The kart centres we race with always give a full briefing on how to drive a kart and understand the racing environment, which usually includes the following points. Karts have only two pedals – brake (left) and accelerate (right) – plus a steering wheel requiring about 180 degrees of turn from full left lock to full right lock. The only rule here is simple – never, ever press both the accelerator and brake at the same time since this causes the acceleration very sluggish. Power from the engine is transmitted to the rear wheels only, though unlike road cars or any other racing cars there is no differential to smooth out the speed difference between the inside and outside rear wheels while cornering (as the inside wheel, having less far to travel than the outside wheel, does not need to spin as fast as the outside wheel). It is this that defines the particular characteristics of a kart’s handling.
Before each event drivers are given practice sessions to familiarise themselves with the track and the kart. For first time drivers it is advisable that this time is used to get a rough idea of which corners require braking, and how much. Try to use the full width of the circuit when cornering to make each bend as shallow – and therefore as fast – as possible.
It is also worth bearing in mind that the rear of the kart is slightly wider than the front, and so if you are driving with you front wheel close to the edge of the track, the rear wheel may be slightly off the track or scraping the barrier at the edge. Karting is a non-contact sport and various racing series enforce this rule in a variety of ways. Offences may cause the driver to be excluded from the event entirely with no refund.
Before each event drivers are given practice sessions to familiarise themselves with the track and the kart. For first time drivers it is advisable that this time is used to get a rough idea of which corners require braking, and how much. Try to use the full width of the circuit when cornering to make each bend as shallow – and therefore as fast – as possible.
It is also worth bearing in mind that the rear of the kart is slightly wider than the front, and so if you are driving with you front wheel close to the edge of the track, the rear wheel may be slightly off the track or scraping the barrier at the edge. Karting is a non-contact sport and various racing series enforce this rule in a variety of ways. Offences may cause the driver to be excluded from the event entirely with no refund.
