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Ex-Ferrari F1 driver Rubens Barrichello enters World KZ kart final

Former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello will contest the CIK-FIA World KZ Karting Championship in Sweden in September

The KZ world title for shifter karts was won by Max Verstappen in 2013 prior to his graduation to cars and Barrichello will contest the event for the Birel ART team.

He is not the first driver with F1 experience to enter, with ex-Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari the most recent to compete in 2013.

"I am delighted to have accepted the invitation to become part of this great team," said 44-year-old Barrichello.

"At 44 years of age, I never thought of competing in a karting championship and when I told my children, they were very enthusiastic.

"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%, just like on the eve of a Formula 1 grand prix."

Barrichello was a multiple karting champion in his native Brazil prior to moving into cars, and also finished ninth in the Junior World Championship in 1987.

The 11-times grand prix winner, who is currently racing in the Stock Car V8 champion in Brazil - a championship he won in 2014 - finished fourth in last year's Rotax Max karting DD2 World Final.

"It's a great honour to welcome Rubens Barrichello to the team and I'm very happy to be able to count on him for the CIK-FIA World KZ Championships," said Birel ART technical director Gianluca Beggio.

"For Birel ART Racing it will be a great experience and we'll do all we can to ensure that he has a great weekend of racing."

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