The Untold Story of BSR: Why the Future of Karting is Happening Now

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It is a more inspiring story for karting enthusiasts.

:fire: The Shift That No One Saw Coming

What happens when a group of passionate dreamers from Europe challenges the status quo of motorsport in America? They change history. This is the story of how BSR (Blue Shock Race) built the American Electric Karting League, a league that not only made it to Daytona International Speedway but is now forcing the entire industry—petrol and electric alike—to rethink the future of karting.

Whether you love the roar of combustion engines or believe electric is the way forward, this revolution affects you. Why did Charles Leclerc, Brad Keselowski, Sebastien Loeb, and Andreas Bakkerud choose to test BSR electric karts? Because they saw something worth exploring. Now, the question is—what do YOU think?

:bulb: Why Are Racing Icons Taking Notice of BSR?

BSR isn’t just another kart brand. It’s a game-changer, and here’s why:
:white_check_mark: Insane acceleration & instant power – Faster off the line than traditional karts.
:white_check_mark: No mechanical lag – Your skill determines the outcome, not engine tuning.
:white_check_mark: Sustainable racing – Cutting fuel costs without losing performance.
:white_check_mark: Uncompromising technology – Tested by Leclerc, Loeb, Keselowski, Bakkerud, and many more.

When some of the biggest names in motorsport test a technology, it’s worth asking: Why? What advantage did they see?

:checkered_flag: From Zero to Daytona: The BSR American Dream

The American dream is built on taking risks, believing in yourself, and making the impossible possible. In 2024, BSR was just a vision—a European startup with no funding, no major U.S. backing, and no guarantees.

Yet, Artis Daugins, BSR’s founder, embarked on a 10,000-mile journey across America, meeting track owners, sponsors, and teams, convincing them that electric karting wasn’t a concept—it was happening now. Against all odds, BSR held test events, secured investment, and prepared a fully electric championship—all leading up to the biggest stage of them all: Daytona International Speedway in 2025.

:calendar: 2025 American Electric Karting Championship Calendar

:boom: Think this is just an idea? The championship is already set in motion. Want to be part of it? Mark these dates:

  • Stage 1: End of April – WKA Indiana (Track TBD)
  • Stage 2: Beginning of May – WKA Indiana (Track TBD)
  • Stage 3: July 19-21 – BSR New York (Oakland Valley Race Park)
  • Stage 4: August 2-3 – BSR New York (Oakland Valley Race Park)
  • Stage 5: September – WKA North Carolina (Track TBD)
  • Stage 6: October 9-10 – BSR Georgia (Atlanta Motorsports Park)
  • Stage 7: November 28-30 – WKA Florida (Jacksonville)
  • Stage 8: December 28-30 – WKA Florida (Daytona International Speedway)

:rocket: Racing teams are forming NOW. Will you be left behind?

:racing_car: Where Do YOU Fit Into This?

:white_check_mark: Team Owners: Electric karting presents new business opportunities. Lower maintenance, reduced fuel costs, and a fresh market. Will you be the first to lead the way?
:white_check_mark: Drivers: Whether you aspire to be the next Leclerc, Bakkerud, or Loeb, this is where new careers begin. Will you be the first champion of electric karting in America?
:white_check_mark: Fans & Investors: Motorsport is changing, and those who get in early shape the future. Where will you stand when the grid lines up?

This isn’t just another championship. This is your opportunity to be part of history.

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Love to see this kind of tech on track, and super great footage of the karts at speed.

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Spoke with BSR folks a few days ago. I find the concept interesting but I’m struggling with where it fits in the ecosystem. For me to add an additional turnkey product or additional power source and the spares/products needed to support a platform properly, where is the upside for me as a kart shop? Do you have a backlog of users/interested buyers from our region that you are to push our way?

And from the track perspective, is this another class that needs to be added in the weekly program? Thinking that it takes 42 minutes of track time and 56 minutes of daylight per class to add an additional class.

If the goal is a traveling program to run a regional traveling circuit for a team, do you have in house customers that want to run that don’t own equipment that you would be funneling to the teams for these events. Or does BSR support the Arrive & Drive contingent?

Just thinking out loud the things that come to mind from my perspective.

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Been talking a lot to Chad Stoughton about BSR Electric Race Karts. There technology is very much ahead of anything in electric that’s out there now. People should give these karts a chance they are rocket ships compared to gas karts. And are keeping up with shifter karts. I have been trying to help them get there karts at Local tracks around me in Ohio. They are also trying to get going a arrive and drive thing together too. Stay tuned to BSR alot of cool things coming from them from what I understand !!! We run OTL K1 Speed electric karts. That the owner of K1 in Canton Ohio. Had a battery manufacturer across the street from K1 make new lithium batteries. The owner of K1 Canton Ohio designed the batteries with them . And they are like no other K1s out there. We can do 1/2 hour and 12 hours events with them… Hope everyone stays in tune with electric karts there gaining ground Rental and Race… THERE ARE JUST NOT AMUSEMENT PARK KARTS ANYMORE !!! TIME TO GRAB AHOLD OF NEW ELECTRIC KARTS AND RACE AHEAD WITH THEM !!

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Do you think that creating such a structure in video materials helps people better understand what the electric karting championship is and how it works, or should something else be added?

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What are the biggest limitations you see? Of course, fitting into the schedule is one, but that will always be the case when adding a new class – it’s about prioritizing what’s important and what brings value.

Are there any other obstacles?

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Did you read what I wrote? Those are legit concerns from a 20+ year veteran of running retail kart shops and managing local series.

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I read what you wrote, but I didn’t quite understand the problem. Everyone seems to find a way to integrate a class because class integration is quite simple—smaller or less active ones move out, while newer and more promising ones come in. There’s never enough space for everyone, but there’s always a plan based on each region’s needs. So far, we haven’t encountered any issues with integrating an electric class; in fact, most see it as a great addition.

Regarding Arrive & Drive, yes, BSR specifically provides this, allowing people to participate without owning their own kart. From this year, other racing teams will also offer this option, making it a fairly standard practice. Additionally, for those who purchase their own karts, we ensure their kart is always delivered and race-ready. This creates a premium, custom Arrive & Drive experience for them.

These are all great business opportunities, and if someone is looking for a way to earn alongside their existing activities or start something new, all these mentioned processes are business opportunities rather than problems that need solving.

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Still interesting tech, but not adaptable to large rental facilities. Unless the battery density, charge speed and memory effect are not fixed, there is no way this becomes mainstream unfortunately. And that is not counting on the power consumption facility-wide.

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Name three factors that, in your opinion, prevent electric karting from becoming mainstream?

It will be easier to have a discussion on a real issue—if there is one.

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  • Power delivery. If you have a big fleet on an outdoor facility, either you have to have enough places for solar panels, or you need a gas-powered generator (and a big one) or you need to severely scale down your fleet to get power from the grid.
  • Low battery life that prevents the use in endurance karting. And Endurance rental racing is what brings most of money.
  • Extremely expensive. Given you fix the battery life, you would still need a spare battery per kart, which is a massive investment. (Your rental kart is 10K VAT excluded. +2k for the additional battery) times 50. +1.3k per chargers times 25 : 632.5k. For a fleet of unproven, 8hp only rental karts.
  • Battery memory effect. You are going to lose battery life, which will require you to change those batteries fairly often.

Basically, find a way to make the karts run for 2.5 hours and I guess you could be relevant for outdoor facilities

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I think its a great thing if you read on my part of my post above. At K1 Speed Canton Ohio. We do run 1/2 hour 6 hr and 12 hr Races. And BSR is way ahead of electric compared to regular K1 Speeds. I think its a new way to kart that when people understand it or go and try them. They will understand the power and the fun factor of them. And its a system thats in development and getting better… Tracks are trying to figure out how to make more money . This is just another class to add and make money… JUST GIVE THESE GUYS A CHANCE… I think they can make believers out of alot of people once you run them…Go to a Arrive and Drive and see … Why not invite BSR to your track and see what its all about. They come with all the stuff to run there karts. And there looking for tracks to run at. And talk to them and see if its good for your track ???

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Indoor, which in my case is irrelevant. EV doesn’t work well outdoor, especially on bigger tracks where you get long straights and higher speeds. You just drain the battery and that’s it. Indeed indoor it does work, mainly because you don’t build speed and you don’t run big fleets.

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Dont know its working at K1 Circuit In California. And BSR is far ahead of those karts. And we run inside and outside at our K1… Its ok some people just wont understand it. And thats how it is… But people who come off of electric rentals will get it and they want to go faster , And they will get it. And there is tons of those people… Alot more rental electric places than other forms of kart tracks… ALL GOOD and hope both worlds gas and electric can live together and grow the sport in different ways just have to have a open mind about it… GOOD LUCK TO BOTH FOR THE 2025 SEASON … I think its a great discussion about this new kind of karting …

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Are they not driving 8 minutes heats at best ? Granted at full power I think, but still not enough.

I just want to make sure you get it, I already drove EV Karts (Sodis and others) in multiple places multiple times. I am fully aware of the strength or weaknesses of the current products. If BSR wants to convince that their product is next gen, then they would need more than a hype video. Bring 35-40 rentals to an outdoor, FIA Grade 1 track, run a 24 hours with stint duration of 45-60 minutes.

I watched your videos, even with the outdoor extension you don’t build enough speed to get into the inefficiency zone of the motor.

Why I ask for gearing (CVT or DD2 still) is that EV in the current state wouldn’t work on the following tracks :

BSR or K1 or Sodi or whatever, the limiting factor now, for EV tech in general, is the battery. Fix the poor energy density, then you will have a product. For now I dont see it.

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Its a great discussion and gets people to think about electric … No matter what the feeling is about it… And lets people give there opinion right or wrong… And I hope people give Blue Shock Racing Electric and Tillotson T4 gas and other companys a chance at karting. Its a sport thats great and should evolve to keep people interested in the sport older drivers and newcomers especially . It just takes time for certain things to evolve and catch on to it … It always gets better… And some dont survive but aleast they gave it a shot. It all helps karting one or another… And other developments other than karting…