The Adult Driver Exodus from Karting

A reflection on the sport's shifting demographics

There is an uncomfortable truth that has recently become unavoidable: writing about karting increasingly feels like an exercise in futility (and insanity). Efforts to capture the interest of a mainstream audience are met with indifference, and karting’s niche following is shrinking. The media landscape that once supported karting in the UK has nearly vanished. Iconic outlets like Karting Magazine have disappeared, and my old website Karting1 is no longer active. We are left with a handful of digital platforms to serve a dwindling community.

Social media, while transforming many sports, has done little to preserve karting’s visibility. Online discussions are sparse, often confined to private groups, further eroding the sport’s presence in the public eye. Karting, already a niche pursuit, is becoming almost invisible. One caveat being that social media has allowed ‘niches within niches’ to thrive and be successful, and it’s not entirely bleak—young drivers are still emerging and making strides—but the audience is too small to sustain a thriving media ecosystem in a modern karting context. To make a living in karting now, one needs more than just talent; they need a team, a shop, or maybe a lucrative tyre contract and be utterly ruthless.

The harsh reality is that adult karting, particularly owner-driver adult karting, is collapsing. Historical data paints a stark picture: in 1974, there were over 4000 karters. The split being 3,537 Senior (16+) karting drivers compared to 491 Juniors. That’s 87% Senior oriented. Today, the landscape has shifted dramatically. The Motorsport UK Report from 2019 shows 3,229 kart licence holders. There is no published breakdown of Junior vs Seniors, but the ABkC reported in their 2019 AGM Meeting that 70% of new ARKS tests were for Juniors. This suggests a significant demographic shift, with far fewer adults participating in the sport.

Karting Magazine 1975 April Issue 229

Despite the UK's population growth—from around 56 million in 1974 to over 66 million today—the number of karting licence holders has declined. In the mid-90s, there were over 6,000 licence holders; but from 1974 we see a reduction of around 700 licences for 2018. That’s even with the inclusion of categories like Cadets and Bambinos that expand possible customer base enormously.

Comparing historical and current data is challenging due to inconsistencies and the lack of comprehensive statistics. Motorsport UK’s cessation of annual report publications since 2018  and the introduction of rental karting licences further complicates the picture. However, what is clear is that karting was once predominantly an adult sport. The 70% Junior bias in new licences in 2018 suggests an enormous shift, altering the very fabric of the sport.

This demographic change has tangible effects. Adult karters historically engaged more deeply with the sport’s culture—they bought magazines, interacted with media, and contributed to a vibrant community. This engagement sustained karting media, much like motocross media still thrives today. The near-extinction of karting content in current media reflects a loss of this crucial demographic.

Understanding Motorsport UK’s strategy is difficult. Their website’s section on starting karting is cluttered and confusing, appearing to prioritise rental karting and series like the Daniel Ricciardo Series over the foundational club system. This misalignment suggests a broader failure to promote and simplify the core aspects of British karting, driving potential adult karters towards sim racing for its relative accessibility and acceptance. Who can blame them?

Karting’s identity crisis is exacerbated by the sport’s role as a ‘stepping stone’ to Formula 1. This perception inflates the sport's costs and shifts focus towards cultivating future F1 stars, often ignoring karting’s rich heritage and appeal. Governing bodies celebrate F1 drivers' karting roots, yet overlook the broader karting community, diminishing the sport’s intrinsic value.

The demographic shift has real-world consequences. It’s increasingly common to see questions on forums like Reddit from young people, sometimes as young as 14, wondering if they are “too old” to start karting. This sentiment highlights a fundamental failure to sustain karting as a lifelong sport.

Historically, karting was about hands-on involvement: enthusiasts tinkering with karts in their garages, sharing stories and tips, and experiencing the highs and lows of motorsport firsthand. This was our shared culture and it is eroding, replaced by a more sanitised version that caters primarily to young aspirants and their investment-driven parents.

Does this matter? Absolutely. Ayrton Senna once called karting the most spectacular motorsport, and he was right. The decline in karting participation and visibility is a tragedy. Despite the lack of current licence data, the struggles of many clubs to stay afloat are evident. More people should experience karting, and young drivers should not feel embarrassed for continuing past 16 simply because they didn’t “make it.” Karting, done right, remains the purest form of motorsport, deserving of greater recognition and revival.