‘MUST KNOW’ DRIVING RULES… OR ELSE!
Knowing your rules is really important. In karting we have 2 rule books for each series… a TECHNICAL regulations rulebook which determines what you can and can’t do with the setup of your kart chassis and engine, and then we have the SPORTING Regulations rulebook which determine what you as a driver should and shouldn’t do both on and off the track (and this also includes rules on how your team members and family must also conduct themselves on race day).
SPORTING Regulation Rulebooks are lengthy and can be found on your governing body’s website. It is worthwhile you and your family reading through all of them and understand them. This will not only help to keep your nose ‘squeaky clean’ on race day, but also arm you with the knowledge to be able to see when your competitors are misbehaving. Knowing, following and abiding by the rules is also extremely important in keeping all competitors, marshalls and spectators safe.
Officials often spot people breaking the rules, but they are busy people and don’t get it right all of the time which is when sometimes you have to take it into your own hands and submit an ‘Observation Report’ or a ‘Protest’ to the stewards for their review (see Protests and Appeals section). These cost you money so you need to be very sure of your rules and what particular rule-break you are accusing someone of. If someone has broken the rules on track, this could be the difference between you taking a last place or a win. Also remember the same applies both ways, a competitor can also Protest you on your behaviour, so knowing your rules properly when you stand in front of the stewards either accusing someone or defending yourself is vital.
Bottom line, make sure to know the key things below that all have PENALTIES attached to them but also ensure fair and safe racing. They are straight forward and the stewards will use these examples to determine who is at fault. Read them, understand them and beware. Dont throw away valuable points that you have worked hard to get. The below penalties are taken from the MSA National Karting Regs for 2023, they may vary for your series and are updated regularly. You will see that some penalties are based on the fact that the offender did not gain an advantage so may be less (but still applicable). When an offence occurs and an advantage is gained by the driver, then clearly the penalties will usually be more harsh.
FORMATION LAP (WARMUP) + START
Be very clear that this is simply a FORMATION Lap in order to go from the pit lane out onto the circuit safely and get into your grid position ready for your ‘lights-out’ rolling start in the correct qualifying order. It is NOT a ‘warm-up’ lap for you to race around at race pace, that would be very dangerous. Halfway through the FORMATION lap the lead kart (pole sitter) will slow right down to enable everyone to bunch up and get into their correct grid position. The bunched up kart pack will then proceed slowly around towards the start line. The pole sitter determines the speed of the pack towards the start line so be aware.
IMPORTANT:
IN POSITION: You must be in your correct grid position by the time you reach the RED LINE which will be approximately 80m from the start line (just past Pit bend at Killarney). If you are not, you start from the back. Before then you must safely get to your qualifying position and slot into the slow moving formation pack ready to start as early as possible.
CONSTANT SPEED: If you are the polesitter you dictate the pace of the pack. From the same RED line you must maintain a constant (not accelerating) speed until the Start Lights go out (or the Start flag is waved). That is the same for the rest of the pack following as you cannot overtake or better your position until the Start Lights go out. When the lights go out, you can then overtake and move from your grid positions and race.
BEWARE: Keep alert on the formation lap, the leading kart may stop very quickly to start the formation, be ready to brake safely. Always keep an eye on the Marshals and especially the Start Marshall (near the finish line). They may require you to do another formation lap instead of starting the race, so be ready! If all looks good, wait for the lights to go out and go and win the race!
FALSE START: If someone misbehaves at the start that would badly affect the race, they may call it a ‘false start’ and want you all to do it all again. You will see multiple flags waving and all drivers must immediately put their hands up to indicate that they are slowing down (which you always should when slowing down when not racing and also when you enter the pits) and then treat this lap as another formation lap. Reform into your qualifying position way before the RED line and go and start the race again.
LEAVE A KART SPACE IF…. If the kart in front of you has not made it to the grid or into their space on the grid before the RED line…. you MUST pretend that they are there and leave a kart ‘space’ in front of you until the Start Lights go out. If you pull up and take their empty ‘slot’ then you have effectively moved your self up two positions which is illegal and you will get a harsh penalty after the race.
TRAMLINES: Whatever you do, always stay in the middle of the ‘Tramlines’ which start on the straight after the RED line towards the Start line (The two thick white lines on your side of the track) until the Start Lights go out or the Start Flag is waved. Do not touch the lines with your wheels at all and stay in a straight line in the middle of them. When the starter says GO…. then you can race race race and move where you like.
ABOVE (FORMATION FAULT) explains the penalties of moving out of your grid place (or moving ahead of any karts) in the formation lap after you have passed the RED line. Don’t do it! Be in your slot and stay there way before the RED Line. *NB: If there was a kart supposed to be in front of you but they have not made it to the grid, YOU MUST pretend that they are still there and leave a kart ‘space’ in front of you until the Start Lights go out or the Start Flag is waved.
ABOVE (FALSE START) shows that you MUST keep in between the ‘Tramlines’ (Marked Corridor) from the RED line until the Start Lights go out or the Start Flag is waved. Do not have your tyres on these lines until the Start Lights go out as you will get a penalty, if you move out of those lines to try and overtake before the Start Lights go out it is a much bigger penalty. Stay firmly in between those ‘tramlines’ on your side of the track. As soon as the Start Lights go out or the Start Flag is waved you are free to cross the tramlines and start racing and overtaking immediately. Never be where Kart 2 is until the race starts.
while racing
Driver conduct and when and how you overtake and behave on circuit is governed by a lot of commons sense, however there are strict non-negotiable rules that make it very easy for the Stewards to give you or your opponent a penalty. Make sure you know what you are allowed to do and when you are allowed to do it. This is very important when you are racing close to opponents, overtaking, defending and approaching corners where a lot of overtaking can take place.
Knowing when it is your ‘racing line’ and also when to give up (concede) a corner to your opponent is very important. A single incident in a corner can leave you with harsh penalties putting you at the back of the results if you are not careful and you need to know when you have the right to a corner. Rules aside, knowing when to allow a faster approaching kart (or perhaps an over ambitious driver) through on a corner and then tuck in and get past again on the next straight are good things to understand and come with experience. Also, just because you know the rules doesn’t mean that your opponent does. Your opponent getting a penalty when you are nose deep in the tyres after he pushed you off will not help your result as you will be last regardless! Be aware of your surroundings (and nearby karts) at all times. Race with your head and always expect the unexpected and always leave room.
ABOVE Shows a ‘CUT-IN’ which means that the outside kart (1) is closing in and squeezing kart (2) and possibly forcing (or pushing) him off the track and over the red and white kerb or onto the grass (off the main circuit). You are not allowed to do this when overtaking on the outside and must leave the driver on the inside room. It is important to note that in the above diagram the corner belongs to the inside kart (2) and the above penalties apply because the inside kart’s (2) front wheels are at least inline with any part of the outside kart’s (1) sidepod. This means that the inside kart is significantly ‘into the corner’ when the outside kart (1) closes in. This exact situation can happen if the outside kart (1) had overshot the corner and ran wide giving the opportunity for the inside kart (2) to overtake on the inside of the corner. As long as the inside kart’s (2) front wheels are at least level with the outside kart’s (1) side pod, then the outside kart (1) has lost the corner and the corner belongs to the inside kart (2) and must be given room by the outside kart (1) and not be squeeze or ‘cut-in’ on the inside kart (2). This may not apply if Kart (2) was attempting a very late and sudden dive on Kart (1). You are not allowed in any circumstances to push or force another driver off the drivable portion of the track either on a corner or on a straight.
ABOVE Shows an ‘EDGE-INTO’ which is when the leading kart (1) is attempting to turn the corner on or near the normal racing line and kart (2) attempts to overtake when there is no room on the normal race circuit to do so. The attacking kart (2) has to partially leave the normal circuit and kerbs to try and overtake which is NOT allowed under any circumstances anywhere on the circuit.
ABOVE Shows a ‘PUSH-OUT’ which is where the leading kart (1) squeezes kart(2) to leave the drivable part of the circuit partially or completely. If the kart behind (2) is almost alongside with at least their front wheels level with the leading kart’s (1) sidepod then this action is forbidden. The leading kart (1) may just have overtaken kart (2) or be about to be overtaken by kart (2) but when alongside like this you cannot move to try and squeeze, push or force another kart off the track (even partially). Give them room in the drivable portion of the track at all times otherwise it will end up in a messy pile of karts in the tyres (and a penalty).
ABOVE Shows a ‘BUMP’ which is one of the most difficult scenarios to avoid on a kart circuit due to the super close racing. You need to be very careful here as giving the slightest nudge in the rear of your competitor when approaching a braking area or corner (or exiting a corner) can easily upset their kart and cause them to spin off or run wide in a corner. This will be your fault and you will be penalised heavily. It might be just the slightest tap, but remember that you race on ‘the edge’ so if this results in your opponent losing a place (even to you), you will be penalised. Remember the same goes the other way around, if this happens to you in a race and it is not dealt with by the stewards, take your GoPro footage and any other evidence you have and go and see the stewards.
REMEMBER: Your nosecone on your kart has a special system that shows if you have bumped someone. If it is ‘in’ when you come into the pits to weigh you will receive an automatic 5 second penalty. When racing, take care of the front of your kart and do everything you can to make sure your nosecone does not hit anything hard.
ABOVE Shows a ‘SHORT-CUT’ which is when a karter forgets they are a karter and instead thinks they are a Rally-X driver. Very clearly this is not allowed. Only keep it on the black stuff and the red/white kerbs.
ABOVE Shows a ‘ZIG-ZAG’ or ‘Weaving’ as it is more commonly known. You are not allowed to do this in a race regardless of whether you are about to be overtaken or not. You are not allowed to move more than twice left to right on a straight piece of circuit. Usually the first time you move might be to defend the overtaking line therefore blocking your competitor, and then your second time you move is to take the line to enter the corner. If you do more than that, that will be considered ‘weaving’ or a ‘Zig-Zag’ and you will be heavily penalised as you will be deemed to be unfairly blocking the competitors behind you. No-one likes drivers who do that! Instead, let the attacking kart take the compromised overtaking line (which is never the ideal racing line) whilst you maintain the perfect racing line and you will find that your exit will be so much better enabling you to easily retake the lead safely.
ABOVE Shows a ‘FLAG DISREGARD’ which is possibly the worse thing you can do and usually because this can impact your safety and all of the other karters around you. Our Marshalls and Stewards are not only there to ensure clean and fair racing, they are there to make sure you and your fellow karters are safe. Because karting is noisy, these Marshalls cannot tell you or shout at you when there is danger coming so they use flags instead. It is very important to know what all of these flags mean (see our section ‘KNOW YOUR FLAGS’) but also you must always be on the look out for them and know what to do when you see one.
EXAMPLE: You will quite often see yellow Flags out on the circuit which means there is potential danger ahead and someone has spun or there is a Marshall or competitor on (or close by) the circuit. This means that you should immediately be careful and be ready to slow right down and certainly NOT overtake anyone until you reach a part of the circuit where there are no more yellow flags where you are then safe and free to do so. The punishment for ignoring any flag (and overtaking another competitor in an area where a yellow flag is being shown) is EXCLUSION. Your Championship hopes are GONE! Never overtake under a yellow, never ignore a flag, always respond appropriately to what the Marshalls are showing you and make sure you know what every flag means and what you need to do. Not knowing them is no excuse. Our Marshalls with their flags keep us karters alive!
Also remember that the Chequered flag is also an important flag. Once you have been shown the chequered flag, you can slow down from race pace and slowly enter the pits towards the weighing scale to be weighed. Remember to always leave a gap between your kart and the one in front so you don’t accidentally bump your nosecone in the pits (5 second penalty even though it did not happen on track). You must always weigh your kart at the end of the race in order to be classified in the results.
ABOVE Shows ‘TECHNICAL NON COMPLIANCE’ which is usually when a rule in the Technical Regulations Rule book is broken. This rule book is usually in place to prevent competitors from illegally modifying parts, fuels or engine specs to gain an advantage (as we must race as standard from the supplying factories) but sometimes small and accidental slip-ups can trip you up here. (eg. track width, Underweight, etc). It is also important to have all second-hand equipment checked for technical compliance as you rarely know the history (regardless of what you are told) as well as making sure to keep up with changing rules throughout the season within your series.
ABOVE Shows ‘OTHER PENALTIES’ which can instantly be issued for certain behaviours of drivers, their team and their guests and families. It is important to note that a parent’s behaviour is proxy for their driver. If the responsible (signing on) parent drinks alcohol on race day it is deemed the same as the driver drinking and is clearly not allowed. Alcohol has no place in our race weekend pits! The same goes for any misbehaviour, swearing or abuse by a parent where you will find the is driver directly punished as if they had done it themself. These rules also extend to anyone present as family and guest’s of the driver on the day. The driver and the entire party must behave accordingly and stick to the rules, as any breach will result in a penalty issued to the driver which can lead to complete bans and loss of their racing license. Karting is awesome and safe when we all simply follow the rules.
All karting is governed and policed by MSA (Motorsport South Africa) in South Africa and you can find all the latest Technical and Sporting regulations for your series HERE. It is your responsibility to know your rules and keep up to date.