top of page
There are different ways to use the accelerator in a kart. In the following video, the racer is feathering the throttle to keep the RPM as he drives round the track:
Braking:
Most karts will have rear brakes only, so be careful with your left foot. Use about 80% of the brake, any more and the brakes will lock and you will start to spin. Here's an example of that:
Pedal Work
If you want to be the fastest throughout a corner, then make sure you know your pedals.
Accelerating:
Throttle control is a vital technique to learn in karting. This will determine your mid-corner and exit speed. Keep in mind that using full throttle all the time will not make you a faster karter. If you accelerate fully while on a corner, the wheels will spin and the power won't be planted on the track. When exiting a corner, start with a little bit of throttle and gradually add more. This will build the revs up in the engine and prevent the tyres from spinning.
​
If the surface you're driving on is slippery, brake a bit earlier instead of braking harder. Here's another mistake of mine (This one hurt):
Be aware that at a start of a session, your kart's brakes and tyres will most likely be quite cold and are prone to locking up easier. Some karts will also have more sensitive brakes than others so keep that in mind before you attempt to thrash it round on lap 1.
That technique is different to how I drive, I gradually add power as I continue round the corner. This is to prevent any wheelspin from occuring.
In some arrive and drive karts, the engine will cut out if you press both pedals at the same time. This is because pressing them down will damage the kart's clutches.
In the video below, I am karting at TeamSport Bristol. This track has one of the slipperiest floors I have ever driven on! This track is amazing for learning the throttle and overall kart control. Look at how little throttle I use for the corners:
In the two videos below, I use these techniques as well as kart control on the track against opponents. Look at my footwork and gentle steering
bottom of page