Costs

Please note any costs given are only a rough approximation

Used equipment - see adverts in Karting magazines, through your local club, or on-line at UK Karting's Market Place. Purchase of 2nd hand equipment - between £1200 - £2,000. This cost would cover everything to get you started and on the track - that is:

2nd hand Kart chassis and engine
Boots, helmet (try to buy the best you can afford)
Race suit, gloves etc.

It is possible to get a 2nd-hand kart and engine for £700-£800, but this would not be as competitive, except maybe for the Cadet classes.

Alternately you can hire a kart if you do not want to go to the expense of purchasing until you know if Karting is for you.
A rough guide to prices - One day hire (that is 6 x 10 minute sessions) for a practice day would be in the region of £200 to £250 including Racewear, use of mechanic and expert advice.
To hire a Kart for a race day - from approx £250 including Racewear, use of mechanic and advice on track lines etc.

To go club racing with your own equipment is a very economic form of motor sport, yet offers higher grip and faster acceleration than most affordable car racing. Entry fees are usually about £50 and you will get a short practice, two or three heats and a final. In the more economic classes your tyres will last several meetings, although at championship level most drivers will use a new set per meeting. In addition you need to buy fuel and racing 2-stroke oil for your kart, and have the engine rebuilt every so often. At a club meeting you can expect to put about 30 to 40 minutes of use on the engine, and you might rebuild it every 3 to 8 hours depending on the class. A sealed Rotax Max engine only needs rebuilding about once per season, and 4-stroke engines only need periodic changes of valve springs and oil changes. Rebuild costs will be between £300 to £500 or more. Other costs include the occasional new chain and spark plug, different sprockets for different tracks, cleaning fluids and chain lubrication spray and some basic tools including a tyre pressure gauge and pump. So what are you waiting for, come race with us!

The 5 main (non-gearbox) classes plus the 60cc Cadet Class (for 8-13 years old)
See Kart Table for full listing

All prices are only approximations for a new ready to race Kart, excl VAT.

Formula Cadet
Ideal start for 8-13 years old. The Comer category uses a sealed 60cc Comer W.60 engine, direct drive with a centrifugal clutch. Approx top speed 50mph. Fitted with side pods and nose cone for safety. Cost approx £2300 - £3000. The Honda Cadet, with an un-sealed 4-stroke engine is cheaper at around £1800 - £2100, and a good economic starting point. A new race prepared Honda engine can be obtained for £390 plus vat. The two classes may be raced together. WTP Cadet also has a sealed 60cc 2-stroke engine with electric self-start (TAG - Touch and Go), but the engines are no longer being made. The upper age of 13 is so that smaller children may stay in the class, but usually drivers will move up to the junior classes by the age of 12 as they get too heavy to be competitive.

Super Cadet
New for 2011, this is meant to be a bridging class for drivers in their 11th year to 14th year. It uses a more powerful 2-stroke 60cc engine than the Cadet class, with a top speed of about 55mph. The engines are unsealed and there are about half a dozen different makes to choose from. The chassis are midway in size between Cadets and the full sized karts for juniors and seniors, but must be homologated (recognised and inspected by the governing bodies). There will be two championships in Super One Series and Formula Kart Stars but some clubs may also offer races.

Junior TKM
11-17 years old. Single engine option - TKM BT82. Chassis no longer need to be homologated, but there are limitations on the karts. A restrictor plate between carburettor and engine limits available power and there are various options for different sized drivers. Clutch is optional for easy electric starting & recovery after a spin. Cost £2,800 approx. A TAG (electric start, Touch and Go) variant is available.

Formula KF3
13-17 years old (or from year of 13th birthday with prior experience). Engines are international 125cc TAG two stroke electric start types, restricted to 14,000rpm. Top speed approx 75mph. The premier junior category and MSA British Junior Championship class. Cost £5-6000 approx.

100 TKM Extreme
16 years and over. Single engine (TKM BT82) and same chassis choice as for Junior TKM and with one choice of restrictor between carburettor and engine or none for heavier drivers. Similarity of regulations makes the progression from Junior TKM to Senior TKM except that the senior category is now 115cc, both inexpensive and logical. TAG option available. Cost £3000 approx.

Formula KF2
16 years and over. Engine is a 125cc two stroke restricted to 15,000 rpm. A homologated chassis, engine, exhaust and carburettor must be used. Over £6000. This is the MSA British Championship class, and front brakes operated by a lever on the steering wheel is allowed (although some of the championships may restrict this aspect).

Formula 100 National / K100
Previously known as 100C, uses engines downgraded from Formula A (ie earlier than 2003 homologations). Costs over £3,000 new but there are lots of cheap second hand engines around. Reed induction or rotary valve engines are usually permitted in the class (ex-Formula A & ICA class) but no longer raced at national championship level or much at club level either.. Only raced at very few circuits now, such as in the Channel Islands and Ryehouse in Herts.

Formula KF1 / Super KF
Top non-gearbox International class for factory supported drivers contesting the world championship, using 125cc reed valve engines with fairly open tuning but restricted to 16,000 rpm, with softer compound tyres (means budget for tyres will be higher.) Cost £7000 plus, no longer raced in the UK.

Gearbox Classes
A range of classes for karts with gears and clutches from 125cc to 250cc. Speeds on tracks, for example Silverstone, up to 145mph. Gearbox karts can be bought second hand from as low as £1000. New 125's cost from £6000, up to a fully equipped 250 National or International at £8,000 plus depending on options.

The above prices do not include any Racewear.
To participate in a race (as opposed to a practice day) the following must also be obtained:

Unless you fall into one of the exemptions, you need to buy a 'Starting Karting' pack from an ARKS school or from the MSA, Motor Sports House, Riverside Park, Colnbrook, Slough SL3 0HG (Tel:01753 765000). The pack costs £49 including postage. A serial numbered licence application form is enclosed along with a PG Entrants licence form which must be completed by the Parent or Guardian for anyone under 18 years of age, which costs £16. After having a medical form completed (see below) you need to book an ARKS driving test with one of the approved ARKS schools or a participating club. This costs £90 (incl VAT) plus the hire of any equipment. The first licence costs £34 but is free for under-18's.
If you are over 18, a medical certificate of fitness provided by your doctor. This is part of the medical examination which is on the licence application form. Otherwise you need to self-certify your health. A medical can cost anything from £50 to over £100 depending on your doctor.
A Kart Club membership. There are many clubs in the country. By joining one of them you are then allowed to race at any circuit. Some clubs have test days and offer special rates to members for these and race days. Joining an ABkC affiliated club will allow you to race in the ABkC national championships eg Super One, and Super 4 gearbox classes in NKF (Northern Karting Federation).
Apart from your kart you must have protective clothing which includes - a crash helmet approved for racing, an approved racing suit, gloves and boots giving ankle protection.

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ABkC website maintained by Graham Smith

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Last Updated: 23 December 2011

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