Superkart
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The word superkart is traditionally used to mean a 250 cc engine kart. However, it is increasingly being used to mean a high powered kart as distinct from leisure or hire karts. Usually it was priced at $30,000 (tend to be less than £10,000 in UK), and weigh 460 lb (200 kg) — with driver. Superkarts can race on Long circuits such as Silverstone, Laguna Seca, Le Mans etc as used by bikes, saloon cars, Formula One etc, (Long Circuits are defined as greater than 1500 m), rather than the traditional Short Circuits — which are used for karts alone. Short circuit Superkarts tend to have less aerodynamic bodywork.
[edit] Performance
Though its 2-stroke 250 cc engine is small and produces only 90 hp (67 kW), it has 360 hp/l and 0.19 hp/lb (450 hp/tonne), which is even higher than a Corvette, and as such, its 0-to-60 mph is below 3 seconds and its top speed can be in excess of 150 mph (240 km/h). Acceleration is the weak point of a superkart however, because the very low weight and good downforce makes for staggering cornering and braking capability, and the karts are capable of braking from 100 mph (160 km/h) to standstill in around 2 seconds, and taking corners at nearly 3 g (30 m/s²). At some circuits, superkarts are the outright lap-record holders, at others they run at around Formula 3 lap times.
Superkart Division 1 is open to 250cc karts with one or two cylinders and five or six speed gearboxes. Typically the karts produce 90 hp and are capable of 160 mph - the fastest form of kart. This is the formula that was Formula E.
Division 2 is for single cylinder karts with five or six speed boxes. Was 250 international previously. Typically these karts produce 65 hp and are capable of 140 mph. However, being lighter than the twin cylinder (Division 1) karts they can be as quick on twistier circuits. This formula was previously known in the UK as 250 International.
[edit] Spectacle
Being inexpensive, superkarts are very popular, and entries of 60 or more are common, (in Britain at the moment, anyway). Fortunately, most circuits allow a large number of karts on the grids at once, and the sight of 60 karts arriving at the first corner at the same time is a real spectacle. The overtaking tends to be easy, as, like motorbikes, there is room to get past, so the races tend to be full of action. Race lengths tend to be around 20–25 miles (30–40 km), because the fuel tanks are quite small, so at most meetings which feature superkarts, the karts race is often a brief, spectacular highlight.
