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The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced the introduction of new trackside light panels in Karting, designed to enhance safety standards and standardise the panels used across FIA Karting events.
The FIA Safety Department has worked in collaboration with several stakeholders, including industry partners and laboratories and the FIA Karting Department to develop new standards for light panels covering the weight, size and quality of trackside light panels which are used to display flags and race critical instructions. The new panels are set to be rolled out across FIA Karting competitions this year.
Supported by the FIA Foundation, extensive research has been carried out to produce the regulations which ensure karting light panels are protected from glare and deploy a colour range that allow drivers with colour deficiency to correctly identify flags. Drawing on the latest colour science and research, the panels will display exact colour shades identified to maximise visibility for all drivers.
Due to the unique position, height and angle that light panels are displayed in karting, a bespoke set of homologation regulations were required for karting circuits. PIXELCOM is the first manufacturer meeting the new FIA Standard with further manufacturers invited to produce the new panels which are now mandatory for new Grade 1 and Grade 2 karting circuits homologated from this year onwards.
Akbar Ebrahim, FIA Karting Commission President, said:
“Standardising track light panels is an important step to ensure FIA Karting events are run with the highest standards for safety and fairness. These regulations will ensure race information is displayed clearly for all competitors and I’d like to thank the FIA Safety Department for their support and cooperation throughout this project.”
Nuno Costa, FIA Safety Director, said:
“Karting requires a bespoke set of safety measures and the homologation of light panels is an important step in ensuring race information is displayed clearly for all. With the impact data recorder, anti-launch device and now new light panels, I’m pleased that we have been able to deploy so many new safety initiates to karting in recent years”
Karting Light Panels, either in compliance with FIA Standard 3506-2024 or non-FIA approved, are mandatory for new Grade 1 and Grade 2 circuits homologated in 2025, as well as for existing Grade 1 and Grade 2 circuits whose circuit license was renewed in 2025. All Grade 1 and Grade 2 circuits with an CIK-FIA license will be required to use Karting Circuit Light Panels in compliance with FIA Standard 3506-2024 no later than 1 January 2029.
