Go Karting best Practices for a Beginner
When it comes to Go-Karting, it is difficult to define good.
Most people don’t understand the goals and understanding involved to be above average. Most people go to have fun with their company of friendly guests. In practice, this can be a test of thought provoking competition just to see how far you can compete with group and leave it behind soon after.
Our last company event included an outing to the local go karting track. A small setting was perfect to share perspectives on what the ideal introduction to the sport can look like. Family friendly, open door and etiquette with clear rules and scheduling.
This is not unlike Sim racing, it’s agreeable, largely irrelevant to the rest of the relationship and provides the perfect opportunity for relationship development. Professional or personal, you may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. The best outcome is to figure out how easy they find it to feel at home in the setting.
In any case, you may like to figure out how to do it well to avoid distractions on the go karting course.
Here are a few pointers to help you get the best out of the experience.
Love this question—this is exactly where beginners can gain huge time fast. I’ll give you this like a driving coach talking to you in the pits before a session: simple, practical, and laser-focused on lap time.
1. Smooth beats fast (every time)
As a beginner, the biggest lap-time killer is over-driving.
Smooth inputs = more grip = faster laps.
brake once, firmly, then release smoothly
turn the wheel progressively, not suddenly
get back on the throttle cleanly, not in bursts
If the kart feels twitchy or slides a lot, you’re asking too much of it.
2. Look WAY further ahead than you think
Beginners look at the corner they’re in. Fast drivers look at the next one.
your eyes should be 2–3 seconds ahead
as soon as you turn in, your eyes go to the corner exit
on straights, look toward the braking marker, not the steering wheel
Your hands follow your eyes. Better vision = cleaner lines.
Apex
Finding the right exit can be critical to how to maintain velocity coming around every corner.
This reference point on the course is called the Apex.
The apex can be described as the best possible exit point leaving a corner.
Please note, this is not conventional wisdom for standard roadways and should only be practiced on a Closed Course.
3. Racing line: make the corner as “wide” as possible
Forget attacking the corner—set yourself up to exit fast.
Basic racing line:
enter wide
turn in once (no mid-corner corrections)
clip a late apex
let the kart run wide on exit
Why late apex?
you straighten the wheel earlier
earlier throttle = more speed down the next straight
that’s where lap time lives
4. Brake earlier, not harder
Beginners brake too late and too softly, then coast.
Instead:
brake earlier
brake harder but briefly
release the brake before turning
If you’re braking while turning, you’ve already lost time.
Slow in, fast out.
5. One clean turn-in per corner
Every extra steering correction scrubs speed.
Aim for:
one decisive turn-in
hold steady steering
unwind the wheel smoothly on exit
If you hear tires scrubbing or feel vibration, you’re over-steering.
6. Throttle is not an on/off switch
Especially in rental karts, grip is limited.
roll onto throttle as you unwind the wheel
If the kart pushes wide, you got on too early
If the rear slides, you mashed it
Straight wheel = full throttle.
7. Use all of the track (yes, ALL of it)
Track edges are free lap time.
run right out to the kerbs (without hopping them unless allowed)
don’t “hug” the inside longer than necessary
exit width matters more than entry speed
Most beginners leave half a meter everywhere—that adds up fast.
8. Prioritize the corners before long straights
Not all corners are equal.
If a corner leads onto:
the longest straight
or a flat-out section
That corner is the most important on the track.
Sacrifice entry speed there if it means:
better exit
earlier full throttle
9. Stay relaxed in the kart
Driver muscle Tension results in slower reactions.
How to get over this:
maintain a light grip on the wheel - the best drivers barely need to move their hands at all 90% of the time
relax your shoulders
let the kart move a bit underneath you - there is not actually dampening force beneath you less the tires.
If your arms are sore after 5 laps, you’re fighting the kart instead of guiding it.
10. Be consistent before being aggressive
Your fastest lap will come from:
repeating the same line
same braking point
same throttle application
Once you’re consistent, then you push braking a little later or throttle a little earlier.
