Welcome to the Association of Racing Kart Schools
About Us
All the schools listed on this web site are members of the Association of Racing Kart Schools (ARKS) recognised by Motorsport UK. The organisation is responsible for the mandatory ARKS tests and also administers Club Examiners, who can also administer the test at a participating kart club. The test costs up to £98.00 including VAT if applicable, but not including any hire fee for a kart. You will find that all of these schools can offer a professional and high standard of tuition, whether you are a complete novice or an experienced driver wishing to improve. If you should fail one part of the ARKS Test, the Written Test can be re-taken for up to £50 and the Driving Test for up to £60 (costs may vary and may be less).
If you plan to take the test at a kart school or club please pay them direct. The list for Club Examiners is downloadable from this page and are detailed on the Locator page). Check the club’s website for details or contact the Examiner. Remember the fee does not cover any cost of hire of a kart or PPE, or the practice day fee, these need to be negotiated.
Taking the ARKS Novice Driver Test: Youngsters from the age of 6 can take the ARKS Test and race, some categories are exempt from the full test, so read on.
To plan for the ARKS Novice Driving Test: Buy the Karting Starter Pack from www.motorsportuk.org at £75, this includes the cost of the first licences up to 31st December. Book the test with a school or club, taking two photos of the driver, and if under 18 one of the parent.
Bambino: Drivers from 6 years of age can race at approved circuits, specifically licensed for Bambino racing. Drivers will then apply for the Kart Interclub (Bambino Race) licence, see Chapter 6 of the National Competition Rules (NCRs) on the www.motorsportuk.org website. Bambino racing will always have timed qualifying and standing starts. When moving up to Cadet, the licence must be exchanged for a Kart Interclub and the driver will become a Novice.
Please note the training video that is referenced from a QR code in the Pack is also available on tths page. This helps new drivers to learn what is required for the test. A training record card and details of the training are on the Resources section of the MotorsportUK website or as below.
Drivers 8 or over: As above, buy the Pack, book the test and apply for the Kart interclub licence on completion (or if planning long circuit, then medical and eyesight conditions apply, and a competency check before racing). Drivers can take the test on a practice day and if no medical conditions, and a UK citizen, race the following day using the form as a licence. The driver will be a novice until getting signatures for 5 races, using black number plates.
Exemptions: at the smaller events running Super KX rules, the drivers need only purchase a free Super KX licence and take a flag knowledge test and a driving comtenence test befor racing at thet one circuit. With experience they can then proceed to the Interclub licence to race anywhere.
Clubman / Tyro: Drivers of junior karts under 10bhp, or seniors under 17bhp, can purchase a Clubman licence. These are normally for prokart 4-stroke racing.
Returning after an absence: If the holder had a National licence in the past, after 5 years, they only need to take the Written Test.
Other Exemptions: With experiene in some arrive and drive series, partial expemptions apply. See the National Competition Rules (NCRs) on the Motorsport UK website, which are the regulastioins for 4 wheel motorsport. Karting is in Chapter 18, and the class regulations are in the Karting Yearbook.