How has the Netflix Series “Drive to Survive” impacted kart racing?
A few years back, Liberty Media, a USA Company, took over the rights to Formula 1. Now, what was a one race a year in the USA has now gone to three races in 2023. Formula 1 has the Miami Grand Prix, the Circuit of Americas, and now for the first time ever, the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix on the strip in Las Vegas under lights.
One way to take your driving ability to the next level is by being one step ahead on track. To do so, drivers use a technique wherein they look ahead and increase their field of vision. For example, as the kart heads into the first corner, the driver is already looking at the apex. By the time the kart reaches the apex, he/she is already looking at the exit. By doing this, drivers can give their brain more time to process what is happening on the circuit and how to best handle it.
At what age can we start karting, and then depending on what age we are, which classes we would fall into. Now, this does vary between a country to country. Where I'm located in Melbourne, Australia, the earliest that someone can start kart racing is at six years of age. So at six years of age, you can apply for a practice license only. This then allows you to get 12 months of practice on track, so that you can start to hone your skills and learn the basics, the race lines, build some confidence, get used to the brakes, get more familiar with other karts being around you on the racetrack.
Let’s have a look at which go-kart people should buy when they are starting out in go karting. Now this is really going to depend on the budget, age and size of the driver, because these are three factors that are going to determine which kart is going to be suitable to you.
Today we're going to be discussing the benefits of go-kart racing. So, I started back when I was about five-and-a-half years of age, and I sat in a go-kart when I was three years of age. So now at 35, it's over 30 years I've been involved in karting. So, a very, very long time! It now plays a huge part in my day-to-day life. It’s a family-orientated sport for us. My dad was involved, my two cousins were involved and that then grew into a competitive nature because, naturally, when you start to do things, often or not, you want to try and improve your own skills.
As you continue to race and progress in your racing career, your go-kart will naturally incur some wear and tear. This can’t be avoided and must be addressed sooner or later, otherwise the performance of your kart will deteriorate over time, and you will find yourself with more mechanical failures. With that in mind, here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to go-kart maintenance.
The Apex in simple terms is defined as the inside of a corner which follows the racing line. The apex is also a marker that helps drivers identify when to get on the power. Every corner you face will have a different and unique apex because all corners have different dimensions, and adapting to it is what makes a good driver. So, to help, here are the different types of apexes and when to use them.
One of the most important parts of a race is the first few laps. With all drivers bunched up together, there are many opportunities to gain a position or two in the opening laps. However, it is easy to get greedy in doing so, which can result in losing positions on track. Worse, you could even get involved in an accident and end your race early. The first lap of a race is truly a free-for-all and carries much more risk. However, if done right, you can increase the chances of standing on the top step with good decision making. With that, here are some tips on how to have a good first lap.
Having good race craft is perhaps the most important skill any driver must possess. The ability to consistently make the right decisions and good strategic calls whilst being able to adapt to the high intensity of kart racing is essential. One of the best examples of good race craft can be seen in a driver’s ability to overtake other drivers on track. To execute the perfect overtake, a combination of factors such as confidence, the corner you are about to drive, your competition, and which side of the track you’re attempting to overtake on, come into play. In this article, we will teach you what it takes to make a good overtake on track.
The Racing line is known as the shortest route to take around a circuit. It is also the line that involves the least steering input which is beneficial to save time (more turning of the steering wheel equals more time lost). However, the line you take around a circuit will always differ, and change based on factors such as weather, tire wear, grip level & track temperature. In this article, we aim to tackle the basic racing lines around a circuit and the importance of adapting to the conditions to find the fastest way around the track.
Kart racing is all about finding the smallest of margins in lap times, but sometimes that is hard to achieve as we might be driving over the minimum weight limit. In this blog, we're going to be discussing how to make your go-kart lighter.
When starting out in go-karting, what helmet should you buy? What should we be looking for when it comes to go-kart helmets? We’ve created a helmet buyers guide on what will work & what won’t.
