Abhirath Shetty may be all of eleven years old, but he’s high on adrenaline these days. And why? Because this Class VII student of Bengaluru’s BNN School has just bagged the second spot in the Micromax Category in the National Karting challenge in Hyderabad. He’s not the only one flying high on this new craze either. The thrill of karting has infected many of his peers as well, two of whom are Arjun Maini and Abha Mankar who have also realised that karting is the way to go. “It’s the ladder to get to Formula One racing,” says Shetty excitedly, “When I started karting, it became much more than the thrill and challenge of it. It’s my way of having fun with speed on the track.”
The story of karting and the new thrill it presents to ever-adventurous kids is no longer a novelty. Speed has always been attractive, simply because of the danger it presents. But the idea of zooming about on safe tracks at sane and yet “high’’ speeds is not only convenient (it caters to one’s adrenaline needs after all!) but appealing as well.
“As it originates from one’s skills at biking, children quite easily take up karting. What remains a challenge though is the affordability of taking up the sport,” says N Leelakrishnan, racing watchdog and Chief Technical Director at Red Rooster Racing.
If all that’s been said above is still Greek to you, then let’s begin with the basics. Kart racing or karting is an alternative to open-wheel motor sport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts that are raced on scaled-down circuits. Karts vary widely in speed and some can reach velocities exceeding 250 km/h, but if you’re still a bit squeamish about speed, then rest assured — there are always smaller go-karts which may be limited to just 24 km/h. Ideally, you can begin karting when you’re 7 or 8 years old. Those above 8 can race mini karts, while those in the 12 to 15 year age bracket may compete in the junior category. “Children of and above 16 can race in the unrestricted categories, shifter karts and even cars,” says Leelakrishnan.
Today with the fad catching on, karting is beginning to find a place of its own. Evidence of this lies in the fact that the recent karting championship in Hyderabad brought together 46 drivers from different parts of the country. It might sound like a small number to you, but in a sport like this, it’s pretty big!
One of the reasons for the sudden attention it’s receiving in India is the growing interest among people for Formula One racing. Plus, with increasing
interest, there’s obviously better organisation and infrastructure at hand too! Add to that the fact that karting has a number of new
technologies attached to it, and any New Age youngster is sure
to be hooked! Agrees Arjun Maini a 12-year-old karting enthusiast, who already has the karting
technology on his fingertips, “Right from modern tracks to the karts, everything is technology powered.”
But for a simple sport like karting, is fitness a must? Karting enthusiasts are unanimous — yes! Trainers for the sport suggest that at least an hour a day must be put in to ensure that your reflexes are good, and that your physical fitness is way up there.
So next time you’re looking for something that catches your interest and challenges you at the same time, try karting — it might just become an addiction!