With the festive season a distant memory it’s time to get serious about karting, and our top tips for 2020 will see you storming to the top of the podium in no time. So if you’re ready to take your skills at the wheel to the next level, read on and get ready to speed away from your rivals like a seasoned pro.
1) Listen up
Before climbing into your kart and taking to the track the most important thing you can do is listen carefully to your pre-race briefing. Not only does the briefing cover all the important safety info, it also includes some tips on how to tackle the track. Our instructors have a wealth of knowledge and experience to call on, so take in as much of their advice as possible.
2) Get comfy
Whether you’re spending 10 minutes or 2 hours in a kart, it’s important to get comfy before the race gets under way. Even the slightest distraction can affect your performance at the wheel and trying to change your seating position in the middle of a race will very quickly slow you down. To make sure you’re free to focus on the important matter of taking the chequered flag, use your practice lap to make sure you’re comfortable. If you’re struggling to reach the pedals or steering wheel, a quick pit stop and chat with a race marshal will quickly solve any problems.
3) Start as you mean to go on 
A good start is key to success in most motorsports and it’s absolutely vital in karting. If you get off to a bad start of course you’ll have time to recover, but why make fighting your way to the top of the podium any harder than it needs to be? A storming start is all about reaction speed and staying calm under pressure, as soon as you see the flag go down or lights change hit the gas and stay on the accelerator for as long as possible. You could even try visualisation to try speed up your starts – some F1 drivers swear by it!
4) Don’t hold back
The best karters are usually the most competitive karters, so don’t hold back once the race gets under way. If your will to win is stronger than your competitors it could give you the edge when it comes to claiming top spot on the podium. Just remember not to be too aggressive as frequent rule breaking may lead to a DQ.
5) Get a grip
When it comes to tackling sweeping bends and tight hairpins holding your steering wheel correctly will 
give you a real advantage. To give your self the biggest advantage when cornering imagine a clock face and keep your hands positioned at 9 and 3, that way you’ll be able to negotiate even the trickiest bends without too much hard work.
6) Stay smooth
Erratic drivers nearly always end up spinning off or colliding with other karts, so staying smooth means staying in the race. If you driving style is calm and consistent it should pay off big time, avoiding any spins or collisions will give you a clear advantage.
7) Patience is a virtue
If you’re stuck behind a slower driver it’s important to stay patient and not get too frustrated. We guarantee you’ll get the perfect opportunity to overtake eventually and 9 times out of 10 it’s worth waiting for. Bide you time, pick your spot and when you see an opening floor it!
8) Learn your lines
The racing line is the fastest route around a circuit, so knowing it will give you a massive advantage over your rivals. The easiest way to work out the racing line? Ask an instructor, they know the track better than anybody. Once you’ve got the inside track on the racing line use your practice lap to try it out, then when the race gets under way catch your opponents off-guard and storm to the front of the pack.
9) Corner like a king
It takes more than just straight line speed to make it to the top of the podium, so if you can conquer the corners you’ll streak ahead of the competition. The most important part of a corner is the exit, and the quicker you get back on the accelerator the more chance you’ll have of speeding away from your rivals. A measured entry gives you the perfect opportunity to build on your momentum and make a quick exit. The worst thing you can do is stamp on the brakes!
10) Have fun
It almost goes without saying but the more fun you have the better your driving will be. Relax, enjoy your experience, and make the most of every second out on track. Even if things don’t go to plan and you find yourself at the back of the pack, take the opportunity to work on your overtaking and perfect your racing line.
There you have it our top karting tips for 2020 – there is one tip we’ve missed though, practice, practice and more practice! Spending as much time as possible at the circuit is the best way to take your driving skills to the next level. So if you’re ready to be the next Lewis Hamilton, head to your local Karting Nation track and give our top tips a go.