Kart Racing - An Overview
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Go Kart racing is a popular sport enjoyed by adults and children from the age of 8. Regulated by the FIA it is a popular sport, not least because it is a sport that is affordable by almost everyone. In the UK the sport is regulated by the Motor Sports Association(MTA) and meetings are arranged by organisations such as the National Schools Karting Association
In the US the World Karting Association regulates and promotes jart racing at 120 tracks nationwide. Established in 1971 it is the largest body for sanctioning karting in the US and one of the largest in the world.
Kart racing began in the late 1950’s using parking lots as racing tracks but it rapidly grew into a more organised sport with it’s own purpose built circuits. Today it is a recreational activity enjoyed by around 100,000 Americans. In Britain The Association of British Kart Clubs regulates kart racing under the auspices of the MTA. More than thirty kart associations are members and hold race meetings using the regulations set out by the ABKC.
Types of Kart Racing
Sprint
Dedicated circuits with lengths from 400m to 1600m are used for sprint kart racing. The format is a series of short races over a small number of laps to qualify for a final. The races typically last up to 15 minutes and the emphasis is on speed and successful passing. The Karting World Championship and the FIA championships are of the sprint format.
Endurance
As the name implies endurance races are for longer periods, from 30 minutes up to 24 hours or even longer, using a number of drivers for each kart. In this form of kart racing reliability of equipment and pit strategy are of utmost importance. The most famous race of the endurance type is the 24 hour event at the Formula One racer Alain Prost’s kart circuit at Le Mans in France. Taking place since 1986 winners include Formula One racing driver Toro Rosso and Sébastien Bourdais, multiple times Car Champ Champion.
Other, less famous, endurance races include Enduro racing in the US which usually last for 30 minutes or 45 mins and do not include pit stops. These events are usually held on road racing circuits of between one and a half and four miles in length.
Speedway
Asphalt or clay tracks are used for speedway racing with tracks between one sixth and one quarter miles in length. The tracks are usually asymmetrical with two straight and four left turning corners. The off set chassis type of kart is used in these races which has been developed for the left turns on these tracks. Races may be between four and twenty laps of these circuits.
Formats
Timed laps are used by The World Karting Association. Karts compete in groups of about five to achieve the fastest lap time. Qualifying in the preliminary races gains entry to the twenty lap featured event.
Heat Races, used by The International Kart Federation, consist of two laps followed by a twenty lap final. Good starting positions in the final are achieved by the winners of the heats.
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