Knockhill Kids Karting Club - Round 1

After finishing 5th in my first year at Knockhill Kids Karting Club in 2025, I was looking forward to getting the 2026 season underway and seeing how much I'd improved.

One of the things that makes Kids Karting Club a bit different from Club100 is how the day works. You sign up for a single session, turn up, race, and head home. There's no waiting around for finals or watching other groups — it's straightforward and relaxed, which suits the friendly nature of the championship.

My session was one of the later ones in the day, and the weather was brilliant — dry and clear, about as good as Knockhill gets in spring.

The race

I lined up 4th on the grid in a 10-driver session. The start went well — I was up to 3rd through the first corner and managed to find my way into the lead before the second. From there I was able to settle into my own rhythm and focus on managing the gap rather than defending.

Over the 34 laps I gradually extended the lead and came home 18 seconds clear to take the win. My pace felt consistent throughout, though if I'm honest it wasn't one of my cleaner days in terms of raw speed — I didn't set a personal best, and there were moments where I knew I was leaving a little time on the table. That said, my best lap was still over three tenths quicker than anyone else in the session, so the pace was there when it needed to be.

It's worth saying that a few of the drivers in the session looked to be newer to the championship, so I'm keeping the result in perspective. Kids Karting Club is a series where people come in at all different stages, and everyone has to start somewhere — I'm no different, having been in the same position not long ago.

20 points on the board

A win is a win though, and 20 points is a solid way to open the season. The goal now is to keep improving my lap times and make sure the pace is genuinely there when the more experienced field comes together later in the year.

Roll on Round 2.