What the best way to race a 24 hour enduro? Here’s all the facts you need to know!
A 24 hour enduro is the most difficult go kart race. It’s not all about speed! It’s about strategy, coming together and working as a team, consistency, knowing your limits, not making mistakes and not succumbing to fatigue!
What is a 24 hour endurance race?
A 24 hour endurance race is a non-stop race where teams compete head to head battling it out during the day and at night. The team who completes the most amount of laps wins.
How many drivers should be in a team?
Teams can have a minimum of 4 drivers and a maximum of 10. PKT highly recommends 6-8 drivers per team to ensure all drivers are rested and not fatigued throughout the whole 24 hours. Your goal is to finish!
How to build a 24 hour enduro team?
Gather 4-10 drivers. Look for consistency over speed. All drivers must have visited our track prior with a lap time under 39 seconds. The fast drivers can get down to a 37 second lap time! Want to have an advantage on the competition? Get your team out on the track and start cutting some laps!
How long should each stint be?
Stints can vary from a minimum drive time of 5 minutes – 60 minutes! Strategy is key. In the 24 hour endurance race there will be 32 mandatory pit stops 20 of which are kart swaps. Every second swap will be a kart change. Teams will drive a number of different karts throughout the duration of the event. Fuel usually lasts an hour and a half or an hour and 45 minutes if you’re really pushing the limits. So plan your strategies accordingly!
How can I win the 24 hour endurance race?
A few key factors that play a huge role in winning the 24 hour enduro include:
- Consistency! Consistency is crucial. Consistent drivers beat those who do one clean, fast lap and spin out every lap..
- Smooth Driving! Minimising tyre wear and kart damage will help massively! Even though a team of trained mechanics will be there in case of emergencies you want to make the karts last the whole 24 hour race. Smooth racing lines, keeping out of crashes, and no spins will also help with driver fatigue! Remember smoothness means fast!
- Avoid penalties! Accumulating penalties doesn’t just affect you! It affects your team as well!
How do I complete a driver change?
The driver completing the driver swap will line up in our waiting bay. Once you are first in que you will tell the staff that you’re doing a driver swap and your kart number. Make sure you get the right one! If you don’t remember, tell the staff your team name. Staff will then signal the driver on track with a sign holding up the kart number. Driver on track, don’t remember your kart number? That’s ok, look at your steering wheel it’s on there! You’ll have 2 laps to come in after the sign is displayed. Please signal our staff that you saw the sign and you’re coming in! If you don’t come in within the 2 laps your driver in the waiting bay will be sent to the back of the line and the process will have to be completed again. The driver on track will then make their way into the pits at walking speed. Stop on the right side at the white line and unbuckle. The driver getting into the kart will wait at a designated spot, once the driver in the kart unbuckles the new driver will then make their way to the kart to get seated. Do not attempt to buckle yourself in or adjust the seats, staff will do this for you.
How do I complete a kart change?
The driver performing a kart change will line up in our waiting bay. Once you are first in que you will tell the staff that you’re doing a kart change and your kart number. Make sure you get the right one! If you don’t remember, tell the staff your team name. Staff will then signal the driver on track with a sign holding up the kart number. Driver on track, don’t remember your kart number? That’s ok look at your steering wheel it’s on there! You’ll have 2 laps to come in after the sign is displayed. Please signal our staff that you saw the sign and you’re coming in! If you don’t come in within the 2 laps your driver in the waiting bay will be sent to the back of the line and the process will have to be completed again. The new driver will then be seated and started waiting for the driver on track to come in. Once the driver on track comes in, stop on the left side and unbuckle. Once the driver that was on track has stopped and unbuckled, the new driver can go out.
What should I bring with me?
- Helmet or balaclava if you have your own.
- Gloves (not required)
- Warm clothes
- Spare change of clothes
- Camping equipment (if staying on site)
- Food and water
How do I prepare for night time racing?
Anyone racing at night needs a clear visor! Fatigue is highly increased at night. I recommend shorter stints at night to keep drivers rested and fresh! If drivers on track become fatigued during the stint either signal drivers off the track that you want to come in then wait for staff to call you in. Or stop on the track at a designated pull up area and tell staff you want to come in.
How to manage fatigue?
Stay well rested in between stints. Don’t overdrive, set a steady pace and stick to it. Keep hydrated.
Should I practise before the event?
YES! Practice is key if you want to be fast and consistent!
What to avoid doing throughout the 24 hour endurance race?
- Spinning! Can be costly if you get stuck and need to be recovered!
- Penalties! Drive safely! Everyone wants to have fun. Don’t drive erratically.
- Aggressive driving! Can increase chances of fatigue
Remember you’re not racing as an individual. You’re racing as a team. Any mistakes and you let your team down.
