ABKC December 2025 News Special: 2026 Regulation changes
Class Changes
Electric
Motorsport UK can confirm the re-homologation of the MightE Bambino and the successful homologation of the MightE Cadet. The only change to note will be the chainguard, whereby MightE will supply a chainguard that will be mandatory for use in all Motorsport UK Permitted Events.
Motorsport UK can confirm the successful homologation of the Rotax E10 Cadet.
Class Regulations for both of these Classes will be online in December. The Honda Inter, TKM Inter and Junior TKM classes have been removed from homologation and the Karting Yearbook, Tillotson T4 are added.
Rotax (ICE) Classes
Motorsport UK can confirm the successful re-homologation of all current Rotax Classes with the following changes:
- Mandatory use of the new cylinder for Junior Rotax Max as publicised throughout the year which can be identified by it having a QR code.
- Black spark-plug cap will no longer be usable from 01 January. Only the red variants may be used.
- Only the current Rotax fuel filter will be used from 01 January.
- Improved wording to eliminate the use of half-toothed sprockets in Rotax Mini & Micro.
- Increase in Rotax Max 177 driver minimum weight to 83kg
Please note that these Rotax changes are subject to final confirmation from JAG
IAME
- In Senior X30, from 01 March 2026, only radiators supplied by IAME may be used. The part numbers can be found in the Class Regulations which will be available form December. The restricts the use of radiators used in Senior X30.
Technical & Sporting Regulations (these are not exhaustive)
- Steel rear bumpers will no longer be permitted in non gearbox (unless an exemption is approved): NCR Chapter 18 Appendix 8, Article 20 will say for all Short Circuit non-gearbox Karts (except Bambino) only a CIK-FIA Homologated rear wheel protection homologated for 2022 or later is permitted unless otherwise specified in Class or Championship Regulations.
- For helmets with 8858-2010 Helmet M6 anchorages (FHR attachment points), the M6 anchorages must not be fitted in Karting for safety reasons (this is already in force).
- SLOW Boards replace the battenburg flag, with much clearer regulations for drivers and circuit officials, see 2026 NCR Chapter 18, Appendix 5, Article 1.33.
- Helmets – a slight change to NCR Chapter 18, Appendix 7. Article 3 to make clear that any non-approved (e.g. non manufacturer) accessories like visors, cameras are not allowed and make the approval of the helmet void. So no after market visors etc, unless manufactured approved.
Judicial Regulations include (once approval is confirmed)
- Attempting to tamper or re-attach a front fairing during a session will have the same penalty as at the end, event disqualification.
- Where a non-compliance report is issued by a Technical official as a judge of fact, like an underweight, the competitor can avoid a hearing if they accept the ruling and sign the report. The Clerk or Stewards will then issue the penalty, but the competitor can still have a hearing if they wish. See 2026 NCR Chapter 18, Appendix 6, Article 3 once approved.
- From February the word “deliberate” will be removed from NCR Chapter 18, Appendix 7, Article 2.5 which refers to crowding another kart beyond the edge of the track. And changes to the penalties for exceeding track limits as in NCR Chapter 18, Appendix 7, Article 2.11/12.