Class Descriptions

The MSA British Cadet Championship

The MSA British Cadet Championship is open to drivers over 9 years old (you can race in karting at 8, but drivers must have done a year's racing before entering the British Championship).

The Formula MSA Cadet uses a 60cc 2-stroke engine with a centrifugal clutch and recoil starter cord. Modifications are limited and Chassis makes are registered and they must not be modified.

Maximum speed is about 55mph and like all direct drive classes there is a right foot pedal for the accelerator and a left hand foot pedal for the brake.

All drivers will compete in at least three heats. Grid positions in the heats are calculated so that each driver has equal opportunities. Grid Positions in the finals are calculated from their heat results.

Junior Intercontinental A (JICA)

A CIK (European and world wide) class for 13 to 16 year olds (from age 12 if prior experience). It uses a piston ported engine with a centrifugal clutch requiring an external electric starter, although some of the latest engines might have on-board starters. Raced at British Championship level, with some clubs also catering for this class. It uses relatively grippy tyres and provides a route for Juniors to partake in world level karting. The chassis must be CIK homologated which means all the parameters have been registered for use in a particular class.

All drivers take part in timed practice which determines their position on the grid for two races. Grid positions fin the finals are calculated from the two races.

Top speeds are about 75mph

JuniorMax and MiniMax

The Rotax Max uses a 125cc 2-stroke direct drive engine with an onboard clutch and electric self starter. The engine is quite powerful, although the maximum revs are limited. The engines are much lower maintenance than the 100cc alternatives, and are sealed so that only approved dealers can service them, making sure no unapproved tuning is carried out. JuniorMax is for 13 to 16 year olds and MiniMax is an even more restricted version for 11 to 16 year olds.

Top speeds are about 65 to 70

Formula Super ICC

This class uses registered 125cc water cooled reed valve 6-speed engines for seniors (over 16 year olds). The gearbox classes use either a hand clutch or a foot clutch just like a car. All use foot pedals for the throttle and brake. Tuning is restricted, and a lower compression ratio helps to give the engine a long life.

Top speeds are about 85 - 90mph

TKM Junior and Intermediate

TKM Junior and Intermediate Formula TKM can claim to be one of the U.K.'s most popular kart classes. The BRDC Stars of Tomorrow will run two classes, Junior TKM for age eleven to sixteen and Junior Intermediate for the same age group but where the driver in full race kit must weigh a minimum of 62kg. Both categories use a Tal-Ko TKM BT-82 piston port 100cc engine to a strict non-tuning regime with a restrictor between the carburettor and engine to limit the power. Additionally only British made chassis that have been registered for the class are permitted, and maximum retail prices are set each year. Optional clutches are permitted, in which case a portable external electric starter is needed. Without this direct drive karts need to be pushed to start, initially with the rear wheels off the ground until enough speed is reached to start the engine.

Top speeds are about 65 to 70 mph.

The TKM are a guest class at each of the BRDC Stars of Tomorrow Championship meetings. Theirs is not a Championship and drivers can enter on a first come first served basis for each meeting.