6 basic karting tips to suit rental karting

David Sere, 18 x Australian Champion Dave Sera has given his 6 best tips when it comes to Rental Karting to give you a distinct advantage next time you’re on track!

Whether you’re on track racing your mates, or simply just trying to improve your lap-times, rental karting is all about control, momentum and being smooth to be fast!

1. Smooth is fast

As the saying goes, the more in control you are, the faster you will corner. When a driver is making multiple steering inputs around a corner, the kart is losing stability & speed. Make small, progressive inputs, and maintain the same hand position on both side of the steering wheel. 9-3 or 10-2 is the optimal position for your hand placement.

2. Understand the racing line

There’s an optimal line when cornering to maximise your speed. 

The ideal line will typically enter the corner from the outside of the circuit (this is to make the corner as wide as possible). When drivers are halfway through the corner, they want to place the kart on the inside of the turn near the apex (clipping point) and allow the kart to flow back to the outside of the circuit.

By driving this racing line, it requires minimal steering input which will maintain more control and speed when driving. 

The most common mistake beginners make is by turning in too early and losing control in the rear of the kart when exiting the corner. 

3. Brake, but not too much!

Brakes are designed to slow you down, but when used effectively can make you faster!

How does that happen? Drivers that use the brakes quickly (quick tap, then release), will slow the kart to the optimal speed and get back to the accelerator faster (optimising the exit). 

Inexperienced drivers tend to use the brakes lightly, which takes longer to slow the kart, ultimately getting back to the accelerator at a later point around the corner and jeopardising your exit speed. 

Tap the brakes quickly, then back to the throttle faster is where your 1-2 tenths of a second can be made up!

4. Your eyes control the kart

Where you look is where you’ll drive.

So to help avoid accidents, try focus one corner in advance of where you’re driving to see any karts potentially losing control (speed), so you have more time to decide which way to overtake.

Looking through the corners (the exit of a turn) will also enable the driver to take a later apex and get back on the accelerator sooner. 

5. Listen to your kart

A good way to know whether you’re reaching your potential on track is by listening to your kart.

If the tyres are screeching excessively when cornering, it’s likely you are losing control & speed. Rental karting uses hard compound tyres, and the tracks are slippery, but excessive sliding isn’t the fastest way to drive.

Listen to the tone of the engine. If you can hear the RPM dipping, you might be back on the throttle too late costing you speed out of the corners!

If your brakes are locking on entry to the corners, you are using them too aggressively. Brakes need to be used on some corners, but not enough to lock them. Understand how much pressure is required to be fast.

6. Plan your overtakes

You might be the fastest on track, but when it comes to a race you get stuck by slower karts. 

When chasing down a slower kart, watch where they are driving, watch any mistakes they might be making, and when they’re slowing down. 

When you get to their rear bumper, you’ve already assessed where the opportunities will present themselves and rather than sitting behind, can pounce right away!

Some drivers get stuck behind muddling karts for laps on end, whilst the experienced racers wait only corners before overtaking and can take advantage of their speed advantage to race away!

If you want more rental karting tips to beat your mates on track, then be sure to visit kartclass.com to learn more from 18 x Australian Karting Champion David Sera about driving techniques and race craft tips.