Yes, yes... safety is the top priority, and we all occasionally hear the tune of "caution, dear driver" in our heads—but you can't deny that sometimes, hitting the accelerator feels absolutely fantastic. In fact, it might be one of the main reasons why more and more people are heading to karting circuits to take the wheel of a racing car and feel that little bit freer. You only need to check here to see how many tracks are near you for that long-awaited karting session.
But we should make a slight distinction between the types of karts you might encounter. A professional vehicle—a super kart that can exceed 250 km/h thanks partly to its 2-stroke engine of 28 hp or more—is worlds apart from a go-kart you’d drive at a leisure-focused circuit.
The latter are small cars with 4-stroke engines, reaching speeds of 80-100 km/h (at most) in the adult category and around 50 km/h for those designed for children.
What competition karts and rental karts have in common is that neither has a gearbox, and the clutch is automatic, making them easy to drive even for complete beginners. They also feature an internal combustion engine, with a cycle divided into intake-compression-combustion and exhaust. For 2-stroke engines, as the name suggests, this process happens in just two strokes, while 4-stroke engines take four.
Keep in mind that if you’re just looking for fun and a bit of competition with your mates, that’s exactly what you’ll get—but the karts you’ll drive will have their speed limited to 50-60% of their full power, mainly so those unfamiliar (or entirely new) to this type of driving can enjoy it hassle-free.
So, if you’re just starting out in the world of karts and all you want is a good time, our advice is to aim for an outdoor circuit. These are usually wider and thus simpler for beginners, where the team will explain everything in detail and put you behind the wheel of a 270 cc kart—perfect for going at your own pace and giving it some welly.
