Ignite Majors Set for 2022
Premier tracks and the sport’s iconic street races fill schedule
(Photo: IgniteKarting.com)
The 2022 Margay Ignite Majors schedule continues with the WKA Charlotte weekend on March 25-27 (Photo: IgniteKarting.com)
If you look back at the last seven years, the Margay Ignite Karting program is one of the biggest success stories in American karting. Launched in 2015 with the goal of providing a low-cost spec American-made racing package that lowered the barrier of entry for newcomers, Margay’s Ignite program has expanded to a series of special events called the ‘Ignite Majors’, a five-race Ignite Challenge regional in the Midwest, and a growing number of track series that fully leverage the spec approach to provide opportunities for racers, new and existing. Margay has manufactured over 1500 Ignite packages, which feature the Margay K2 or K3 chassis, Briggs & Stratton 206 power, and Hoosier tires. It’s a ‘Made in the USA’ approach, to be certain.
The 2022 Ignite Majors program kicked off in Florida between Christmas and New Years at the Daytona International Speedway as part of the annual WKA KartWeek event. Ignite racers took to both the Manufacturers Cup sprint track and the full Daytona road course as part of the WKA National Road Racing Series. Looking forward, Margay has five additional events on the calendar, all chosen to provide Ignite racers with high-end experiences.
Three of the Ignite Majors will take the program’s drivers to the World Karting Association’s Manufacturers Cup Series. At the end of this month, Ignite racers will tackle the newly-renovated kart track at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (March 25-27). The refurbished track in Concord, NC is located inside the NASCAR oval and has a long history of major events, including the 1998 CIK-FIA Formula C World Championships. It’s an iconic venue for sure and the setting is rivaled only by Daytona and Indianapolis in terms of racing within the walls and grandstands of a famous motorsports facility.
Ignite Karting returns to the historic Quincy Grand Prix in June (Photo: Mark Schwigen)
Additional Ignite Majors events will be held with the WKA Manufacturers Cup at New Castle Motorsports Park (May 13-15) and the Motorsports Club of Cincinnati (August 12-14) to make up a trio of the six events. New Castle is one of the premium tracks in the country, and the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati will feature its upgrades and track extension when the Ignite drivers arrive in August. Many point to MCC as becoming one of the core karting facilities on the East Coast.
The two additional Margay Ignite Majors events are part of the two biggest street races in the country.
The Ignite program has been a core component of the Quincy Grand Prix event since its revival in 2018, with the race re-establishing itself as one of the premier karting events in North America. The race has a legendary history and is run at one of the most picturesque venues in all of the sport. The Quincy Grand Prix races through Quincy, IL’s beautiful ‘South Park’, which is located on the banks of the Mississippi River on the Missouri-Illinois border. The event is huge within the community, drawing impressive local sponsorship and 1000s of spectators to the Park to enjoy a weekend of racing. As an Ignite Major, the ‘Ignite Shootout’ will feature the Ignite Senior, Ignite Heavy, Ignite Masters and Legends classes on the June 11-12 weekend in Quincy, IL.
The WKA Grand Nationals will feature Ignite divisions at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati (Photo: IgniteKarting.com)
Further up the Mississippi, the final Ignite Major of the season is the annual Labor Day Classic, the Rock Island Grand Prix. This year will be the 27th edition of this legendary street race, and it’s always a fantastic experience as drivers chase after one of the most iconic trophies in the sport – the Rock. The race is held annually in the Arts & Entertainment District of Rock Island, Illinois.
One of the major positives for Ignite racers is the opportunity to compete within the program at all three levels of the sport – club/track series, regional, and national. This year’s Ignite Majors will take the drivers to three incredible karting facilities and the two biggest street races in the United States. To learn more about the Margay Ignite program, head to ignitekarting.com
2022 Ignite Majors
March 25-27: WKA Charlotte – Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 13-15: WKA New Castle – New Castle Motorsports Park
June 11-12: Quincy in the Park – Quincy, MO
August 12-14: WKA Grand Nationals – Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati
September 3-4: Rock Island Grand Prix – Rock Island, IL
