If you’re looking for opportunities to compete in official go karting competitions around the UK but have no idea where to start looking, we’re here to help!
This blog will outline some of the major championships and go karting race leagues around the country, organised from beginner-friendly options to totally hardcore professional competitions!
Sound good? Let’s get into it!
Racing Competitions at TeamSport:
BIKC
The best place to start is with us - at TeamSport we have indoor karting venues around the country where you can get involved in a grand prix at any time, but we also run one of the biggest indoor karting championships!
The British Indoor Karting Championship (BIKC) was designed to be a great entry point to the world of go kart competitive racing. Motorsport UK has described BIKC as the “most accessible and cost-effective way to compete”, and we proudly agree!
If you want to dip your toes into competing, sign up for next year! Here’s everything you need to know about BIKC if you’re interested.
RACE ACADEMY
Need more practice first? We also have our own racing league for kids - Race Academy - where they can hone their skills and race the next generation of karting champions every week.
#GRID Membership
Adults can also secure a #GRID Membership, giving them unlimited access to our venues and entry to exclusive member-only racing events.
Club 100
- Age Group: Any
- Experience Level: Any
Club 100 is a great way to get started with outdoor karting championships - not only are there cadet, junior and senior karting competitions, but you don’t need your own kart to take part! It’s a convenient and fun racing competition for anyone who’s tried either indoor or outdoor karting who are looking to level up their skills! Make sure to go to one of Club 100’s test days so you can get used to their karts.
British Universities Kart Championship
- Age Group: 18+
- Experience Level: Any
Open to anyone in a full-time university education, beginners and advanced alike, this is a fantastic outdoor karting competition for students! There are only two main qualifiers - you have to enter through your university, and it has to be the uni’s official karting team. After that, you can take your pick of their different racing options. There are team championships, individual driver championships, and the particularly challenging 24 hour race.
British Schools Karting Championship
- Age Group: 13-18
- Experience Level: Any
For students aged 13-18, this is a really rewarding go kart competitive racing competition that should be in every academic calendar. Kids don’t need any skills or prior experience to take part - instead, it’s supposed to be a chance for them to find their strengths, build confidence and have fun! BSKC also works in collaboration with TeamSport, Motorsport UK and more to identify future champions, so who knows where this competition could take you!
Veteran’s Karting Championship
- Age Group: 18+ (Veterans only)
- Experience Level: Any
Sponsored by TeamSport, this is a brilliant event exclusively for veterans and the armed forces community to battle it out for a championship! Held at various locations around the UK, and completely free to attend, this is a chance to meet other like-minded people in a relaxed environment and race on some of the finest indoor karting tracks in the country.
Absolutely Karting
- Age Group: 8-13, 14+
- Experience Level: Intermediate-Experienced
We’re heading into professional territory now - Absolutely Karting’s racing championships are more appropriate if you have a year or more of racing experience, made up of 10-12 competitive races to test your talent! There are options for cadets (8-13) and adults (14+) across their Bristol and Maidenhead tracks. At the end of every race, the top three drivers will be rewarded with a podium trophy presentation, with the top three champions overall also winning incredible prizes!
Elite Karting Series
- Age Group: 14-19, 20+ (but make sure to look at the weight classes, and how weight affects go karting)
- Experience Level: Experienced
The Elite Karting Series is an incredible professional experience. It takes place across the five Daytona circuits, some of the oldest and most celebrated tracks in the world. Every race is recorded with a drone and trackside cameras, and with commentary, graphics and post-race interviews, it’s safe to say you’re an industry name if you take part in this go karting competition. And the most exciting part? The karts here are some of the fastest hire karts in the country, going at 50 and 60mph!
Wera Tools British Kart Championships
- Age Group: Any
- Experience Level: Experienced
With 500 participants each year and 12 races across the UK, it might be safe to say that the Wera Tools British Kart Championships is one of the biggest go kart competitive racing competitions you could participate in. Many great racers, and some of motorsport’s most recognisable names, have taken part in the British Kart Championships. You have to buy and run your own kart, and then you have the chance to go with one of the most impressive trophies in the industry - good luck!
British Rental Kart Championships
- Age Group: 18+
- Experience Level: Experienced
The only national qualifier for the Kart World Championship (KWC), the British Rent Kart Championships are the greatest indoor racing competitions for experienced racers. The event is run over a single weekend and, broadcast live on YouTube and Motorsport TV, gives the future of racing the chance of a lifetime to showcase their talent. Entry is £250, and the winner gets a place in Team GB, an £1000 cash prize, and an absolutely mammoth trophy. We’re only scratching the surface here - visit the official website to learn all about this incredible event.
Go-Kart Racing Leagues
Would you prefer more consistent racing opportunities? In that case, you might want to join a racing league - held to a steady and consistent schedule, race leagues let you race like-minded speed demons weekly or monthly to compete for more involved championships.
Here are three of the most prominent race leagues:
Lakeside Karting Race League
Age Group: Aged 14+
This racing league is held on the first Friday evening of every month at their track in Purfleet. It operates all year round, with seasonal winter and summer championships to compete for. There are six rounds total for each championship (only five count towards the result, so you can miss a session without it affecting your positioning). Make sure to pre-book every session - there are cool rewards on offer every week for the winners.
Brentwood Karting Race League
Age Group: 8-18
A competitive championship for drivers aged 8-18 years old (split into Cadet and Senior titles depending on age, height and experience), this racing league holds races every Sunday morning for 13 weeks of the year. 10 of the 12 weeks count towards the championship title, and the 13th week is a special opportunity for current, former and future drivers from the league to race together!
Global Karting League
The Global Karting League (GKL) was launched by F1 Engineer Rob Smedley to offer young people an affordable racing opportunity, where they can build a passionate community around them and battle it out in state-of-the-art electric karts. Whether you’re a beginner or live and breathe go karting, this is a great way to hone your skills, with races all around the country to take part in. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned driver, GKL offers the perfect platform to hone your skills and compete.