Entry
Brighton Karting Cadet Championship Race Series is an open championship and therefore driver entry is run on a first come first serve basis. All drivers must be Race Academy Approved. The cadet Karting championship is for ages 8 – 12yrs.
All rounds of the series are available for booking via phone, email and online – link.
Drivers who have not raced at Brighton Karting before are required to attend and complete our Sussex Kart Academy prior to the event. All cadet championship drivers must be ‘race academy-approved’.
Format & Event Calendar
The series consists of 6 rounds, in which a total of 24 heats will be held. Points from each heat will count towards the championship.
Over the 6 rounds each participant is allowed to drop 6 of their lowest scoring heats.
Registration and Event Schedule
New drivers must register to the event, prior to arriving at Brighton Karting.
Drivers must attend the briefing. Failure to attend may result in the entrant being unable to participate in the event.
Event Schedule Example
| Arrival/Sign on opening | 18:20 |
| Drivers Briefing | 18:40 |
| Warmup | 19:00 |
| First round of Sprint Races | 19:30 |
| Second round of Sprint Races | 20:00 |
| Third round of Sprint Races | 20:30 |
*Race start times are estimated.
Races will alternate, e.g. Grid A race 1 followed by Grid B race 1, Grid A race 2, Grid B race 2 and so on….
Weight
There is no weight requirements for the Brighton Karting Cadet Championship.
Grids and Allocation
The series operates Sprint Grids, which are predetermined. A total of 8 drivers racing in 4 heats will have a start from each of the following positions: Race 1 (G1 or G2) Race 2 (G3 or G4) Race 3 (G5 or G6) Race 4 (G7 or G8).
This gives each driver and even and fair start across the 4 races.
Points
Championship points awarded for sprint races will be as follows.
| Position | Points | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 35 | 8th | 25 |
| 2nd | 32 | 9th | 24 |
| 3rd | 30 | 10th | 23 |
| 4th | 29 | 11th | 22 |
| 5th | 28 | 12th | 21 |
| 6th | 27 | 13th | 20 |
| 7th | 26 | 14th | 19 |
A total of six heat results will be dropped once all 24 races in the season are complete. In the event of a tie on points at the end of the season. The driver with the most 1st place finishes will be awarded, if still tied the most 2nd positions and so on.
One Shot Super Pole Leaderboard
The super Pole will take place after the 6 minute practice. Each driver has 1 lap to register their fastest lap time which will go towards the leaderboard. The super pole leaderboard is separate to the Championship.
Changing Karts
If a driver wishes to change their kart prior to the start of a race they must request this to a pitlane marshall. These karts will be cold and the driver will not be able to change back once the race has started.
Drivers who bring in Karts once the race has started. Will not retain their position unless there is a genuine mechanical issue with the kart.
If marshalls deem a kart has a mechanical issue or unfit for use during the event the kart will be pulled from the line up and replaced with a spare.
Race Start and False Start Procedure
Races at Brighton Karting Cadet Championship are run as standing starts. This means no overtaking, until the green light / and/or flag is shown.
Failure to start successfully will result in a false start and/or individual penalties.
If a false start occurs:
- The race/session timer will not be stopped.
- Penalties will be given to any offending drivers. (see penalties)
Rules and Flags
Flags
| Red | Race Stopped. Come to a controlled stop and await instruction. |
| Yellow | Incident ahead. Half race speed, no overtaking till passed incident. |
| Black and White | Driver warning; Depending on severity/advantage gained a penalty may be applied after race or during the race remotely. |
| Black | Return to pits. Repeated breach of rules. |
| Blue | Not used in this format. |
| Chequered | End of the race. Slow down and return to the pits. |
Boards
| No Contact | No contact between other karts or track barriers.If a driver gains an advantage as a result of contact they will receive a penalty by discretion of the race director. (see penalties) |
| Track Limits | Stay between the confines of the track surface. |
| Off-Kerbs | Excessive use of kerbs that could cause damage to the kart. |
| No Weaving | Excessive weaving/blocking in an attempt to stop a driver passing. |
| Pit Stop | Return to the pits. |
Red Flags
If a red flag occurs in the first 3 minutes of the race:
- Drivers will be re-gridded from the original starting order.
If a red flag occurs in the last 3 minutes of the race:
- The race will be considered completed and a result will be taken from positions at the end of the previous full lap.
If a red flag occurs in-between these time windows the decision will be made by the race director if a re-grid will occur or to continue from current track positions under a green flag restart via circuit marshals.
Penalties
All cases where a penalty is required the driver(s) will be shown a Black & White alongside a warning board of the offense committed.
In cases of overtaking by impeding/contact with another driver or overtaking under a yellow can avoid a penalty by allowing the affected driver to overtake within a lap. A penalty may still be applied if the offending driver has previously breached rules e.g. repeated advantage by contact.
Along with specific position penalties applied through timing software. The karts at Brighton Karting are fitted with De Haardt safety systems allowing for remote temporary penalties to a karts power output.
A De Haardt penalty will be used for:
- Advantage by contact which has resulted in position loss and can be reversed remotely. – dependant on incident
- Ignoring yellow flags. speeding or overtaking under yellows – minimum of 10 seconds half power
- Excessive cases of kerbing, track extension, corner cutting or weaving. Where warnings have not been adhered to. – minimum of 10 seconds half power
If a karts De Haardt unit becomes unresponsive to a penalty given remotely a penalty will be applied via timing software after the race is completed.
Contact and Racing Incidents
If an incident can not be dealt with via a remote penalty during a race. Positions will be deducted depending on severity of the incident starting from a minimum of 2 up to disqualification.
Any of the following but not limited to will result in a position deduction after the race:
- Forcing, squeezing, loading or nudging another driver to run wide, off track or into barriers to gain an advantage.
- Incident that results in driver(s) losing multiple positions. – minimum penalty loss of 4 positions
- Excessive contact with barriers resulting in moving or damaging track barriers
- Any contact considered deliberate or in retaliation will result in exclusion from race or event.
False Starts
- Overtaking/Jump starting before the start line – 2 position penalty applied per position gained.
- Deliberate failure to set a slow pace by the leader – 2 position penalty applied after the race.
Penalty Withdrawal or Incident Appeals/Reviews
Any penalties given for excessive breach of track limits, kerbing, contact with barriers, corner cutting or ignoring marshal instruction will not be reverted.
Penalties are given at the discretion of Brighton karting marshals and the race director. Requests for a review or appeal by any driver or spectator will not impede or stop the progression of an event. Any requests for a review of an incident may be postponed to after the event is completed or at a later date.
