How do I improve my karting skills?

You might be one of the lucky few that can jump into a kart and be competitive straight away. But more likely, as in any sport, you are going to need some help to bring you up to speed. There’s the informal approach, asking other drivers or your friendly kart trader for advice, or the professional route, booking time with a kart school or coach. Your mechanic, who might be your Dad, Mum or friend, is your immediate source of feedback and advice. They will be timing your laps, making adjustments to the kart and seeing if there is an improvement. You should build up a strong rapport with your mechanic, who might be learning at the same time as yourself. If you are part of a big race team, your mechanic might be an experienced racer or ex-racer himself, with lots of knowledge to pass on. Some Kart Schools specialise in one-to-one tuition and although there is a cost involved enlisting the support of a school or coach, it might give more benefit than spending in other areas.

Driving a racing kart demands a high level of concentration, much higher than driving a car on the road, and can feel quite exhausting after a few laps. That’s why a good level of fitness is essential. The higher up the tree you go, the fitter you will need to be. A strong upper body strength is important so activities such as skipping, jogging and swimming are all good exercise activities. Warm-up and do some stretches before going out on the kart. Fruit and pasta dishes are the right kinds of food, as they are light yet give energy. Don’t eat just before racing, and take your own food to the race circuit as you cannot guarantee to be able to buy the right kind of food. Drink plenty, but not anything containing too much sugar or caffeine.