The fun of a day at the kart track can be enjoyed by almost anybody, and for those with a real competitive streak the allure of a day on the track is even greater. There’s nothing more satisfying than beating your mates to the chequered flag, so imagine beating a field of elite drivers to the top of the podium.
Kids as young as eight can get behind the wheel to put their skills to the test, and many Formula 1 champions started their racing careers in the seat of a kart. Both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button started karting aged eight before eventually progressing to F1. The first official kart race to take place in the UK was held at RAF Lakenheath in 1959, and since then competitive karting has continued to grow in popularity.
Competitive kart racing comes in various different forms, from traditional Grand Prix races to speedway style races, and each format is designed to push a drivers skill to the limit. So here’s a look at what to expect from the most popular forms of competitive karting.
Sprint – A fast and furious race to the finish line, all the fun of a Grand Prix condensed into a smaller number of laps. Sprint racing takes place on dedicated kart circuits across the country and tracks range from ¼ of a mile to over 1 mile. Drivers take part in a series of short duration races in order to qualify for a grand final where it’s an old fashioned race to take the chequered flag. Sheer speed combined with skilful overtaking is the key to coming out on top in a sprint race.
Endurance – A thorough test of race strategy combined with driver skill, rather than a flat out test of speed. Races can last anything from 30 minutes up to 24 hours, just like the world famous Le Mans race. Karting even has it’s own version of the Le Mans race held on a purpose built karting track, the race first started in 1986 and has featured some true greats of the world of motor sport. An endurance race is the ultimate test of driver and kart consistency, no matter how good the driver is, if the kart has any technical trouble there’s very little the driver can do. To be successful in an endurance race you need a good pit team behind you, as well as consistency and concentration.
Speedway – The ultimate test of speed and opportunism, drivers don’t have to negotiate tight twisting corners but overtaking is much more difficult, so they must seize any overtaking opportunity with both hands. Speedway tracks are oval shaped clay or asphalt tracks and are usually much shorter than conventional kart tracks, however racers have to complete a greater number of laps. Speedway races are manic and sometimes muddy, tactics and race strategy generally go out of the window and speed and determination take over. To come out on top in speedway race you need bags of bravery combined with a love for flat out speed.
So if you think you’ve got what it takes to finish top of the podium or just want to experience the adrenalin rush of a competitive kart race whichever race format you choose, the one thing you’re guaranteed is fun!
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