Kart driving tips: Get off to a flying start
Would you like to start renting a kart… but you’re just starting out and need a bit of theory before practice? Or do you think a little revision won’t hurt? Great! Karting Evasion gives you some kart driving tips…
Karting equipment: helmets are mandatory!
Karting is one of those activities where you can make rapid progress. Just one 10-minute session, and you’ll probably already feel very comfortable behind the wheel. Not bad, considering how long it takes to improve in certain disciplines!
However, it is essential to follow certain precautions to ensure a safe experience. This starts with the equipment: at Karting Evasion, we provide everything you need. Wearing a helmet is mandatory, and if you already have your own, remember to bring it to avoid having to buy a balaclava for €3 (required for hygiene reasons). We also recommend wearing gloves, closed shoes, and appropriate clothing, especially in case of rain.
On the track, turns can't be improvised
Let’s start with the basics: trajectories! No need to go into complicated explanations, but know that in Karting, as in Formula 1 or any other motorsport, each turn exposes you to centrifugal force. In concrete terms, this results from a relationship between your speed and the steering angle. In other words, if you go too fast and turn too sharply, the kart can lose grip.
The first rule in karting is therefore to manage speed and steering well when approaching a turn. To avoid skidding and ending up off-track, it is essential to either reduce speed or opt for gentler steering.
The best technique for negotiating a turn is to start from the outside, then tighten to the inside (the apex), and finally return to the outside. This minimizes the steering angle and allows you to maintain more speed. In case of loss of grip, it is highly recommended to counter-steer, that is, to turn the wheels in the opposite direction of the turn to regain the kart’s balance.
Brake
In karting, as in driving a car, it is essential not to brake while accelerating. It is also important to brake before entering a turn, not during, to avoid going off-track and spinning out.
Double
Yes, overtaking your opponent is the essence of a race! Unless your competitors are beginners and you can easily pass them on the straight, the art of overtaking mainly plays out in the turns.
A little tip for driving a kart and overtaking with confidence: stay behind your opponent’s kart for as long as possible. This allows you to benefit from the slipstream effect and gain a few kilometers per hour. Then, by applying the “outside-inside-outside” technique in the turn, you will have higher speed at the exit and can make the overtaking move.
Pins and other special trajectories
Now let’s talk about special trajectories, particularly the sequences of “S” turns or hairpins. In these situations, the classic outside-inside-outside rule does not apply. It is sometimes necessary to sacrifice one of the turns to maximize exit speed.
In an “S” turn, for example, it is advisable to neglect the inside of the first turn to stay on the outside. This allows for a better position to approach the second turn. As for hairpin turns, it is important to negotiate the first one well to position yourself ideally and exit the second with good speed.
Karting driving tips: the best way is to try it out!
Have you read everything? Well done! We look forward to seeing you on our Karting track in Lyon. On-site, you have the option to come alone or in a group for practice sessions and races.
