Regulations
The main regulations for all 4 wheeled motorsport in the UK is found in the Motorsport UK National Competition Rules, known as NCRs. There are important sections for licencing, judicial and safety which apply to kart racing and karting is in Chapter 18.
Latest Regulations
2025
National Competition Rules
2025
Karting Yearbook
2025
Class Table
210 National
Class Regulations
Club Regulations
Club regulations (supplementary regulations or championships regulations) must be approved by Motorsport UK and must reference which classes are being offered and where the regulations for these classes can be found. Clubs usually put their local regulations on their website, see club listing. The championship regulations will also show how points and penalties are calculated.
Equipment
The main safety and chassis regulations are in Chapter 18 of the NCRs. The main class regulations are found in the Karting Yearbook
Clubman, Super KX & Libre
Clubs can also offer the Clubman classes (which are lower powered and do not need the driver to take the ARKS Test so only a Clubman licence is required and can be taken out on the day of the race if necessary). Super KX is for small clubs, with entries up to a 100, where a free Super KX licence is available on the Motorport UK website. Drivers will be checked for proficiency on the practice day and can then race at that club only. Libre classes (which do need the ARKS Test) are lower cost. They cater for engines which are no longer homologated with their own class structure, or clubs wishing to combine a class with several compatible engines or use an engine that may not be in the regular homologated class approvals. Motorsport UK is open to new approvals for Clubman or Libre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a kart class?
Look at the different classes in the Karting Yearbook, or the summary table. First make sure it is for your age range. Next go to your local circuit and see what is most popular. (It is not much fun racing against your self or just one or two others). Then, more especially for seniors, see if your weight and size, is good for the class, there are classes to suit almost everyone.
Should I go out and buy a kart?
No, you should see what is popular at your local club, talk to others in the class you like best, and to race teams and kart schools. First you should have tried arrive and drive to get used to driving a kart, then maybe hire a kart from a team to try before you buy. Or just continue to hire a kart to race or practice, avoiding the need to bring it to the track yourself and prep it between races. (This is more expensive of course)
I can’t find the regulations in the Karting Yearbook?
The smaller class regulations will either be shown in the Motorsport UK Resource Centre as a KTE approval (Kart Technical Exemption), and should also be referenced in club regulations with a link to where they will be found.
There are references to CIK, what and where is it?
The FIA is the international motorsport governing body, and the CIK is the karting section. The international regulations and events can all be found on their website here.
I see references to ARKS, what is that?
The Association of Racing Kart Schools (ARKS) is the trade body for the approved kart schools, and it administers the Novice Driving Lience test (the ARKS Test). Their website is here. Read more about the test in our Start Karting section.
Can I just download the NCR section I need?
Yes, all the individual chapters of the NCRs are available on the Motorsport UK website, and there is an NCR App to make it even easier to use them, including for the Karting Yearbook. Remember if you are using them offline by downloading to ensure you have the latest copy.