Overtaking is a vital part of racing. The ability to get past one driver on track is an important part of race craft and what makes drivers win races. However, making an overtake is not always easy. Before making a move, the driver must set up the opponent to make the overtake as smooth as possible, otherwise they can gift that spot back. Drivers can assess the pros and cons of making a move in a certain corner, how to go about the overtake, as well the amount of risk involved when making a move. It is important to consider these things because making a mistake might cost you to lose a position instead of gaining, or worse, your day may end early because of a wrong move.
The mentality of go-kart racing drivers is unique and cannot be compared to any other sport. The skillset and mindset it takes to excel in the world of racing is one that is hard to replicate with other sports. From the outside, it may look easy. But when it comes to racing, the smallest differences have the biggest effects. So, what exactly does it take to have a driver’s mentality and how can you develop and nurture it? Well, this is what we are here to discuss in this blog.
Colin McRae once said, “Straight roads are for fast cars, turns are for fast drivers”. The same holds true in the world of go-karting. Having the best equipment doesn’t mean you win all your races, but rather it is a driver’s technique, race craft, and speed that brings home the silverware. This can all be seen in a driver’s ability to take corners in the fastest way possible. As history proves, brake-roll-accelerate is the best way to take a corner. In this article, we will teach every step of this technique and further understand what makes it effective. To help visualize where to brake, roll, and accelerate, we will use one corner from the Ipswich kart track in Queensland as reference.
Let’s look at how to drift in a go-kart and the negatives around it. There are not many positives, just a quick heads up! When it comes to drifting in a go-kart, many of our newcomers or our younger drivers think it's fast to be sliding around corners. Now, the reason for this is they play video games online, or it just naturally feels faster when you're drifting, because as karts or cars or anything is starting to drift around and turn, it's losing control. When something is losing control, the chances are you can't drive around as fast because your kart or car is out of control.
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.
