Kart racing, commonly known as karting, is a form of motorsport using small, open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or racing karts. Kart races are usually held on dedicated kart circuits, although some forms of karting, including superkart racing, also take place on full-size motor racing circuits. Karts vary widely in speed and specification, from recreational rental karts to high-performance racing karts.
Karting is practised both recreationally and competitively. Competitive karting includes sprint, endurance, speedway, street and international championship formats, with classes commonly defined by driver age, engine type, chassis specification and weight. The kart used a simple tubular frame and a small two-stroke West Bend engine. The sport spread rapidly in the United States and then to Europe during the late 1950s and early 1960s. European-level karting competition also developed during this period, with FIA Karting history recording the European Nations' Cup from 1962 and later individual European Championship competition.
Indoor karting emerged as a commercial and recreational form of the sport in the late twentieth century. The New York Times reported in 1995 that indoor karting had developed in London from the mid-1980s and had become popular during the 1990s.
Organisation and governance
Kart racing is organised at international, national, regional, club and commercial levels. International competition is governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile through FIA Karting, while national and regional karting is administered by motorsport authorities, karting associations, sanctioning bodies, clubs and commercial organisers.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, karting is governed within the wider structure of Motorsport UK, the national governing body for four-wheel motorsport. Motorsport UK describes most karting as short-circuit racing, with more powerful superkarts, or long-circuit karts, also competing on full-size race tracks. Domestic kart racing is organised through a mixture of sanctioning bodies, national series, regional series and local clubs, rather than through a single national karting authority. Organisations and series active in United States karting include the World Karting Association, SuperKarts! USA and the United States Pro Kart Series.
Australia
In Australia, Karting Australia states that it is the sole body recognised by the FIA and Motorsport Australia to organise, regulate and control karting in Australia. Karting Australia states that authority to organise, control and regulate karting within Australia has been formally delegated to it through Motorsport Australia. The Grand Finals bring together drivers who qualify from Rotax championships and events around the world, using equalised equipment supplied by the organiser.
Other international or global karting series and events include the ROK Cup Superfinal, which brings together drivers from ROK Cup national series around the world, and the Champions of the Future Academy Program, an arrive-and-drive international series using equalised equipment.
Europe
Europe has a large number of international, regional and national karting competitions, including FIA Karting events, manufacturer-supported one-make series and national championships. Series and events commonly contested in Europe include FIA Karting European Championship rounds, the Rotax Max Euro Trophy, IAME Euro Series, WSK events, Champions of the Future events, ROK Cup events and national championships in countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Americas
In the United States, domestic karting is organised through sanctioning bodies, national series, regional series and local clubs rather than a single national karting authority. Major organisations and series include the World Karting Association, SuperKarts! USA and the United States Pro Kart Series.
The Champions of the Future Academy Program has expanded into the Middle East, with its international calendar including events in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and a UAE series introduced as a two-round championship using an arrive-and-drive format.
In South Africa, karting is organised through national, regional and club-level racing under Motorsport South Africa and associated karting organisers. Karting South Africa describes the South African Kart Championships as a national championship structure with age-based Rotax categories including Bambino, Micro MAX, Mini MAX, Junior MAX, Senior MAX, DD2 and DD2 Masters. ROK Cup South Africa also operates national karting events using controlled engine-pool arrangements.
Australia and Oceania
In Australia, the Australian Kart Championship is the country's national-level karting championship. Karting Australia describes it as the premier karting championship in the Southern Hemisphere, contested across multiple rounds and attracting drivers from Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Karting Australia also organises national-level events and recognises categories including KZ2, KA2, X30, TaG 125, KA3 Senior, KA3 Junior and Cadet classes.
Racing formats
Kart racing is commonly divided into sprint, endurance, street, speedway and long-circuit formats. The format used depends on the type of circuit, class of kart, organising body and whether the event is run as a club race, regional series, national championship or international event.
Sprint
thumb|Sprint race at Eastern Creek, Australia
Sprint racing is the most common form of competitive karting. It takes place on dedicated kart circuits resembling small road courses, with left and right turns, hairpins, chicanes and short straights. Motorsport UK describes most karting as short-circuit racing, with events commonly made up of practice, qualifying, heats and one or two finals.
Endurance karting is also used in rental-kart and arrive-and-drive competitions, where team formats allow new or amateur drivers to participate without owning a kart. A notable endurance karting venue is the Karting des 24 Heures complex at Le Mans, which includes the Circuit Alain Prost, Circuit Indy-Kart and Circuit International de Karting.
Street
Street karting is held on temporary circuits laid out on closed public roads, urban areas, parks or temporary event spaces. These events are less common than sprint races on permanent kart circuits and are usually organised as individual events or special meetings rather than regular club championship rounds.
Street circuits may use barriers, kerbs and temporary safety infrastructure, and their layouts can vary significantly from year to year. Examples of street karting events have included the Quincy Grand Prix in Illinois and the Rock Island Grand Prix.
Speedway and dirt oval
Speedway karting is held on oval or near-oval tracks, usually on asphalt, clay or dirt surfaces. The World Karting Association publishes rules for speedway pavement and speedway dirt karting, while the American Kart Racing Association publishes technical material for 4-cycle dirt karting.
Speedway tracks are typically shorter than sprint circuits and consist primarily of straights and left-hand turns. Speedway karting is especially associated with regional and club-level racing in parts of the United States and other countries with oval-racing traditions.
Specialised offset kart chassis may be used for oval racing, with chassis geometry and setup designed for left-turn-only competition. Race formats commonly include practice, qualifying, heat races and feature races, with starting positions determined either by timed qualifying or heat results.
Long-circuit and superkart racing
Long-circuit karting uses larger circuits than conventional sprint karting and may take place on full-size motor racing circuits. Superkart racing is the best-known high-performance long-circuit category, using more powerful karts than standard sprint classes and racing on circuits also used by cars and motorcycles. Motorsport UK describes more powerful superkarts, or long-circuit karts, as racing on full-size race tracks.
Typical karting safety equipment includes:
- full-face helmet to an approved motorsport standard;
- karting race suit or overalls;
- gloves;
- boots covering the ankles;
- rib protector or kart body protector;
- neck protection, where required or recommended by the organiser.
Equipment requirements vary by country, governing body, class and event type. Motorsport UK states that a rib protector is not mandatory in its introductory guidance but is recommended, while leather suits are mandatory for long-circuit karting.
Arrive-and-drive karting allows competitors to race in karts supplied by the organiser or circuit, reducing the need to buy and maintain their own equipment. This format is common in rental karting, corporate events, indoor karting and some national or international competitions. Motorsport UK describes karting as accessible through local clubs and circuits, while the FIA Arrive and Drive World Cup uses identical karts to reduce technical and financial disparities between competitors.