Kart racing

Kart racing
A gaggle of small, low brightly coloured karts underway together on a dark grey tarmac circuit
A sprint race at a karting event
Highest governing bodyCIK-FIA
First played1950s
Characteristics
Team membersYes
Mixed-sexYes
TypeMotorsport
EquipmentKart
VenueKart circuit
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide
World ChampionshipsFIA Karting World Championship

Kart racing or karting is a motorsport discipline using open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits, although some professional kart races are also held on full-size motorsport circuits. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher ranks of motorsports, with most Formula One drivers—including Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Max Verstappen—having begun their careers in karting.

Karts vary widely in speed, and some (known as superkarts) can reach speeds exceeding 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph), while recreational go-karts intended for the general public may be limited to lower speeds.

The Cadet Level 4 British Racing league for 2024 has been won by Alfie Willis.


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