How fast does a kart go?
If you have ever raced on a kart track, you have no doubt experienced that exhilarating thrill of high speeds as you tear across the tarmac. But how fast does a kart really go? And what are the fastest karts in the world? In this racing blog, we take you through the speed of karts and the different variants.
Speed indoor kart
On a typical indoor go-kart track, it seems like you are driving at impressive speeds. You sit low to the ground and race on short straights, making the speed seem even more intense. The speed you achieve depends on the track configuration, the karts and your driving skills. On an average indoor track, you can reach speeds of around 50 to 60 kilometres per hour. This is remarkable, considering that you mainly take corners and a lap lasts only a few hundred metres. Moreover, there is little room for error, as slipping off will land you directly in the tyre stacks.
Speed outdoor kart rental
An outdoor go-kart track offers a completely different experience from indoors. Here, you have longer straights and circuits that are often longer than a kilometre. On those straights, you can push the accelerator full force and reach speeds of around 80 kilometres per hour with standard rental karts. Fortunately, on these outdoor tracks there are longer exit lanes, such as grass and gravel sections, that slow you down if you deviate from the tarmac.
Do private karts go faster?
On these tracks, which are more geared towards private karts, even higher speeds are achieved. There are two types of private karts: automatic and manual. Automatic karts typically reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour, while manual karts can reach around 160 kilometres per hour. It is important to note that these karts have no seatbelts, you sit just a few centimetres above the road surface and have only a few plastic bumpers around you.
Speed super kart
If 160 kilometres per hour already seems blazing fast to you, wait until you hear about super karts. These karts surpass the top speed of most passenger cars and only race on major car circuits such as Circuit Zandvoort, TT Circuit Assen, the Hockenheimring and Spa Francorchamps. Here, they can reach speeds as high as 250 kilometres per hour!
Summary
In a nutshell, karting speed varies greatly depending on the type of kart:
Indoor rental kart: 50 to 60 km/h
Outdoor rental kart: ± 80 km/h
Automatic private go-kart: maximum 120 km/h
Manual go-kart: maximum 160 km/h
Super kart: maximum 250 km/h
