Kart Racing Today
The Formula 1 Stars of Tomorrow
The first kart was invented in the USA in 1956, with racing soon following in 1957. Organised racing began in the UK in 1960, as a 'hobby-sport' and rapidly spread around the globe.
Today, what was once an adult orientated sport, has now evolved into a predominantly junior form of motorsport, primarily for 6 to 18 year olds, many of whom are focussed on transitioning into Formula 4 and progressing through F3 and F2, to F1 while others choose to pursue other forms of car racing and a career in professional motorsport.
Racing is fast, close, exciting and ultra-competitive. Karts and engines are technically advanced and complex, and most drivers race as a member of a professionally run race team. However, there is still a place for "dads and lads" [and girls] in modern kart racing.
With speeds of nearly 90mph now being achieved on purpose built tracks, kart racing has evolved into a near professional sport, but despite this, it remains the purest and best form of motor racing there is!
Kart Racing - “The Purest Form of Motor Racing”
The late, great, F1 world champion, and former kart racer, Ayrton Senna [photo left] was famously quoted as saying that “I started racing go-karts, and I love karts. It’s the most breathtaking sport in the world. More than F1, indeed, I used to like it the most.” and indeed it still is.
Ever since Swede Ronnie Petersen [photo bottom left] became the first kart racer to advance to the Formula 1 starting grid in 1970, the ranks of Formula 1, 2, 3, and 4 along with most other disciplines of professional circuit motorsport have been largely populated by drivers who began their motor racing careers in kart racing.
Famous F1 world champions from Senna, Alonso, Mansell, Schumacher, Vettel, Hamilton, and current champion Max Verstappen each learned and honed their race craft and skills in karting.
Virtually all of the 2024 F1 grid are former kart racers, including 2024 race winner Oscar Piastri and the latest F1 recruit Franco Colapinto [shown left].
Superkart or “Long Circuit” Racing
An Absolute Spectacle!
From the 60’s and during the halcyon days of karting in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s - the most powerful and fastest gearbox karts, dubbed “Superkarts” outgrew the conventional short kart circuits and raced instead on full-scale motor racing circuits such as Brands, Hatch, Silverstone and Oulton Park, where grids of up to 70+ karts would scream around wheel-to-wheel at speeds of nearly 150mph.! A sight to behold and a spectacle not equalled anywhere else in motorsport! Today Superkarting remains a specialist niche category of karting - albeit perhaps, just a shadow of its former popular glory days.
