The fascination to go faster and faster, drivers getting into higher performing karts at young ages, and everyone thinking they’ll be on the F1 grid leads to the bad driving standards we often see these days.
This is just masking the problem. And that’s driver education.
I understand your POV and typically agree, but I was there when a 8 yo girl died in a kart in Garching Germany which led to chest protectors and the tall Recaro seat in the country. Her funeral was the saddest thing I have ever experienced. Her dad, who I knew well, never thought this would happen - maybe a broken bone, but never this.
So it is hard to balance the purity of the sport against the potential of even one innocent death. As adults we understand and accept the danger. For 8-16 yo do they understand and accept the danger? Not sure. @DavidSera is right but how do you do this?
I do not like the tire covers and will not run them. Just trying to understand all sides of the argument. More and more a lost art in today’s one sided 24 hr news streams.
It’s worse when the coaches themselves teach bad driver habits or don’t say anything to correct them.
Just don’t allow anyone under the age of 18 to race. Problem solved.
I have seen kids ejected from their seat and driven into, narrowly avoiding head strikes. That’s a clear and present danger with karts, no matter how much stuff you put on them. If we continue down the fatality reaction route, then we must act pre-emptively then to maintain ethical standards. Either ban kids from karts (not a bad idea), and I am old enough to remember ‘Mothers against Bloodsports’ campaigning for this, or change the concept of the kart entirely.
For me, this is the end of the road. I am a karter, and this is a red line where the vehicle is no longer what I’d consider a ‘kart’. It’s a mini-car or CARt, or whatever you want to call it. But this is no skin of the FIA’s nose whose clear intentions are to place karting as the stepping stone to F4. Wider implications don’t really make a difference. For me I can’t recommend karting to people because the essence of what make karts good, is now past that point of being worth it, in my opinion anyway. The point of a kart is not having to fanny about with sh*t like this. Bare in mind my idea of a kart is something from 1984, not the lumps we have today. I can take rotax, I can take a certain amount of bodywork, but at some point one has to say enough is enough. The plastic rear bumpers were horrific, and looking back I should have bailed then lol
There will be adoption of this of course, but like with every change in karting, costs will increase. This will serve those selling the added extras, and those with enough money to show-off they have said money. That cost will not be an issue with those already invested in karting, but will up the barrier of entry a few notches higher for newcomers. I’ve run the numbers, and it’s significant the extra time and money required now compared to the early 90s.
If this is for safety reasons then they should look at the root cause.
Karts aren’t any quicker really in cornering scenarios. Maybe some of the cadet classes are too fast, but overall karts aren’t quicker than they were 30 years ago in terms of cornering speeds. high grip classes of the 80s running at 130kg cornered like nothing else. Modern classes generate lap time in mid-range power, but we’re talking a tenth here or there.
Also those other factors don’t really matter either. It’s not a matter of drivers being taught this or that. it’s a case of if kart a hits karts b like this, this happens and we don’t want to be responsible, especially if it’s children. And that’s a license for governing bodies to implement whatever they like.
for what its worth this popped up on my feed this morning.
I was going to do a video, but I stopped myself. The problem I have is that I am an inch away from doing a “I don’t recommend karting any more” such is my distain for where karting is going now with this stuff. Not that any one would listen ha, but yeah, it’s repulsive
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Does anybody know what the actual plan is for these covers. Is it some sort of “concept” or is there and organization seriously considering this?
FIA testing for 2026 is my understanding. Still waiting for some announcement. Multiple designs suggests directive beyond concept stage.
From the pictures I have seen there are like three(?) models. I guess made by OTK or KG, though the Gold front wheel cover looks different so I guess that’s RR. Makes me wonder if there will be strict guidelines or it will be “free” like the bodywork.
Each manufacturer will probably homologate their own style within the specs just like bodywork.
Although I found this video and the OTK rear wheel cover looks the same as the Birel one. Maybe they are trying different prototypes because the KR one looks the same as the OTK model
As someone who races pretty much exclusively wraparound karts these days…
It’s my opinion that having covered wheels well and surround bodywork makes the karting a lot more physical contact wise. I have zero hesitation leaning on others since we have no risk of wheel to wheel contact.
When I get into a non covered wheel kart I have to adjust mentally and remember that I can’t be as bossy and that there are consequences.
I did my first few years in open wheel well so I have appreciation of the risks and notice that the folks who have only ever raced closed wheel with wraparounds have learned what would be very bad habits once out of rental type karts.
If everything ends up with wraparounds driving standards will plummet because there’s no point in not using what you’ve been given. The wraparounds lend themselves to a certain driving style/rules of engagement .
Gross.
So much for “open wheel”. Superkart style bodywork offers the same effect & looks better, hands down.
If it’s about minors, then mandate the covers for them, if we really must. But let’s not let hypersafetyitis soil the entire sport.
This would be my primary concern. Rental karting is an entirely different animal and one that I have no interest in when achieving a good finish will largely hinge on your willingness to abuse your equipment.
I know pushback bumpers are still controversial in the US, but I still see the value, even as someone who’s been bit several times by them through no fault of my own. Wheel covers on the other hand are nothing more than a gateway to more aggressive driving.
Perhaps the FIA could work on strategies and/or technologies that tracks could use to actually officiate a race for once.
