Karting races are often a training ground in which the young generation of motoring is trained, destined to become great drivers of cars or motorcycles. On board the go-karts, inside a kart track, you can experiment and increase your skills on the track. Karting, however, is not the younger brother of Formula 1, but a full-fledged motorsport, with its championships and adrenaline-pumping challenges. There is one thing that unites the racing past of many great Formula 1 champions, from Senna to Verstappen, and that is karting . Racing on go-karts , in fact, is the first approach that aspiring drivers have with the track and with speed. The kart track is a kind of gym that you can start attending at a young age (you can start at 6). For this reason, karting is much more than a race aboard curious “machines”, but a real sport , with its rules and its international competitions, and above all with great competitive value. So it’s worth getting to know him a little better.

Become a pilot for a day

What is karting: characteristics and history of a sport with a long tradition

According to the basic definition, karting is that specialty of motorsport which is raced with karts , i.e. small motor vehicles , of which there are several variants. The characterizing element, therefore, is the means used, which has a very particular aspect. The first go-kart prototype dates back to 1956 and is the work of Art Ingels , American racing car builder and Kurtis Kraft technician. In his intentions, that machine was to be just a pastime for his little son. Instead, it turned out to be a powerful intuition, capable of writing unforgettable pages in the world of engines. In fact, as early as 1957, the first real karts were developed in California: compact vehicles, with minimal ground clearance and no suspension, a flexible chassis, rear-wheel drive and an engine with limited power, which however still made them capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. And the first official karting competition was held in 1959, in Nassau.

Find out more about the Justspeed Monza Karting, the kart track of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Karting in Italy

Despite its American origins, karting boasts a long and glorious tradition in Italy , where it arrived in 1957 and where today there are numerous kart tracks . The first exhibition of a kart took place on the track of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza , while the production of these vehicles in Italy is closely linked to the name of Nicolò Donà delle Rose , a pioneer in the sector. Over the years, then, “made in Italy” drivers and teams have distinguished themselves for their successes on the track at an international level. To realise this, just look at the golden books of single-speed and shifter karting competitions.

All the karting events of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Kart types and race categories

The aforementioned distinction between single-speed karts and shifter karts is a first example of how different types of karts exist. Differences that are also reflected in the competitions and the age of the drivers who can drive the various vehicles. Another fundamental distinction is that relating to the engines , which can be:

• 4 times;
• 2 stroke 100 cm³ racing;
• 2 stroke 125 cm³ racing family KF;
• 2 stroke 125 cm³ KZ family;
• 125 cm³ TAG family.

Also very important is the weight (vehicle + driver), which is linked to the driving age and the racing category, as highlighted in the following table.

Age (years)	Category	Minimum weight (Kg)
from 6 to 7	60 Baby	85
8 to 9 years	60 Baby	95
8 to 9 years	125 Rotax micro	105
9 to 12 years	60 Mini	110
from 9 to 12 years	125 Rotax mini	115
from 12 to 15 years	OKJ Cadets	135
from 12 to 15 years	OKJ National	135
from 12 to 15 years	125 Rotax Junior	145
for 14 years and 6 months	OK National	145
from 14 years and 6 months	125 KZ2 National	175
from 14 years and 6 months	125 Club	180
from 15 years	125 Rotax max	160
from 15 years	125 KZ2	175
from 17 to 35 years	125 Prodrivers under	175
over 35 years	125 Rotax max over	168
over 35 years	125 Prodriver over	180

National and international karting competitions

The number of karting categories means that there are many different karting competitions, both nationally and internationally. On a global scale, however, the most coveted titles remain without a doubt those offered by the FIA karting division , which go under the acronym FIA Karting World Championship (single race). Similar speech for the European panorama, dominated by the FIA karting European Championship (tournament with several races in different countries of the old continent). In Italy, however, the most important trophy is organised and promoted by the ACI and is called the Italian ACI Karting Championship , organised into 8 different classes (some with 3 races, others with 5).

The complete guide to the Italian ACI Karting Championship