FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Starting your karting journey or moving to a new karting series can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve put together some of our most frequently asked questions for you to look through below. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, get in touch with us here and one of our team will be happy to help!
Total Karting Zero Zero (TKZ) is the brainchild of F1 engineer Rob Smedley and offers a full-service proposition to kart racers aged 6 to 17 years old across four classes – Bambino, Cadet, Junior and Junior Light.
For 2023, TKZ is running two six-round Regional Championships (North & South) followed by three National Championship events, all on Motorsport UK licenced tracks.
Training and Open Practice events precede each of the one-day race meetings.
The events are organised by TKZ with the bespoke electric karts provided to the drivers within the package together with full technical support.
Using race-spec Birel chassis and battery powertrains developed in-house by the Smedley engineering team, the karts provide a level of parity which is difficult to achieve with conventional ICE motors.
Uniquely, the TKZ Championships also put a focus on education, with drivers completing online STEM based learning modules, completion of which contribute to their Championship points.
TKZ has also recently launched Talent ID, a sophisticated cloud-based data-driven talent identification and tracking platform available to all Championship drivers. The initiative is designed to establish talented drivers through data and support their development.
Total Karting Zero Zero (TKZ) is the brainchild of F1 engineer Rob Smedley and offers a full-service proposition to kart racers aged 6 to 17 years old across four classes – Bambino, Cadet, Junior and Junior Light.
For 2023, TKZ is running two six-round Regional Championships (North & South) followed by three National Championship events, all on Motorsport UK licenced tracks.
Training and Open Practice events precede each of the one-day race meetings.
The events are organised by TKZ with the bespoke electric karts provided to the drivers within the package together with full technical support.
Using race-spec Birel chassis and battery powertrains developed in-house by the Smedley engineering team, the karts provide a level of parity which is difficult to achieve with conventional ICE motors.
Uniquely, the TKZ Championships also put a focus on education, with drivers completing online STEM based learning modules, completion of which contribute to their Championship points.
TKZ has also recently launched Talent ID, a sophisticated cloud-based data-driven talent identification and tracking platform available to all Championship drivers. The initiative is designed to establish talented drivers through data and support their development.
Owner/driver kart racing is generally considerably more expensive than participating in TKZ. When evaluating the cost of going kart racing with your own kart, you need to consider the upfront costs of the kart chassis, engines, tyres, specific tools and equipment. This can run into many thousands of pounds. You also need to consider how the kart and equipment is going to be stored and transported. You then need to consider the running costs of the karts and engines, fuel, wear and tear, damage costs and event entry fees. Additionally, most owner/driver racing events occur over 2 days of a weekend and sometimes 3 (including the Friday), thereby increasing the costs of accommodation. Furthermore, preparing your own kart is time consuming and requires expert knowledge in order to be competitive.
TKZ offers tuition as part of our Training Sessions on the Saturday mornings of our event weekends, and the training provided is tailored to each driver’s needs. It would normally cover such things as correct hand position, correct use of throttle and brake pedals, braking techniques, racing lines, track etiquette and flag signals. This is done with the drivers in groups, so not strictly on a one-to-one basis. The aim of the tuition is to get drivers to a level of competency whereby they can safely participate in the Open Practice sessions that take place on Saturday afternoons and cater for faster drivers, some of whom will be racing the following day at the Race Meeting.
TKZ currently run no more than the following numbers of karts in each of the 4 categories.
- Bambino x12 karts
- Cadet x15 karts
- Junior x10 karts
- Junior Lights x10 karts
Because the TKZ karts are powered by battery, the powertrains produce higher levels of power at low revs compared to a petrol-powered kart. The top speed of each category of kart is as follows:
Bambino: Approximately 40mph
Cadet: Approximately 55mph
Junior and Junior Light: Approximately 70mph
- Bambino x12 karts
- Cadet x15 karts
- Junior x10 karts
- Junior Lights x10 karts
TKZ strives to create parity across each fleet of TKZ karts. Uniquely, as the TKZ karts are powered by batteries, our highly trained technical team can connect to each power unit by Bluetooth and make sure the power delivery is the same for each kart. The kart chassis are also prepared to a very high standard and checked before each event by the TKZ technicians to ensure parity and during TKZ events, our technicians are on hand to attend to any issues which may arise.
No, we cannot currently supply driver race wear for TKZ Race Meetings. As our Race Meetings are run under a Motorsport UK permit, drivers are required to wear PPE that meets the standards laid down by MSUK. For more details on what is required, please see our Sporting Regulations here or speak to the TKZ Customer Support team for more details of what is required.
Places to buy Racewear: KKC, Grand Prix Racewear, Demon Tweeks.
If buying second-hand Racewear, please be mindful of safety certification and expiry date where applicable.
Yes. Your space is confirmed once the event is booked and paid for.
If the driver already holds an RS Clubman licence, or any Motorsport UK licence that is of a higher grade, that is acceptable.
You can book into TKZ Training and Practice events online here: Practice (Zero) – Total Karting Motorsport
And you can book into TKZ Championship Race Meetings online here: Championship Events (Summer 2023) – Total Karting Motorsport
Alternatively, you can contact the TKZ Customer Support team by emailing us at info@totalkartingmotorsport.com or giving us a call on 07746 767 519.
If the driver already holds an RS Clubman licence, or any Motorsport UK licence that is of a higher grade, that is acceptable.
Depending on their level of competency and previous experience, they can take part in either:
TKZ Training Sessions – these take place on selected Saturday mornings at tracks around the UK and are suitable for drivers who have limited experience in a kart.
TKZ Open Practice Sessions – these take place on selected Saturday afternoons at tracks around the UK and are suitable for drivers who have extensive experience in either indoor or outdoor karting.
TKZ Race Meetings – these are suitable for drivers who have extensive experience in either indoor or preferably outdoor karting.
Please speak to the TKZ Customer Support Team to establish which TKZ event is best suited for your driver.
Depending on their level of competency and previous experience, they can take part in either:
TKZ Training Sessions – these take place on selected Saturday mornings at tracks around the UK and are suitable for drivers who have limited experience in a kart.
TKZ Open Practice Sessions – these take place on selected Saturday afternoons at tracks around the UK and are suitable for drivers who have extensive experience in either indoor or outdoor karting.
TKZ Race Meetings – these are suitable for drivers who have extensive experience in either indoor or preferably outdoor karting.
Please speak to the TKZ Customer Support Team to establish which TKZ event is best suited for your driver.
Usually, a TKZ Training Session is the 1st step, but it does depend on their previous experience, if any. Please speak to the TKZ Customer Support Team to discuss this in more detail so we can correctly advise you.
The next level up from racing at indoor tracks is to progress to larger outdoor tracks using faster karts than the indoor variety. Drivers who have already raced indoors and reached a level of competency whereby they are comfortable with this new challenge are encouraged either into our Saturday morning TKZ Training sessions or perhaps our Saturday afternoon TKZ Open Practice sessions if we feel they would be safe to do so. If you would like to discuss these options, please contact the TKZ Customer Support Team.
The next level up from racing at outdoor ‘Arrive & Drive’ tracks is to progress to the TKZ karts which are faster than most outdoor karts used at commercial tracks. TKZ use lighter and more nimble race-spec chassis together with high performance battery powertrains that generate more power than most of the petrol engined karts used at most commercial tracks. Drivers with extensive outdoor karting experience would normally participate in either our Saturday afternoon TKZ Open Practice Sessions or a TKZ Race Meeting. As safety is of paramount importance, we generally ask that drivers do an Open Practice Session first so we can assess their competency. However, if we can establish the driver’s experience and competency during a phone conversation with the parent or legal guardian, in some circumstances, we may allow them to race without doing an Open Practice session first.
As TKZ Race Meetings will be run under a Motorsport UK permit from July 2023 (Round 4 of the Regional Championships), drivers will need to apply for a Motorsport UK RS Clubman licence before participating (application guidance here). This licence is free of charge and can be applied for with MSUK online here. The process takes about 5 minutes. An RS Clubman licence is not required in order to participate in TKZ Training or Open Practice sessions.
If the driver already holds an RS Clubman licence, or any Motorsport UK licence that is of a higher grade, that is acceptable.
The minimum age for the Bambinos (our category for the youngest drivers) is 6 years old.
Bambino: Minimum 6 years old to year of 8th birthday
Cadet: Year of 8th birthday to year of 12th birthday
Junior and Junior Light: Year of 12th birthday to year of 17th birthday
Bambino: 19kg including full race kit
Cadet: 23kg including full race kit
Junior Light: 37kg including full race kit
Junior: 50kg including full race kit
Bambino: Approximately 40mph
Cadet: Approximately 55mph
Junior and Junior Light: Approximately 70mph
- Bambino x12 karts
- Cadet x15 karts
- Junior x10 karts
- Junior Lights x10 karts
The difference is the minimum weight requirement: The minimum weight for Junior Lights is 37kg including all race kit. The minimum weight for Juniors is 50kg including all race kit.
Bambino: Approximately 40mph
Cadet: Approximately 55mph
Junior and Junior Light: Approximately 70mph
- Bambino x12 karts
- Cadet x15 karts
- Junior x10 karts
- Junior Lights x10 karts
Yes. Your space is confirmed once the event is booked and paid for.
If the driver already holds an RS Clubman licence, or any Motorsport UK licence that is of a higher grade, that is acceptable.
Yes. Your space is confirmed once the event is booked and paid for.
If the driver already holds an RS Clubman licence, or any Motorsport UK licence that is of a higher grade, that is acceptable.
You can book into TKZ Training and Practice events online here: Practice (Zero) – Total Karting Motorsport
And you can book into TKZ Championship Race Meetings online here: Championship Events (Summer 2023) – Total Karting Motorsport
Alternatively, you can contact the TKZ Customer Support team by emailing us at info@totalkartingmotorsport.com or giving us a call on 07746 767 519.
If the driver already holds an RS Clubman licence, or any Motorsport UK licence that is of a higher grade, that is acceptable.
The difference is the minimum weight requirement: The minimum weight for Junior Lights is 37kg including all race kit. The minimum weight for Juniors is 50kg including all race kit.
No, drivers can choose to race in as many or as few TKZ Championship Rounds as they wish.
No, at all TKZ events the cost any damage is covered in the entry fee.
The registration fee must be paid only once per TKZ Championship. The cost of the registration fee is £60 and must be paid on your first event in the Championship. The registration fee can be purchased here.
TKZ events take place at kart circuits around the UK throughout 2023.
For a full list of TKZ Training and Open Practice events, please see our website here: Practice (Zero) – Total Karting Motorsport
For a full list of TKZ Race Meetings, please see our website here: Championship Events (Summer 2023) – Total Karting Motorsport
All TKZ events are subject to a risk assessment prior to the activity commencing and throughout any event. Events run in all weather conditions unless they become extreme, for example snow, fog, or heavy rain producing standing water.
We ask that drivers and parents/legal guardians arrive at the venue no later than 7:30am for Signing on, followed by a mandatory driver briefing at 8:00am.
TKZ Open Practice sessions commence with driver/parent Signing on at 12:00, followed by a mandatory driver briefing.
We ask that drivers and parents/legal guardians arrive at the venue no later than 7:30am for Signing on, followed by a mandatory driver briefing at 8:00am.
Yes, TKZ can supply a race suit, helmet and gloves for TKZ Training sessions and TKZ Open Practice sessions. However, we do not supply footwear. Drivers are advised to wear thin soled shoes that preferably cover the driver’s ankles.
No, we cannot currently supply driver race wear for TKZ Race Meetings. As our Race Meetings are run under a Motorsport UK permit, drivers are required to wear PPE that meets the standards laid down by MSUK. For more details on what is required, please see our Sporting Regulations here or speak to the TKZ Customer Support team for more details of what is required.
Places to buy Racewear: KKC, Grand Prix Racewear, Demon Tweeks.
If buying second-hand Racewear, please be mindful of safety certification and expiry date where applicable.
All competing drivers are weighed in the pitlane before they get into their kart for the Practice session. Any drivers under the minimum weight for that category have ballast (lead weight) added to their kart to bring them up to the mimum weight. The ballast is fitted to weight posts centrally located on the floortray of the chassis. If extra ballast is required, it is fitted to the back of the seat. The minimum wieghts are as follows:
- Bambino: 19kg including full race kit
- Cadet: 23kg including full race kit
- Junior Light: 37kg including full race kit
- Junior: 50kg including full race kit
Yes, the results from 5 of the 6 Rounds count towards the final TKZ Regional Championship results.
Yes absolutely! Spectators are encouraged at all TKZ events. The events are very friendly and family orientated.
Yes, most circuits have catering facilities, details of which are communicated within the Final Instructions prior to each event.
This depends on the circuit. Some do allow camping overnight. Please get in touch with the TKZ Customer Support Team for clarification or you can contact the tracks directly by finding their details on the internet.
Some venues allow dogs, but they must be kept on a lead. Details on this are communicated via the Final Instructions that are emailed out to participants prior to each event. However, for more information you can contact the tracks directly by finding their details on the internet.
