Ninja Karts

The UK’s short ovals’ biggest junior formula!!!

One of the recent success stories for the ORCi, the Ninja Karts offer drivers as young as 6 years of age the opportunity to take their first steps into a career in motorsport. Drivers are able to race in Ninja Karts until their 11th birthday before graduating to the likes of Ministox or Junior Productions.

Ninja Karts are a spectacular sight on the short ovals of the UK as the youngsters slice and dice their way to the front in this non-contact class which can be seen across the UK from Scotland and Northern Ireland to the Midlands and the South of England.

The majority of Ninja Karts are purpose-built from the ground up for the rigours of short oval racing and come with sealed engines meaning that it is a driver’s ability that gets their car to the front as the 50cc engines are strictly controlled to ensure fairness and a level playing field.

Second hand cars range from £1000 to £3000 ready to race. New cars can range from £2800 to £5500 again ready to race. You can also build your own car as per the formula’s rulebook which can be accessed through the various promoters’ websites.

Unlike circuit kart racing, Ninja Kart racing typically sees the stars of the sport start at the rear of the grid; to win they have to make their way through a field of often over twenty cars. It is a non-contact sport and officials monitor the circuit closely and take action against those committing misdemeanours!

This great little formula offers the aspiring youngsters on the terraces the chance to live their dream as racing drivers and offers the 6-11 year olds a great introduction to oval racing.

Hardie Race Promotions are at the forefront in developing up and coming drivers through our Ninja Kart class, with many Scottish based drivers having won the major championships in the formula in recent years, with many then progressing on to succeed in the other junior formula.

Race winners will be required to start from the back of the grade in each of their proceeding races on the night. For 2023, whites and yellow grades will not be gridded in heats.

National Points can be gained at all HRP domestic events, and roof grade championship meetings (both days if applicable) and Ipswich Speed Weekend. (Until the 2024 world final where this is changing)

The Scottish Championship is only open to those licenced with Hardie Race Promotions. Anyone dual licenced will only be able to compete in either the Scottish or English Championship, but not both. Any English based driver must get approval from Spedeworth to compete in the Scottish Championship if they are not doing the English Championship. The event itself will be contested from an out of the hat draw to determine qualifying heat grids, and the Scottish Championship race will be determined by two reverse grid qualifying heats. The top point scorer from the heats will be at the front of the grid for the Scottish Championship race. In order to be eligible for being gridded, drivers must have participated in at least 50% of the HRP race meetings in the season to date OR in at least two of the three prior meetings. Any driver having done less than this amount, but have raced previously in the season, may participate, but will be required to start from the back for ALL qualifying races on the night. Any driver that has not yet raced this season may start from the back in ALL races. No drivers will be permitted to race that have not raced at any point in the formula previously.

Relevant Downloads

- 2024 Ninja Kart Rules 17th Jan 24 - Updated 17th Jan 2024
- 2024 Ninja Kart Track Points - Updated 7th Oct 2024
- Ninja Kart Grades - October 24 - Updated 1st Oct 2024
- Ninja Kart Upcoming Event Grid Sheet - Updated 4th Oct 2024
- Ninja Karts National Pts 24-25 - Updated 7th Oct 2024

Other Useful Links

- 2024 Drivers List
- Roll of Honour

The overall Lochgelly lap record is 16.719, set on 24th June 2016, By Car #7 Charlie Hardie. However, since the kerb was added in for the beginning of the 2016 season, the lap record since that time is, 16.719, set on 24th June 2016, By Car #7 Charlie Hardie.

Quickest Laps By Year:
The quickest lap time of 2024 was set on 3rd August 2024, by car #313 Charlie Weston - 16.799
The quickest lap time of 2023 was set on 29th July 2023, by car #39 William Hunn - 17.001
The quickest lap time of 2023 was set on 29th July 2023, by car #39 William Hunn - 17.001
The quickest lap time of 2022 was set on 8th October 2022, by car #66 Clark Ferris - 16.828
The quickest lap time of 2021 was set on 7th August 2021, by car #6 Hamish Plenderleith - 16.824
The quickest lap time of 2020 was set on 22nd August 2020, by car #174 Finley Kew - 16.997
The quickest lap time of 2019 was set on 23rd March 2019, by car #60 Bailey Millar - 16.754
The quickest lap time of 2018 was set on 6th October 2018, by car #1 Charlie Hardie - 16.744
The quickest lap time of 2017 was set on 24th June 2017, by car #7 Charlie Hardie - 16.841
The quickest lap time of 2016 was set on 24th June 2016, by car #7 Charlie Hardie - 16.719
The quickest lap time of 2015 was set on 4th April 2015, by car #39 Alex Robertson - 17.000