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Guide

What age can you start karting?

Kart racing in the UK starts at 6. Each class has an age range, set by the Motorsport UK Karting Yearbook and counted by calendar year.

The classes by age

  • Bambino: 6 to 8. Yearbook
  • Cadet: 8 to 12 (Rotax Micro Cadet 8 to 11). Yearbook
  • Inter: 10 to 13. Yearbook
  • Junior: 12 to 16. Yearbook
  • Senior: 15 and over. Gearbox: Junior 13 to 17, Senior 15 and over. Yearbook

How the ages work

  • Many classes count from the calendar year of a birthday. For example, Cadet runs from the calendar year of the 8th birthday, with the required Bambino experience. Yearbook
  • No medical or eyesight test is needed for short-circuit karting, at any age. Motorsport UK
  • Every driver under 18 needs a parent or guardian with an Entrant PG licence. ABKC

Arrive-and-drive ages

  • Club100 takes drivers from the year of their 14th birthday. Motorsport UK
  • NatSKA runs karting for school pupils aged 8 and over. Motorsport UK

Quick answers

What is the youngest age for kart racing?
Six, in the Bambino class, according to the Motorsport UK Karting Yearbook.
What age is Cadet karting?
Cadet classes are for drivers aged 8 to 12 (Rotax Micro Cadet 8 to 11), according to the Motorsport UK Karting Yearbook.
Is there an upper age limit for karting?
No. Senior classes are for drivers aged 15 and over, with no upper limit in the Yearbook.

Which class should I race?All classes

Facts are from Motorsport UK, ARKS and the ABKC, linked by each one. Rules and prices change, so check with the source before you rely on them. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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