Getting Started

Welcome to the SuperKart Drivers Club, the fastest form of kart racing on the planet!!!

SuperKart racing is an adrenaline filled crazy, fast, technical, challenging rush held on full size motor racing circuits like Hampton Downs, Taupo MotorSport Park and Manfeild. Whether you're racing a high end purpose built International Class kart or adapting your Sprint kart to compete, SuperKart racing is an experience not to be missed! The racing is exhilarating and challenging, offering an adrenaline pumping buzz for those drivers ready to take their kart racing to the next level! If you're looking to compete seriously or just want to enjoy the challenges of the long, high speed tracks, SuperKart racing ticks all the boxes!

We are lucky to have built a culture where we race hard in a low key environment while building friendships and having a good laugh! The atmosphere at all our events is relaxed and above all FUN; this is something we pride ourselves on as a club. We have a strong emphasis on respectful behaviour both on and off the track and are one big family of karter’s that look out for each other. We welcome new members and are quick to offer help to make people feel at ease and fit in quickly both on and off the track.

For those drivers currently racing sprint karts and looking to make a career in the motor sport arena, SuperKarting is a great way to experience racing on the full size motorsport circuits before moving into car racing but be aware, some of you may wish to stay in the SuperKart scene once you have tried it! You will be in the company of various car classes at all our meetings and you can forge relationships with influential people running race car teams, their race engineers, support crews and the MotorSport New Zealand officials that oversee the meetings. It's a great way to get an understanding of the motor sport scene in New Zealand.

If you think this sounds like what you have been looking for, come and join a great group of drivers, pit crews, stewards, officials and supporters. There's only one way to find out what we are talking about so come on, what's stopping you?

Commonly asked questions:

We’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions. Once you’ve wheeled your way around those, you can always get in touch with any of our Committee Members to find out more?

Who administers SuperKarting in New Zealand?

In New Zealand the SuperKart Drivers Club controls all the meetings under the guidance of KartSport New Zealand, MotorSport New Zealand, the CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting) and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile).

How does SuperKart racing differ from Sprint karting?

SuperKart events are always held on full size motorsport circuits. These tracks are a lot longer (in excess of three kilometres), wider and the speeds reached are a lot higher. An International SuperKart can reach a top speed in excess of 230 kilometres an hour!

Can I transition from Sprint karting to SuperKart racing?

Yes, most SuperKart drivers start in sprint karting although it's not a requirement. It's easy and cheap to adapt your sprint kart for SuperKart racing.

How do I get started in SuperKart racing?

If you are already a member of a KartSport New Zealand Club you can just submit your entry online via our Facebook Page and come along to a meeting. If not, then you can either compete on a “Day License” or join the SuperKart Drivers Club. To compete in our Club Championship rounds or the Tri-Series events and be eligible for points you will need to be a member of the SuperKart Drivers Club. If you join the SuperKart Drivers Club you will then have access to all the race meetings, technical support and a community of experienced racers who can guide you through the process. See our Membership page.

Are there age requirements for SuperKart racing?

Yes, see the Racing Classes page for the minimum age requirements for each class. SuperKart racing has no junior classes. 

Can I use my sprint kart at a SuperKart event? 

Yes you can! Head over to the Kart Setup Page to see how?

What types of SuperKarts are there?

Pretty much all of the senior classes that you commonly see at a sprint meeting, plus the big internationals that are seriously fast. Go to our Racing Classes page to see the various SuperKart classes.

How much does a SuperKart cost?

This really comes down to how much you want to spend and how serious you want to be. Our advice is simple. Don't go crazy spending money until you have tried it. You can pick up a reasonable second hand Rotax Max package from $4,000.00 up to around $7,000.00. A brand new setup costs around $15,000.00. A DD2 or KZ2 package will be slightly more. An International SuperKart can start at around $5,000.00 and go up to $60,000.00 plus depending on the age and specifications.

Do I need to own a SuperKart?

Yes, to race in SuperKart events in New Zealand you'll need to own or lease a SuperKart. See our Kart Shops page for a supplier or talk to a Committee Member.

What are the basic skills needed for SuperKart racing?

Maintaining your speed through high speed corners with the aid of aerodynamic bodywork. Mastering the art of slipstreaming. Timing your passing manoeuvres and keeping your momentum up especially coming off the turns.

How physically demanding is SuperKart racing?

SuperKart racing is demanding both mentally and physically. It's like any other high speed motorsport requiring strong neck, shoulder, and core muscles. Fitness also plays a big part given that the total race distance is considerably longer than that of normal sprint meetings, Due to the high G-forces in cornering and braking, this really does put the body to the test.

Most new drivers when first starting out feel all the new aches and pains but with consistent laps and seat time they become more race fit.

Are the rules different from Sprint racing? 

Some of them are. Please familiarise yourself with the current rules on the KartSport New Zealand website: www.kartsport.org.nz/COMPETITION-1/Manual-Rules-Notices/Manual-Rules-Notices

You must also comply with the rules that are specific to SuperKart racing: www.kartsport.org.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=62adb93b-535d-4510-86e6-a193be82ecdc

What are the dangers?

As we all know, most forms of motorsport have an element of danger. SuperKart racing in New Zealand has an extremely good safety record and accidents on track are very rare. We are determined to keep our excellent safety record intact and to achieve this KartSport New Zealand Race Officials demand a high standard of behaviour from every driver at all times. KartSport New Zealand, Motorsport New Zealand and the SuperKart Drivers Club all work very closely to put forward a set of guidelines for the safety of everyone involved, but first and foremost, the safety of YOU the driver.

Yes the speeds are higher but the style of racing compared to competition on a sprint circuit is a lot more disciplined. There is no point diving into corners at the last second to make up a place as happens on the sprint tracks. This usually results in losing four to five spots being lost due to not maintaining corner speed. To be successful you need to be smooth and this approach dictates a more accurate, safe style of driving. All the drivers are aware of the higher speeds that they are reaching and therefore give room to their fellow competitors, there is a healthy respect shown amongst drivers for each other when racing.

Is a race meeting expensive? 

It's only the entry fees that are higher in comparison to a sprint meeting. But let's be clear, we are not comparing a standard sprint meeting to a SuperKart round. The entry fees are higher than sprint racing fees because the SuperKart Drivers Club has to pay our share to lease a full sized motorsport facility. These race tracks incur expensive running costs that are passed on to us as a club. The circuits we traditionally run on are about 3 kilometres long or longer. We cover about 28 kilometres per race. With practice and qualifying, you will possibly churn out 130 kilometres of racing over the weekend. To put that into context, that's about 150 laps at a sprint track if not more. However the wear on tyres and equipment is substantially less compared to sprint racing. There is no contact tolerated while competing on track so axles, wheels, tie rods, steering shafts, stub axles, nosecones and sticker kits are very rarely damaged. This means a lot of money saved. Overall a weekend at a SuperKart event probably costs less than it does to spend a weekend at a sprint track.

I don’t have a kart, where can I try one or buy one?

That's a really commonly asked question. It's usually followed with “that's a lot of money to spend to find that I might not like it” and we agree wholeheartedly (although no one has ever said that!). But the solution is really quite simple. If you are genuinely keen to “try before you buy” talk to any Committee Member and we can put you in contact with current members that have gear available for lease, lease to buy or just straight out “have a run and see what you think?” The Friday test days before each race meeting are the best opportunity to do this. The SuperKart Drivers Club strongly recommends that you do a test day before jumping in and doing a race meeting. For any Gearbox Class drivers this is a mandatory requirement.

How many race days do you have a year?

Unlike sprint racing where you can race nearly every weekend, our Calendar has five or six meetings a year with the New Zealand SuperKart Championships as an extra, so usually six or seven for the season. We like to have decent gaps in between meetings; this gives everyone enough time to maintain their karts and also takes a bit of pressure off the back pocket!

What driving gear do I need? 

The same for sprint racing, an approved KartSport New Zealand helmet that's under ten years old, a race suit (leathers are mandatory if you are driving an International Class SuperKart but optional for all other classes), gloves, race boots and a rib protector that all comply with the KartSport New Zealand rules.

What are the typical lap times for SuperKarts?

SuperKarts are extremely fast and can achieve lap times comparable to high-performance cars and motorcycles. Across all three tracks that we compete on, SuperKarts are in the top three or four when lap times are compared to all the car classes. Here are some comparisons from qualifying at a recent meeting held at Hampton Downs on the full size International circuit:

CTFROC: 1:29:285

Pirelli Porsche: 1:39:264

International SuperKart: 1:39:733

GTRNZ: 1:53:018

Formula First: 1:57:438

Is SuperKart racing a stepping stone to other motorsports?

Yes, many professional racers, including those in Formula 1 and other top-tier motorsports have backgrounds in SuperKart racing. The skills and experience gained are highly valuable for progressing further in motorsport. It's a well-known fact that a lot of top tier drivers around the world still use sprint and SuperKart racing in their off season training.

Can I race internationally?

Yes, SuperKart racing is popular in many countries and race meetings are available for those who wish to compete on a global stage. Australia has a strong SuperKarting community and it is common for New Zealand drivers to compete in events over the ditch. Australian drivers frequently race in New Zealand as well.