Ok so it's all been doom and gloom recently ( sorry ) so let's try look at our current situation and see what's positive about it and some alternatives for your 2024 season.
The Motorsport Ireland Karting Championship is more or less confirmed that it's a 4 weekend calendar but how the double header weekends will work, not quite sure yet. With the small calendar it leaves a lot of options open on where to race so let's see what's possible.
Tullyallen Kart Club is the nearest alternative and will still have 7/8 weekends of racing. Although it's a club championship, more aimed at family racing and a good atmosphere. Not that it isn't competitive, not at all as it's mega competitive in all classes! But it's not your big national championship.
Ulster Kart Club is probably Northern Ireland's most competitive championship which is primarily based at Nutts Corner. With high competition and great circuit it makes for a good championship to add to your calendar. We'll have more news on UKC in the near future so keep an eye out on their socials and Kart Paddock.
NIKA is another Northern Irish alternative with it visiting other tracks but has similar issues regarding classes and engines along with them struggling for entries in recent times.
British Kart Championship is one of the most competitive national championships in the world! No debating that which means it's tough to compete for similar results you'd get at home. But that experience would make you a much stronger driver overall. Downside is the time away from home/school/work along with price of competing over there is quite high. But with its 4 weekend and 8 round concept as well it could fill your calendar nicely.
Ultimate Kart Championship is another highly competitive British championship with 6 weekends of racing on offer. The high standard of media is a big attraction for many which other championships don't offer, or not at that standard. Downside again same as BKC, time away.
IAME Benelux visits some of the best circuits in the world of Mariembourg and Genk. It's 5 round calendar could possibly work with a MI calendar and with it visiting Mariembourg and Genk twice, it means you don't have plenty of new tracks to learn. Along with the great tracks you get very good competition as Belgium/Netherlands scene is attracting a lot of IAME euro series drivers. But with it being further away it means more time away and flights are expensive to Brussels airport if they're not booked well in advance. Also your team would have further to travel which means price has to go up.
That's only some alternatives but their is lots more especially in the UK with CKC, Super One and even club championships like Whilton Mill and PFi are very competitive. Netherlands has GK4 which is good and visits lots of tracks, Rotax Euro series very competitive and so on.
With Irish drivers most likely heading abroad at some stage it'll have our level of driving even higher than before which I can't wait to see! Look at how good all our drivers done at IAME World finals and some of them never raced internationally before. But the downside is not seeing that talent here as much.. time away and money..
For drivers I can understand why they're looking forward to racing abroad as most of my favourite memories are from abroad. From memorie of chasing Nyck de Vries around Lonato to getting binned in BNL Genk in Junior Max. Love racing abroad, the whole journey from racing new tracks and new people. So enjoy it!
So where you going to? And will I cover Irish drivers going abroad? Yes IF people give me info in advance! I rely on teams/drivers/parents telling me info. I don't spend my evenings looking at entry sheets of every championship. So if no one gives info don't complain if I don't cover you!
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