The formation of a Kart Council has been announced by Motorsport UK following a specially convened meeting to which all officially sanctioned Motorsport UK kart clubs were invited. This meeting provided a forum for the governing body to set out plans for the future of the sport .

The Association of British Kart Clubs, which has played a key role in the management and direction of UK karting for more than 20 years, has agreed to put its current role and future on ice following the announcement.

ABkC Chairman George Robinson commented: “The association was created two decades ago to play a much needed role when the MSA had backed away from karting. But with the revitalised Motorsport UK now putting so much weight and resource behind our sport a duplication of interests would be counter-productive.”

While karting is regarded as a sport in its own right, it is also one of the main entry points for the public to participate in motorsport, and this new focus reflects Motorsport UK’s increased efforts in encouraging participation and promoting the sport at all levels.

Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers said: “The Association of British Kart Clubs has played a vital role in karting for many years. However, over the last year Motorsport UK has made some major changes to its strategy, and is now placing more emphasis on karting to grow this branch of the sport. Karting has huge importance to the motorsport community, not only in its own right, but also as a pathway to other motorsport disciplines. This focus is an example of our aim to put significantly more resource into promoting forms of motorsport in which anyone can participate.”

With the first meeting of the Kart Council scheduled for February 18, to which all approved kart clubs will be invited, a special meeting of the ABkC agreed to put its future on ice until it convenes a meeting in March. In the meantime all existing member clubs will have their membership extended prior to a decision on whether the association has any future role with the development of the sport.

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