Class guide, 2026

Kart classes

The 17 classes in the Motorsport UK Karting Yearbook 2026, grouped by age category, with the series that race each one.

Not sure which class? Answer four questions and see the classes the driver can race this year, with championships, circuits and teams near you.Class finder →

Ages at a glance

Bambino6 to 8 Cadet8 to 12 Inter10 to 13 Junior12 to 16 Senior15+Gearbox13+

Ages are the category limits. Each class sets its own entry age and licence, shown on its card.

Non-gearbox · ages 6-8

Bambino

The first step in kart racing, for drivers aged 6 to 8.

12
MightE Bambino
Motorsport UK homologated electric powertrain.
Ages
6-8
Min weight
83 kg · driver 21.5 kg
Plates
Blue/White
Tyres
Le Cont MSA04 dry, Le Cont MSA04 wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
MightEYearbook p.11

Also recognised: Comer Bambino. Regulations for these are published separately by Motorsport UK or the class owner, and clubs need Motorsport UK approval to run them.

Non-gearbox · ages 8-12

Cadet

For drivers from 8 to 12, moving up from Bambino.

12
MightE Cadet
MightE Gen 4 electric Cadet powertrain.
Ages
8-12^{^}
Min weight
118 kg · driver 31 kg
Plates
Blue/White
Tyres
Vega Cadetti 'UK' dry, Vega WM1 CIK wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
Motorsport UKYearbook p.18
12
IAME Water Swift (restricted)
Restricted version of the Water Swift Inter engine. Removing the exhaust restrictor turns it into the Inter engine.
Ages
8-12^{^}
Min weight
100 kg · driver 26 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Vega Cadetti 'UK' dry, Vega WM1 CIK wet
Raced in
- British Kart Championships
- Super One Series
What a season costs Teams running it
Argenti-KTYearbook p.19
12
Honda Cadet
Honda GX200 4-stroke engine with clutch.
Ages
8-12^{^}
Min weight
105 kg · driver 28 kg
Plates
Yellow/Red
Tyres
Vega Cadetti 'UK' dry, Vega WM1 CIK wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
Anderson-CSK MotorsportYearbook p.23
12
Rotax Micro Cadet
Restricted version of the Rotax 125 Junior MAX engine.
Ages
8-11^{^}
Min weight
105 kg · driver 28 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Vega Cadetti 'UK' dry, Vega WM1 CIK wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
JAG (UK)Yearbook p.24
12
Rotax E10 Cadet
Rotax E10 electric Cadet powertrain.
Ages
8-12^{^}
Min weight
TBC kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Vega Cadetti 'UK' dry, Vega WM1 CIK wet
Raced in
- British Kart Championships
What a season costs Teams running it
JAG (UK)Yearbook p.28

Also recognised: IAME Gazelle, Honda GX160 Cadet, Tillotson Cadet. Regulations for these are published separately by Motorsport UK or the class owner, and clubs need Motorsport UK approval to run them.

Non-gearbox · ages 10-13

Inter

A step between Cadet and Junior, for drivers from 10 to 13.

12
IAME Water Swift
Unrestricted 60cc water-cooled engine.
Ages
10-13^#
Min weight
110 kg · driver 31 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Komet K1D-M dry, Komet K1D-W wet
Raced in
- British Kart Championships
What a season costs Teams running it
Argenti-KTYearbook p.33
12
Rotax Inter
Restricted version of the Rotax 125 Junior MAX engine.
Ages
10-13^#
Min weight
115 kg · driver 33 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Mojo C2 CIK dry, Mojo CW CIK wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
JAG (UK)Yearbook p.36

Also recognised: Tillotson Inter. Regulations for these are published separately by Motorsport UK or the class owner, and clubs need Motorsport UK approval to run them.

Non-gearbox · ages 12-16

Junior

Full-size karts with restricted 125cc engines, for drivers from 12 to 16.

12
IAME X30 Junior
As IAME X30 Senior but with an exhaust restrictor.
Ages
12-16^*
Min weight
148 kg · driver 41 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Komet K3H dry, Komet K1W / K3W wet
Raced in
- British Kart Championships
- Winter Series Championship
What a season costs Teams running it
Argenti-KTYearbook p.41
12
Rotax Junior Max
Junior version of the Rotax 125 Senior MAX engine.
Ages
12-16^*
Min weight
145 kg · driver 40 kg
Plates
Red/White
Tyres
Mojo D2XX 'CIK' dry, Mojo W5 'CIK' wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
JAG (UK)Yearbook p.45
12
Tillotson T4 Junior
4-stroke Junior version of the Tillotson T4 engine. Single-chassis class: everyone races the same Tillotson chassis.
Ages
12-16^*
Min weight
143 kg · driver 40 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Maxxis T4 dry, Maxxis T4 Wet wet
What a season costs Teams running it
TillotsonYearbook p.49

Also recognised: Formula Libre Junior. Regulations for these are published separately by Motorsport UK or the class owner, and clubs need Motorsport UK approval to run them.

Non-gearbox · ages 15+

Senior

The main non-gearbox classes for drivers from 15 upwards.

12
IAME X30 Senior
125cc water-cooled TAG engine with electric start.
Ages
15+^**
Min weight
162 kg · driver 53 (under 16) kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Komet K3M dry, Komet K1W / K3W wet
Raced in
- British Kart Championships
- National Kart Cup
What a season costs Teams running it
Argenti-KTYearbook p.52
12
Rotax Senior Max
125cc water-cooled TAG engine with electric start.
Ages
15+^**
Min weight
162 (under 16: driver 52) and 177 (driver 83) kg
Plates
Blue/White
Tyres
Mojo D5 'CIK' dry, Mojo W5 'CIK' wet
Raced in
What a season costs Teams running it
JAG (UK)Yearbook p.56
12
TKM Extreme
BT82 115cc piston-port engine, optional clutch, optional TAG. Weight and restrictor bands let drivers of different sizes race together.
Ages
15+^**
Min weight
132+ kg · driver 40+ (under 16) kg
Plates
Red/White
Tyres
TKM Maxxis Sport dry, Maxxis Red/White 'TKM' wet
Raced in
- National Kart Cup
What a season costs Teams running it
Tal-KoYearbook p.60
12
Tillotson T4 Senior
4-stroke Senior version of the Tillotson T4 engine. Single-chassis class.
Ages
15+^**
Min weight
161 kg · driver 52 (under 16) kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Maxxis T4 dry, Maxxis T4 Wet wet
What a season costs Teams running it
TillotsonYearbook p.72

Also recognised: Formula Libre, Tillotson Senior. Regulations for these are published separately by Motorsport UK or the class owner, and clubs need Motorsport UK approval to run them.

Gearbox · ages 13-17 (Junior), 15+ (Senior)

Gearbox

Karts with gearboxes, from Junior Gearbox up to KZ2 and 250cc Superkarts.

12
KZ2
125cc international gearbox class, following the CIK-FIA KZ2 rules with a few UK differences.
Ages
15+^a
Min weight
180 kg
Plates
Yellow/Black
Tyres
Le Cont LPM 'CIK' dry, Le Cont LWR 'CIK' wet
Raced in
- British Kart Championships
What a season costs Teams running it
Motorsport UKYearbook p.74
12
Superkart 250
Registered gearbox engines up to 250cc.
Ages
16+
Min weight
195 / 200 / 208 kg
Plates
White/Black
Tyres
CIK-FIA homologated dry, CIK-FIA homologated wet
What a season costs Teams running it
Motorsport UKYearbook p.76

Also recognised: Junior Gearbox, 125 Open, 210 National, 450 4-stroke. Regulations for these are published separately by Motorsport UK or the class owner, and clubs need Motorsport UK approval to run them.

Age key

^: From the calendar year of the 8th birthday, with the required Bambino experience.
#: From the calendar year of the 10th birthday, with a Kart National licence.
*: From the calendar year of the 13th birthday, or from the 12th birthday with a Kart National licence.
**: From the calendar year of the 16th birthday, or from the 15th birthday with a Kart National licence, or any International ITE licence holder.
a: From the calendar year of the 16th birthday with a Kart National licence and at least 10 kart events at 3 or more venues, or from the 15th birthday with an International ITE licence.

Source

Motorsport UK Karting Yearbook 2026, Version 1.1, Introduction note 5 (Categories and Classes) and Appendix 9 (Kart Classes at a glance). Weights are the minimum for kart and driver in race condition. Class regulations change; always check the current Yearbook, the Motorsport UK resource centre and the meeting's supplementary regulations before you race.