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Superkart |
The word Superkart has traditionally been used to mean 250 cc engine karts, the fastest category in Kart racing racing on full size car circuits. 250 cc Superkarts often set faster lap times than much more expensive and technically advanced racing machines.1 Some British and Australian classes also include 125 cc gearbox karts.
The most obvious difference between a Superkart and any other form of kart is that they have full aerodynamic bodykits and race on car circuits over 1,500 metres in length. The power unit can be specially designed kart engines or production motorcycle engines with either 5 or 6-speed sequential gearboxes. Owing to their high top speed and massive cornering ability, Superkarts aerodynamic bodywork includes a front fairing, larger sidepods, and a rear wing. They use either 5 or 6 inch diameter tires and wheels.
Superkarts race on "long circuits" (e.g. Silverstone, Laguna Seca, Magny-Cours). In the UK they also race on "short circuits"2 (e.g. Kimbolton), "short circuits" are under 1,500 metres in length.
Superkarts are raced worldwide. There is a CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship, for 250 cc karts only.
The word Superkart is registered to Cadwell Car & Kart Club for the UK.3
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Though its 2-stroke 250cc engine is small and produces only 95 hp (67 kW), it has 360 hp/l and 0.19 hp/lb (450 hp/tonne), which is higher than a Chevrolet Corvette. As such, Superkarts can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h)4. Their low weight and good downforce make for staggering cornering and braking abilities. A Superkart is capable of braking from 100 mph (160 km/h) to standstill in around 2 seconds, and taking corners at nearly 3 g (30 m/s²).
At some circuits, Superkarts are the outright lap-record holders, at others they run at around Formula 3 lap times.
British Superkart Divisions :
Australian Superkart Classes 5:
Four (until recently five) engine configuration based classes compete for state and national Superkart Championships, as typified by the Australian Superkart Championships.
United States Superkart Classes6 :
Being inexpensive, Superkarts are very popular, and entries of 60 or more are common, (in Britain at the moment, anyway). Fortunately, most circuits allow for a large number of karts on the grids at once, and the sight of 60 karts arriving at the first corner at the same time is a real spectacle. The overtaking tends to be easy, as, like motorbikes, there is room to get past, so the races tend to be full of action. Race lengths tend to be around 20-25 miles (30-40 km), because the fuel tanks are quite small, so at most meetings which feature Superkarts, the karts race is often a brief, spectacular highlight (U.S. Superkart races are a timed 30-minute race; Pre-Final on Saturday, Final on Sunday).
A global category, Superkarts are endorsed by the FIA, and were featured as a support category to the French Formula 1 Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 2007 where they bettered Porsche Supercup lap times.1
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This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (August 2008) |
Because of their small engines and compact size, karts and Superkarts have a much smaller environmental footprint than most other categories of four-wheeled motorsport. A Superkart is faster, cheaper and uses less fuel, tires, oil etc. than many four-wheel motor sport categories. Using Australia’s most popular category, the V8 Supercars, as an example, clearly demonstrates this.
| V8 Supercar | 250 cc International Superkart | |
|---|---|---|
| Lap time at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria, Australia | 1'33.4389 | 1'33.2387 |
| Lap time at Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, Australia | 1'30.8955 | 1'28.7243 |
| Fuel consumption (approx) | 3.6 litres per lap (or 759.6 litres per car at the Bathurst 1000)7 | 30 litres per race weekend |
| Average new purchase cost (approx) | AU$ 320,000 8 | between 15,000 and US$ 20,000 9 |
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