| History | | | | winner. Typical duration does not normally exceed |
| Kart racing in the streets of Berlin in 1963 | | | | 15 minutes. Here, speed and successful passing is |
| Art Ingels is generally accepted to be the father | | | | of the most importance. It normally occurs in the |
| of karting. A veteran hot rodder and a race car | | | | format of three qualifying heats and a final race |
| builder at Kurtis Kraft, he built the first kart in | | | | for trophy positions. |
| Southern California in 1956. Karting has rapidly | | | | The FIA championships, including the Karting World |
| spread to other countries, and currently has a | | | | Championship, take place in this format. |
| large following in Europe. | | | | Endurance |
| The first kart manufacturer was an American | | | | Pack of Laydown Enduros at Daytona, USA |
| company, Go Kart Manufacturing Co. (1958). | | | | Endurance races last for an extended period, |
| McCulloch was the first company, in 1959, to | | | | from 30 minutes up to 24 hours or more, for one |
| produce engines for karts. Its first engine, the | | | | or more drivers. In general, consistency, reliability, |
| McCulloch MC-10, was an adapted chainsaw | | | | and pit strategy is of greater importance than all |
| 2-stroke engine. Later, in the 1960s, motorcycle | | | | out speed. |
| engines were also adapted for kart use, before | | | | Called "Enduro" racing in the USA, most WKA |
| dedicated manufacturers, especially in Italy (IAME), | | | | & IKF sanctioned events typically last 30 |
| started to build engines for the sport. | | | | minutes (Sprint Enduro) or 45 minutes (Laydown |
| Components | | | | Enduro) and are run continuous without pit stops. |
| Chassis | | | | Enduro events are held on full-size road racing |
| Rear view of a current CIK-FIA approved race | | | | circuits that are usually between 1.5 & 4 |
| kart equipped with KF engine | | | | miles in length. |
| The chassis are made of steel tube. There is no | | | | As well as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race |
| suspension therefore chassis have to be flexible | | | | for automobiles there is also a 24 hours event for |
| enough to work as a suspension and stiff enough | | | | karts which takes place at the kart circuit Alain |
| not to break or give way on a turn. Kart chassis | | | | Prost at Le Mans, France. This race has taken |
| are classified in the USA as 'Open', 'Caged', | | | | place since 1986 and its winners list include four |
| 'Straight' or 'Offset'. All CIK-FIA approved chassis | | | | times Champ Car champion Sbastien Bourdais (in |
| are 'Straight' and 'Open'. | | | | 1996). |
| Open karts have no roll cage. | | | | Speedway |
| Caged karts have a roll cage surrounding the | | | | Speedway racing takes place on asphalt or clay |
| driver; they are mostly used on dirt tracks. | | | | oval tracks which are normally between 1/6 mile |
| In Straight chassis the driver sits in the center. | | | | and 1/4 mile long. Tracks primarily consist of two |
| Straight chassis are used for sprint racing. | | | | straights and four left-turn corners, few tracks |
| In Offset chassis the driver sits on the left side. | | | | are symmetric and often the shape parallels that |
| Offset chassis are used for left-turn-only | | | | of an egg or a tri-oval. |
| speedway racing. | | | | 'Offset' kart chassis have been developed for |
| The stiffness of the chassis enables different | | | | precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only |
| handling characteristics for different circumstances. | | | | racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval |
| Typically, for dry conditions a stiffer chassis is | | | | tracks. |
| preferable, while in wet or other poor traction | | | | Speedway kart races range in length from 4 laps |
| conditions, a more flexible chassis may work | | | | for a trophy dash, to 20 laps for a main event. |
| better. The best chassis allow for stiffening bars | | | | The two chief racing formats used in dirt |
| at the rear, front and side to be added or | | | | speedway karting are heat races and timed laps |
| removed according to race conditions. | | | | qualification: |
| Braking is achieved by a disc brake mounted on | | | | The International Kart Federation (IKF) runs a |
| the rear axle. Front disc brakes are increasingly | | | | racing format of two 10 lap heats followed by a |
| popular; however, certain classes do not allow | | | | 20 lap final. Finishing positions in the two heat |
| them. | | | | races are used to calculate the starting position in |
| Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 to | | | | the feature race. |
| 175 lb (75 to 79 kg), complete without driver. | | | | The World Karting Association (WKA) uses time |
| Avanti, Tony Kart, Trulli, Birel, CRG, Gillard, | | | | qualifying. Karts equipped with transponders are |
| Intrepid, Kosmic, Zanardi or FA Kart are a few | | | | sent out onto the track in groups of 5 or less to |
| well known examples of the many European | | | | try to achieve the fastest lap time. Positions for |
| manufacturers of race-quality chassis. Margay is | | | | the 20 laps feature event are determined by |
| an American company producing kart chassis. | | | | qualifying time. |
| Engines | | | | The American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) |
| Amusement park go-karts can be powered by | | | | uses group transponder qualifying to calculate |
| 4-stroke engines or electric motors, while racing | | | | starting positions for 20-lap features. |
| karts use small 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines. | | | | Racing categories |
| Electric go-karts are low maintenance, requiring | | | | There are many different classes or formula in |
| only that the lead-acid batteries of the cars be | | | | karting. |
| plugged into an array of chargers after each run. | | | | International |
| Since they are pollution-free and emit no smoke, | | | | KZ1 kart at the CIK-FIA European Championship |
| the racetracks can be indoors in controlled | | | | 2008 |
| environments. A fully charged electric kart can run | | | | Superkart |
| a maximum of 20 minutes before performance is | | | | The CIK-FIA sanctions international championships |
| affected. | | | | in KF1, KF2, KF3, KZ1, KZ2 and Superkart. These |
| 4-stroke engines can be standard air-cooled | | | | are regarded as the top level classes of karting |
| industrial based engines, sometimes with small | | | | and are also raced in national championships |
| modifications, developing from about 5 to 20 hp. | | | | worldwide. The World Championship (KF1) is |
| Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh, Kohler, Robin, | | | | decided here. The current 2009 World Champion |
| and Honda are manufacturers of such engines. | | | | is Arnaud Kozlinski from France. |
| They are adequate for racing and fun kart | | | | CIK-FIA categories: |
| applications. There are also more powerful | | | | KF1 (the top level), KF2, KF3, and KF4 (so-called |
| four-stroke engines available from manufacturers | | | | asic category). All are using the same |
| like Yamaha, TKM, Biland or Aixro (Wankel engine) | | | | water-cooled no-gearbox 125 cc ong life |
| offering from 15 hp up to 48 hp. They run to and | | | | two-stroke engines with starter and clutch, each |
| around 11,000 rpm, and are manufactured | | | | with different technical specifications (mufflers, air |
| specifically for karting. Those are used in some | | | | boxes, carburetor, rev limit etc.). |
| National Championship classes like the two-strokes. | | | | KZ1 and KZ2, both 125 cc gearbox categories. |
| 2-stroke kart engines are developed and built by | | | | Superkart, a 250 cc gearbox category. |
| dedicated manufacturers. Comer, IAME (Parilla, | | | | National |
| Komet), TM, Vortex, Titan, REFO, Yamaha and | | | | In the UK, the most celebrated karting series is |
| Rotax are manufacturers of such engines. These | | | | the National karting series, also known as Super 1. |
| can develop from about 8 hp for a single-cylinder | | | | There are three types of Super 1 championships: |
| 60 cc unit (MiniROK by Vortex) to 90 hp for a | | | | MSA series: Formula A, ICA, Junior ICA, Formula |
| twin 250 cc. Today, the most popular categories | | | | 100 and Formula Cadet |
| worldwide are those using the Touch-and-go | | | | Rotax series: Minimax, Junior Max, Senior Max, |
| (TAG) 125 cc units. The recent 125 cc KF1 | | | | Senior Max 177 and Rotax DD2 |
| engines are electronically limited at 16,000 rpm. | | | | TKM series: Formula Junior TKM, Formula Junior |
| Most are water-cooled today; however, | | | | Intermediate, Formula TKM Extreme, TKM Junior |
| previously air-cooled engines dominated the sport. | | | | and Senior 4-stroke and since 2006, Honda Cadet |
| Transmission | | | | NatSKA is a budget karting association set up for |
| Karts do not have a differential. The lack of a | | | | schools and youth groups in the UK, with 13 |
| differential means that one rear tire must slide | | | | classes. |
| while cornering; this is achieved by designing the | | | | In the United States, the biggest proportion of |
| chassis so that the inside rear tire lifts up slightly | | | | racers are in the dirt oval classes which often use |
| when the kart turns the corner. This allows the | | | | Briggs & Stratton industrial engines. This style |
| tire to lose some of its grip and slide or lift off | | | | of racing is prominent in the Southeast and |
| the ground completely. | | | | Midwest. In the West, European style sprint racing |
| Power is transmitted from the engine to the rear | | | | is much more common. |
| axle by way of a chain (some rentals use a belt). | | | | In Australia, classes include Midget, Rookie, Junior |
| Both engine and axle sprockets are removable; | | | | and Senior. |
| their ratio has to be adapted according to track | | | | Many people race worldwide in Spec series such |
| configuration in order to get the most from the | | | | as Rotax Max (a Touch-and-Go class) or those |
| engine. | | | | using the Yamaha KT100 engine. |
| In the early days, karts were direct drive only, | | | | Driver equipment |
| but the inconvenience of that setup soon led to | | | | Fully equipped kart driver |
| the centrifugal clutch for the club level classes. | | | | For their safety, kart drivers are required to wear |
| Dry centrifugal clutches are now used in many | | | | proper equipment : |
| categories (Rotax Max is one example) and have | | | | Full-face helmet (Snell SA2005 or K2005 |
| become the norm as the top international classes | | | | certification is required for racing, K2005 is same |
| have switched to 125 cc clutched engines as of | | | | as SA2005 without fire resistance) |
| January 2007. | | | | Driving suit (abrasion resistant overalls with at |
| Tires | | | | least one Cordura external layer, CIK-FIA Level 2 |
| Wheels and tires are much smaller than those | | | | homologation for top level racing) |
| used on a normal car. Rims are made of | | | | Gloves |
| magnesium alloy or aluminum. Tires can support | | | | Driving boots (ankles must be covered) |
| cornering forces in excess of 2 G (20 m/s), | | | | Rib protector and neck collar, although highly |
| depending on chassis, engine, and motor setup. | | | | recommended, are optional in most countries. |
| Similar to other motorsports, kart tires have | | | | None of the above need to be made of fire |
| different types for use appropriate to track | | | | retardant material. Superkart drivers are required |
| conditions: | | | | to wear leather overalls, similar to those used in |
| Slicks, for dry weather. In international level racing | | | | motorcycling. |
| these are some of the softest and most | | | | Karting as a learning tool |
| advanced tires in motorsport. Some car tire | | | | Kart racing is usually used as a low-cost and |
| manufacturers, such as Bridgestone, Dunlop or | | | | relatively safe way to introduce drivers to motor |
| Maxxis, make tires for karts. There are also | | | | racing. Many people associate it with young |
| specific kart tire manufacturers, which include MG, | | | | drivers, but adults are also very active in karting. |
| MOJO, and Vega. Slick kart tires come in many | | | | Karting is considered the first step in any serious |
| different compounds, from very soft (maximum | | | | racer's career. It can prepare the driver for |
| grip) to very hard (amusement and rental karts, | | | | high-speed wheel-to-wheel racing by helping |
| less grip but long life span). | | | | develop quick reflexes, precision car control, and |
| Rain tires, or "wets", for wet weather. They are | | | | decision-making skills. In addition, it brings an |
| grooved, made of soft compound, and are | | | | awareness of the various parameters that can be |
| narrower than slicks. Not all racing classes allow | | | | altered to try to improve the competitiveness of |
| rain tires. | | | | the kart (examples being tire pressure, gearing, |
| Special, such as spiked tires for icy conditions, or | | | | seat position, chassis stiffness) that also exist in |
| "cuts" for high grip dirt/clay speedways. Cuts are | | | | other forms of motor racing. |
| slicks modified with a lathe to optimize handling. | | | | All current and many former Formula One World |
| Data acquisition | | | | Championship drivers grew up racing karts, most |
| As in other motor sports, several data acquisition | | | | prominent among them Michael Schumacher, |
| systems have been developed for kart racing. | | | | Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Kimi |
| These systems allow the driver to monitor from | | | | Rikknen and Lewis Hamilton. Many NASCAR |
| a display fixed on the steering wheel some | | | | drivers also got their start in racing from karts, |
| parameters such as RPM, timing of laps (including | | | | such as Darrell Waltrip, Lake Speed, Ricky Rudd, |
| sectors), number of laps, best lap, cooling system | | | | Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Stewart, and Jeff |
| temperature, and sometime speed or even gear | | | | Gordon. |
| for shifter karts. | | | | In August 2009, in anticipation to a possible return |
| Some of those systems are able to record | | | | to F1 with Ferrari, Formula One world champion |
| (logging) laps data from the sensors, allowing | | | | Michael Schumacher did some preparation driving |
| replay of an entire running session or/and direct | | | | a kart in Lonato, Italy. Felipe Massa also used |
| download to a personal computer equipped with a | | | | karting in September 2009 to test his condition in |
| data analysis software. More sophisticated | | | | Brazil, two months after his Hungarian Grand Prix |
| systems allow for more information such as | | | | freak accident during qualifying. |
| lateral and longitudinal acceleration (or G-force), | | | | Recreational, concession and indoor karts |
| throttle position, steering wheel position, brake | | | | Besides traditional kart racing, many commercial |
| pressure. | | | | enterprises offer karts for rent, often called |
| External controls | | | | "recreational" or "concession" karts. The tracks |
| Go-karts used in amusement parks can be fitted | | | | can be indoor or outdoor. Karts are rented by |
| with additional electronic controls such as remote | | | | sessions (10 to 15 minutes usually), they use |
| speed limiters to help promote a safer operating | | | | sturdy chassis completed with dedicated |
| environment. In the event of an accident or an | | | | bodywork providing driver safety. Most of these |
| out of control racer, the track attendant can | | | | enterprises use an "Arrive and Drive" format |
| remotely slow or stop all vehicles on the track via | | | | which provide customers with all the safety gear |
| radio control. This remote speed control can also | | | | (helmets, gloves and driver outfits) where |
| be used to limit young riders to a slow operating | | | | necessary and allow them to show up any time |
| speed, while a race consisting only of adults is | | | | to race at a reasonable price, without the hassle |
| permitted a higher speed. These controls can be | | | | of owning one's own equipment and gear. |
| applied to both electric and combustion-engine | | | | Indoor kart racing |
| karts. | | | | Outdoor tracks can offer low speed karts strictly |
| Racing | | | | for amusement (dedicated chassis equipped with |
| Sprint race at Granja Viana, Brazil | | | | low powered 4-stroke engines or electric motors), |
| Kart racing is generally accepted as the most | | | | to faster, more powerful karts similar to a racing |
| economic form of motorsport available. As a | | | | kart (powered by 4-stroke engines up to 15 hp |
| free-time activity, it can be performed by almost | | | | and more rarely by 2-stroke engines) but |
| anybody, and as a motorsport in itself, it is one of | | | | designed to be more robust for rental use. |
| the sports regulated by FIA (under the name of | | | | Typically, these outdoor tracks may also be used |
| CIK), permitting licensed racing for anyone from | | | | for traditional kart races. |
| the age of 8 onward. | | | | Indoor kart tracks can be found in many large |
| In the USA, there is not as much FIA | | | | cities in different parts of the world. These tracks |
| involvement; instead, many organizations regulate | | | | are often located in refurbished factories or |
| racing, such as the IKF (International Kart | | | | warehouses and are typically shorter than |
| Federation), WKA (World Karting Association), | | | | traditional outdoor tracks. Indoor karts are |
| KART (Karters of America Racing Triad), and the | | | | typically powered by a 4-stroke gasoline engine |
| more recent Stars of Karting presented by the | | | | producing anywhere from 5 to 13 horsepower, or |
| Indy Racing League. | | | | sometimes by an electric motor. Many tracks |
| In the UK, the MSA (Motor Sports Association) | | | | offer competitive races and leagues. At the top |
| regulate Karting. Some associations, such as | | | | level, an Indoor Karting World Championship |
| NatSKA (National Schools Karting Association), | | | | (IKWC) exists. |
| organize race meetings throughout the country | | | | There are nearly 80 indoor kart tracks in the |
| under the authority of the MSA. | | | | United States. |
| In Australia, kart racing is administrated by the | | | | Notes |
| Australian Karting Association on the behalf of FIA | | | | ^ a b Superkart at Magny-Cours - 2007 |
| and CAMS. | | | | ^ What is a Shifter Kart? |
| A variety of kart circuits permit the sport to be | | | | ^ 50 years of karting 1956-2006 - CIK-FIA |
| practiced, although only homologated tracks can | | | | ^ How the kart was first introduced to Europe - |
| have official races in Europe (see Kart circuits). | | | | by Burton Reinfrank - June 2004 |
| Racing classes start at age 7 or 8 (5 in the US | | | | ^ The McCulloch Kart Engines |
| with "Kid Karts") and generally run in 3-year age | | | | ^ 1959 - McCulloch's Entry into Kart Racing |
| groupings or weight divisions until enior status is | | | | ^ Example of a CIK-FIA homologation form - |
| reached at age 15 or 16, depending on the series. | | | | Chassis, 2005 |
| Racing formats | | | | ^ a b Technical picture of a racing chassis - |
| Typically, race formats are one of the following: | | | | Margay chassis |
| Sprint | | | | ^ "Article 21 ; Speci Regulations for KF1 ; Engine |
| Sprint racing takes place on dedicated kart circuits | | | | speed limited to maximum 16,000 rpm." - CIK-FIA |
| resembling small road courses, with left and right | | | | 2010 Technical Regulations |
| turns. Tracks range from 1/4 mile (400 metres) | | | | ^ "2.8) TRANSMISSION; Shall always be to the |
| to over 1 mile (1,600 metres) in length. | | | | rear wheels. The method is free but any type of |
| The sprint format is a series of short-duration | | | | differential, whether through the axle, the wheel |
| races, normally for a small number of laps, that | | | | mounting hub or by any other means, is |
| qualify for a final, with a variety of point scoring | | | | prohibited. |
| calculations to determine the event's overall | | | | |