New to karting? You’re not alone — and everyone makes mistakes at the start. From turning too early to gripping the wheel like it’s a steering wheel on a tractor, beginner habits can slow you down and make the kart harder to control.
The good news? These mistakes are easy to spot and fix. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common rookie errors we see at Athboy Karting Centre — and how you can drive smoother, safer and faster with just a few tweaks.
1. Turning In Too Early
What happens: You cut into the corner before reaching the proper turn-in point.
Result: You miss the apex and run wide on exit, often needing to lift off the throttle.
How to fix it: Be patient. Turn in later than feels natural — especially for fast or blind corners.
Result: You miss the apex and run wide on exit, often needing to lift off the throttle.
How to fix it: Be patient. Turn in later than feels natural — especially for fast or blind corners.
2. Oversteering or Jerky Steering
What happens: You steer too aggressively or saw at the wheel mid-corner.
Result: The kart becomes unsettled and loses grip.
Fix: Smooth hands. One clean motion into the corner, hold, and unwind gradually on exit.
Result: The kart becomes unsettled and loses grip.
Fix: Smooth hands. One clean motion into the corner, hold, and unwind gradually on exit.
3. Braking Too Late (Or Too Hard)
What happens: You fly past the braking zone, locking up or sliding into the corner.
Fix: Brake earlier and more gradually. Practice hitting the same brake marker every lap to build consistency.
Fix: Brake earlier and more gradually. Practice hitting the same brake marker every lap to build consistency.
4. Not Using the Full Track Width
What happens: You stay too close to the inside or middle of the track.
Result: Tighter corner radius = slower speed.
Fix: Use all of the track — wide entry, clip the apex, wide exit. Think of the track as three lanes: outside–inside–outside.
Result: Tighter corner radius = slower speed.
Fix: Use all of the track — wide entry, clip the apex, wide exit. Think of the track as three lanes: outside–inside–outside.
5. White-Knuckle Grip on the Steering Wheel
What happens: You hold the wheel too tight, making the kart harder to control.
Fix: Relax your arms. You want control, not tension. Your hands should be firm but not stiff.
Fix: Relax your arms. You want control, not tension. Your hands should be firm but not stiff.
6. Looking Too Close in Front
What happens: You focus on the kerb or your kart’s nose instead of where you’re going.
Fix: Always look ahead — to the apex, then to the corner exit. Where your eyes go, your kart follows.
Fix: Always look ahead — to the apex, then to the corner exit. Where your eyes go, your kart follows.
7. Getting Frustrated After One Bad Lap
What happens: One mistake ruins your focus and your next few laps.
Fix: Reset. Every lap is a new lap. The best drivers mess up — but they recover quickly.
Fix: Reset. Every lap is a new lap. The best drivers mess up — but they recover quickly.
Conclusion:
Mistakes are part of learning. Even seasoned racers still fine-tune the basics. Focus on smooth inputs, proper braking, and good vision, and you’ll improve with every session. Karting’s not just about speed — it’s about consistency and control.
