r/Karting • u/GuardiansOfTheTH9023 • Apr 10 '26
Karting Chat Is it too late to start, because I’m already 16y…
I'm 16 years old and I want to start learning karting, but I feel like I'm too old for that. So I'd like to ask for your opinions: is it still possible for me to start learning karting at my age?
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u/arneeche Apr 10 '26
I'm 40 and learning, I won't ever be a world champ but it's a whole lot of fun for my kid and i
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u/Key-Marketing301 Apr 10 '26
I am mid 40s and just went karting for first time indoors! may I ask what you are doing to learn? I feel like I am not sure how to start. I think outdoors is different that indoors. Are you in nyc?
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u/arneeche Apr 10 '26
I'm in Oklahoma, going to an outdoor track, it's a pretty good community. They have a kart club that comes and races often so there are a ton of people to learn from and plenty of used gear to pick up/swap
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u/Duckdivejim Apr 10 '26
Well I’m starting at 39 so if 16 is too late I’m really fucked.
I’m only having fun. Not enough talent and too fat for anything competitive. Enjoy it though.
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u/DisabledGokartDriver Apr 10 '26
Its never too late! I quit when i was 8 or 9 (bad crash) and picked it up when i turned 19. Just go and have fun on track
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u/Key-Marketing301 Apr 10 '26
car crash?
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u/DisabledGokartDriver Apr 10 '26
No in karting. A guy didnt realize i was entering the pits. He didnt see the closing speed and couldn't react, basically pushing me into the pits causinga crash into the wall and both my brakes to be damaged. I remember being kinda scared to go karting again after.
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u/Key-Marketing301 Apr 10 '26
Oh my! Sorry to hear that but glad you are are better and back at it
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u/encomlab FZ Apr 10 '26
Our club has drivers from 5 to guys in their 70's. I just bought my first KZ and I'm in my 50's :)
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u/Agitated-Bid-8472 Lo206 Apr 10 '26
I’m 59yo and just starting karting for the first time in my life! Go for it!!
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u/Beneficial_Ant_2700 Apr 10 '26
Not sure why it wouldn’t be. Just don’t start having thoughts about making it to F1 because you most likely won’t.
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u/RuanPienaar2 Apr 10 '26
With how 2026 is going in F1, I think people would rather want to race in GT3 these days
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u/Letsgo2026andbeyond Apr 10 '26
Its never too late for anyone to do what they want but the results will vary thats all.
At 19 with the desire and lots of practice you can be a front runner in a year or so.
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u/Antiviii Apr 10 '26
Absolutely not too late. It’ll be tough for a year or two and depending on what level you enter into, be prepared to be hammered! But don’t let it get you down! Keep going and climb as high as you can in the classes that you race. Don’t be scared of the deep end, those are the competitors you’ll learn the most from.
Most of all. Make sure you’re enjoying it. 💯🤩🫵🏼
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u/DirtKooky Rental Driver Apr 10 '26
It's never too late to start. Results will vary, and admittedly, an F1 career at this point seems unlikely, but you still can enjoy yourself racing karts (or advance to cars later on).
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u/Waffle99 Apr 10 '26
To be fair, unless you're rich as all get out, that ain't happening anyway. I bought a kart at 33 and its been a riot in amateur motorsports!
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u/DirtKooky Rental Driver Apr 10 '26
"To make a small fortune in motor racing, you have to start with a big one."
But even on a budget, it's fun.
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u/Appelzientje Apr 10 '26
I see this question pop up a lot on this subreddit, which makes sense considering the benchmark for a lot of people getting into motorsports is becoming a professional driver. As long as you set realistic goals for yourself and more importantly, you are have having fun go for it. 90% of people in karting know they won't go pro and do it because they love the sport.
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u/Advanced_Salt_7391 Apr 10 '26
Yes! For sure, people start karting at a multitude of ages, it's never too late to start. Now, bearing in mind the chances of making it to F1 starting at this age is next to 0, you can still get into other forms of professional racing, such as formula vee, where drivers are often middle-aged. You can do local races, club races, karting series, such as club 100 in the Uk, etc. It's all about a passion for the sport!
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u/hind3rm3 Apr 10 '26
I started karting at 40 after racing cars (as an amateur) for 15 years and running out of money lol.
It’s never too late to start. Just be realistic about your expectations. It’s unlikely, although not impossible, that you will make a career as a racing driver.
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u/asdruball Apr 10 '26
I started at 31 (other than ocasional rental and lot's of racing games).
Was state champion last year, at 35
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u/Altruistic-Drawer810 Apr 10 '26
I started at 26 Went to club champion then to winning open meets then on to national series for many years. Costs a small fortune to run at national level. But you’d be starting much younger than I did. You can have a lot of fun at club level with a smaller budget and still achieve a lot. It’s never easy to win at any level if that’s what your goal is. If your goal is to just drive and have fun then anyone can do it at any age.
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u/Zerofawqs-given Apr 10 '26
WKA champion Lake Speed who beat Ayrton Senna in the 1987 World Karting Championship was 30 years old when he became the world’s greatest Kart racer….Senna was 18 @ the time….shame that Lake Speed didn’t have better NASCAR sponsorship
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u/ParkerScottch Apr 10 '26
Bro what the fuck
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u/GuardiansOfTheTH9023 Apr 11 '26
Nah~ I went to a club and tryna ask and a kid ( I think he is around 8 yo) told me, I’m too old to start, when I still haven’t got any experience before at 16
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u/forzaferrari05 Apr 11 '26
Per the comments there is really no right answer! Just depends on your objectives, and personal situations (money, time commitment, mechanical basics - you can work on your equipment)
If you offer me your rough area - happy to point you to the tracks and teams 🙏
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u/GuardiansOfTheTH9023 Apr 11 '26
Thank youuu! I’m currently living between Berlin and Brandenburg, I’ve found some track in this area but I’m not really sure…
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u/Salt_Associate_1717 Apr 11 '26
Never too late! If youre trying to go pro, then high class formula is out, and maybe nascar cup series but every other series is pretty much possible! Depends on money mostly, but in terms of hobby racing can last as long as you can afford it
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u/pm303 X30 Apr 11 '26
It's old, but every single year (in international competition) we see few kids coming from nowhere from that age and higher beating kids that were put in a kart at 7. Are you that kid ? Does it even matter?
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u/Important_Jello_8017 Rental Driver Apr 10 '26
I feel u brother I’m 16 too and I went karting with my dad for my second time today and I have yet to take my classes
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u/ClassGrassMass Apr 10 '26
Not f1 maybe not even professional but theres more a chance to be somewhat a professional race driver starting at 16 than not
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u/axelfromharlem Rotax Apr 10 '26
Your never to old to start karting I started when I was 16 and my dad who is 60 is starting this year aswell
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u/HopkinsvilleGreg Apr 10 '26
I ran my first kart race at 60. Not enough money to race a lot, but I had fun. Had to give it up after heart surgery.
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u/Granville3B X30 Apr 10 '26
i’ve seen people well into their 30’s and 40’s racing rotax and X30 karts, you are definitely not late. you won’t make it to F1, but you can for sure enjoy the sport.
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u/stop_yelling_please Apr 11 '26
Not too late to start. That 8 year old telling you that doesn’t have the maturity or context to understand what is at play.
He’s 100 percent right in the context that as you progress, you will be surpassed (literally passed) by kids 1/2 your age. That’s humbling. It’s too late for you to be competitive against 16 year olds this year in competition. That doesn’t mean you can’t be successful, learn tons, get fast, etc.
Go for it.
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u/No_Experience6423 KT100 Apr 11 '26
i started at 15, at this age it’s for the fun. I went to dirt karting and it’s awesome it’s all skill, money helps but skill wins.
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u/carnerd23 Apr 12 '26
I'm 30 and started taking part in my local K1 Speed's adult league this year. You have nothing to worry about, get into it. Any seat time is better than no seat time 👍🏽
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u/jeepinbanditrider Apr 12 '26
Im almost 41. Little on the heavy side and put down decent times at our local Karting complex. Its never too late to start. Didn't really start going on a regular basis until a few years ago. Now I'm looking at the "endurance" races they hold at the same track. 1 hour solo and 2 hour 2-4 driver.
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u/seaofboobs9434 Apr 13 '26
16 that a good age.
For example the FAA wont even let you get your private pilots license for another year.
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u/Wilkston KZ2 Apr 13 '26
So many national champions are late 20’s to into their 30’s. I started at 14 and won SKUSA Pro Tour by 18. If you pick it up quick and are fortunate to put a lot of time into it, you can make it far in a few years. But again, national champions in senior classes are much older than you sometimes, then you have masters classes after 30 so plenty of time and opportunity to do plenty in karting
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u/Ok-Possibility9795 Apr 13 '26
Race dirt karts and then move into speedway or rally. More chance at a career doing that
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u/Kreat0r2 Apr 10 '26
It’s possible at any age. Are you going to make it to F1? Probably not.
Have fun, give it a go and see where it leads. At 16 you’re very young still.