COUNTLESS championships in UK karting make it practically impossible to single out the best driver … but not for much longer.

Renault UK has got together with leading bodies in the sport to create a definitive Elite League where top drivers from national championships will battle it out for the coveted title.

The new league is a coalition of two one-off events, Renault’s Champion of Champions, which brings together the best drivers from Super One and Stars of Tomorrow, and Karting Masters - the biggest karting meeting in the country.

The driving force behind the plan is John Surtees, the only World Champion on both two and four wheels. He says it is important to give young drivers a platform to show off their ability. “It’s a great day for motorsport,” he said. “Karting is the grass roots of motorsport and there’s some really exciting drivers coming through. Now you’ll be able to see them shine.”

Renault UK’s Director of Press and PR Tim Jackson added: “Both these events are about finding the elite of karting so to expand the concept over the two big events is a great opportunity. It adds to both.”

Kart Masters will take place on 6/7 August at PF International Circuit, near Newark, Notts. Champion of Champions’ first ever meeting will take place 12 weeks later at Buckmore Park, Kent on 29/30 October.

Jackson says linking the two is a great accolade for Champion of Champions’ maiden event. “It’s very important,” he said. “One-off events are all very well and a good idea, but making it stand on its first year is quite a challenge. By having the Elite League we’ll make it much more worth while for the drivers taking part.

“Everybody involved is trying to raise the profile of karting in this country. At the moment it’s a bit of an underground sport. It doesn’t get widely covered like it does in Europe, which makes it harder for any young drivers.

“But from a purely sporting point of view, karting is one of the best forms of motorsport there is. It’s got everything. All the big drivers started off karting and it’s where the next Formula Renault, Formula 3, World Series, GP2 and F1 drivers are all going to come from.”

There will be two Elite League champions – a junior champion from Formula JICA and a senior champion from Formula A, Formula ICA and Formula Super Libre.

The winner of each league will be the one with the most points over the two meetings and will be announced at Buckmore Park. The top 20 drivers in each race will get points, with the winner getting 32.