Steps to Start Karting

Steps to Start Karting

Step 1: Begin with Local Indoor Rental Karting

If you’ve never been in a kart before, the best and safest way to start is at your local indoor rental go-karting circuit. These venues are built for complete novices, with a focus on fun, safety, and accessibility.

Rental karts, usually in the 200cc – 390cc range, reach top speeds of around 40–60 mph — fast enough to get the adrenaline pumping, but slow enough for newcomers to handle safely. The karts often have full bumpers, seatbelts, and are maintained by on-site mechanics. Venues also provide full-face helmets, race suits, gloves, and conduct pre-session safety briefings.

We started our journey at Raceworld Indoor Karting, Exeter — a friendly, fun, safe, and affordable venue with 200cc RiMO EVO 6 karts capable of speeds up to 40 mph.

Our next closest recommendation is the award-winning Dunkeswell Outdoor Kart Circuit, home to 390cc Sodi SR5 karts that reach around 60 mph thanks to the longer, faster outdoor track — part of a real motorsport racing circuit.

An idea of prices here.

Step 2: Progress to Rental Kart Championships

Once you’re comfortable with casual sessions, the next step is to enter competitive rental karting — such as the events at Castle Combe Karting.  Competitive go-karting means taking part in organised leagues, championships, and tournaments, where drivers battle for podium positions. It demands a higher level of dedication, skill, and preparation than perhaps your first arrive-and-drive sessions at your local indoor rental go-karting circuit.

Here you’ll race against a mix of ultra-competitive drivers and casual racers, making it a great environment to develop your racecraft. Everything is still provided — suits, helmets, gloves — so you can simply turn up and drive, but if you are beginning to invest in your own racing kit tailored to your specific needs and preferences, you are more than welcome to use it.

Castle Combe also offers their Kart School at just £50 for the first session, where professional instructors follow you on track, give live coaching, and help you develop skills like racing lines, overtaking, and braking technique.

Other tracks also offer training as part of competitive rental karting, but at Castle Coombe we know it follows a logical progression of:

Novice Sessions – briefings, exercises, and sessions around the track.

Expert Sessions – focus on racing lines, speed, and short practice races.

Championship Ready – after 4–5 sessions (often fewer if you have prior experience), you’re signed off to compete in full races.

Step 3: Starting Out in Older ‘Used’ Owner Karting

If you want more speed, more control, and more track time, the next step is owner karting — where you buy and maintain your own kart and take advantage of private circuits that provide a dedicated racing environment for experienced drivers to run their own high-performance karts.

An idea of choosing kart tracks here.

Owner karts typically range from 125cc to 250cc, reaching 70–80 mph, with high-performance models hitting up to 150 mph. This stage requires more commitment, investment, and mechanical knowledge, but offers unmatched performance and flexibility. At this point, you may also want to consider taking an advantage of a private team that provides dedicated help and support.

An idea of choosing kart teams here.

If you’re ready to take the leap into owner karting but want to keep costs manageable, buying an older or well-maintained used kart can be the perfect stepping stone. These karts are often more affordable and still capable of delivering a competitive and exciting racing experience. Many racers begin with pre-owned chassis and engines from reputable sellers, local kart clubs, or specialist kart dealers. When making the move, and selecting your kart, we recommend seeking advice from experienced drivers, karting engineers, racing coaches, race circuits, and teams who can offer valuable insights, and aim for the newest model your budget allows.

Buying Your First Kart – Key Tips:

Engine – ask about service history, hours since rebuild, and make sure it’s in full working order.

Chassis – inspect for cracks, bends, or welded repairs; check the chassis number to verify history.

Components – ensure brakes, steering, and all moving parts are in good condition with minimal wear.

We recommend buying the newest kart you can afford, and spending a day with a karting engineer or coach to learn setup, safe handling, and maintenance.

An idea of choosing your kart here.

Step 4: Moving On to Newer or Brand-New Owner Karting

Once you’ve mastered the basics and know exactly what you want from your equipment, upgrading to a newer model or a brand-new kart can give you that extra edge. Modern karts come with the latest design improvements, lighter materials, and better handling, making them ideal for more competitive racing as you chase your F1 dreams.

More information on how karting leads to F1 here.