Barrichello to contest karting's World Championship in KZ class

Barrichello, 44, will race for the Birel ART Racing in the event, which takes place at Sweden's Kristianstad venue from August 31 to September 4.

The recent winners of the world title in the KZ class are Max Verstappen, Marco Ardigo and Jorrit Pex.

An 11-time grand prix winner, Barrichello currently competes full-time in the Stock Car Brasil series, where he won the title in 2014.

But the Brazilian has been active in karting as well, racing in the Florida Winter Tour series in the off-season and, most recently, partnering with Birel ART to win the International Rotax Max Challenge South America in 2016.

“At 44 years of age, I never thought of competing in a karting championship and when I told my children, they were very enthusiastic,” said Barrichello of upcoming his World Championship outing.

“I am very much looking forward to racing, also because when I was young I did not have many chances to compete in international races. It's a great dream which is about to come true: I'm training a lot and my commitment is 100 percent, just like on the eve of a Formula 1 grand prix.”

The team that will field a kart for Barrichello is the outfit formed from the partnership of top junior single-seater team ART Grand Prix and karting manufacturer Birel Group.