition.


Statement from KartSport New Zealand (“KSNZ”) regarding potential participation in the 2022 Australian Protour Series by KartSport New Zealand Licenced Competitors

  1. KSNZ is aware that some New Zealand competition licence holders may be considering entry into the forthcoming 2022 Rotax Australian Pro Tour (“Rotax Pro Tour”), with the hope of qualifying for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Portugal in November 2022 (“Rotax Grand Final Event”).
  2. KSNZ wishes to inform New Zealand competition licence holders contemplating entry to the Rotax Pro Tour of the licence and Starting Permissions Visa requirements which will impact their eligibility for the the Rotax Grand Final Event.
  3. The Rotax Pro Tour is not recognised by the CIK-FIA. This is because the Rotax Pro Tour is not organised or under the regulation of Australia’s ASN, the Australian Karting Association Limited (“Karting Australia”). The Rotax Pro Tour does not appear on Karting Australia’s competition calendar nor the FIA International Sporting Calendar. Pursuant to Article 9.10.3 of the FIA International Sporting Code (“the Code”) these events are classified as “unrecognised competitions”.
  4. New Zealand competition licence holders seeking to enter a sanctioned competition in Australia are required to apply for a Trans-Tasman Starting Permission Visa (“TTSPV’s”) (KSNZ Manual, Rule D4.3). TTSPV’s are only issued for events entered on Karting Australia’s competition calendar. TTSPV’s are not able to be issued for entry to unrecognised competitions.
  5. Competitors wishing to enter the Rotax Max Grand Final will be required to obtain permission for entry by their national ASN (for New Zealand competitors, this is KSNZ) as well as the requisite (International) Licence.

Licences

  1. Licences are issued in accordance with section D of KSNZ’s Manual and Appendix L of the Code, which set out licence eligibility and requirements.
  2. New Zealand competitors seeking to participate in the Rotax Grand Final will need to apply to KSNZ for the requisite International Licence. KSNZ will verify the competitor’s results, competence and conduct in qualifying competitions to ensure the competitor’s competence is satisfactory according to the criteria prescribed for the requested grade.
  3. KSNZ will assess whether competitors have met the criteria of the requisite licence based on the competitor’s participation in sanctioned competitions. Participation in unrecognised events such as the Rotax Pro Tour will not count towards licence qualification as neither KSNZ nor a CIK-FIA ASN has oversight or regulation over such events.

Starting Permission Visas

  1. Similarly, New Zealand competition licence holders should not expect to receive a Starting Permission Visa for the Rotax Grand Final Event from KSNZ should they qualify or gain entry through participation in an unrecognised competition such as the Rotax Pro Tour.
  2. In determining whether to issue a Starting Permissions Visa, KSNZ will adhere to its rules (for example, Rules D4.3, and D4.1), and the rules and obligations set out in the Code (and in particular Article 2.1.5 “Unrecognised Competitions” and Article 9.10 “Entries in Unrecognised Competitions”).
  3. New Zealand competition licence holders planning to participate in the Rotax Pro Tour will also need to make their own competition insurance arrangements. Unrecognised competitions do not benefit from insurance cover that is provided for sanctioned events.

Summary:

  • The Rotax Pro Tour is an “unrecognised competition” for the purpose of the Code.
  • Only participation in sanctioned competitions will count toward a competitor’s qualification for the requisite Licence to compete in the Rotax Grand Final.
  • Participation in the Rotax Pro Tour or any other unrecognised competition cannot qualify competitors for the Rotax Grand Final.
  • KSNZ will not issue Starting Permission Visas (including Trans-Tasman Visas) to New Zealand competition licence-holders to participate in unrecognised competitions.
  • Starting Permission Visas will not be issued by KSNZ to competitors seeking to compete in the Rotax Grand Final where such entry is predicated on the competitor qualifying or competing in an unrecognised competition such as the Rotax Pro Tour.

References:


Previous Statement:From KartSport New Zealand regarding potential participation in the 2021/2022 Australian Protour Series by KartSport New Zealand Licenced Competitors


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