Racing an X30 IAME Kart vs Racing a FF1600

Moving from X30 IAME karts to FF1600 cars is more than a speed change, its a physical and mental shift. From sudden and continuous action in a kart to more methodical and mentally demanding driving in a FF1600.

FF1600 vs X30 Kart

Karting trains the physical strength of a driver as the lack of suspension punishes the body coupled with the intense and fast paced circuits. Furthermore you learn about using weight transfer in the wet and how to use your body weight to your advantage. Whereas in a FF1600 you are strapped in the car and become one with it, the focus shifts from pure strength in karting to endurance and being able to handle the higher g-forces.

2 Wheeling in X30 Kart

Mentality changes as in kart you focus on short stint races , on average 10 minutes, which you are focused on extracting the highest potential out of the kart, or making up as many positions as possible. Whereas FF1600 focuses on longer 20 minute races which requires you to think carefully about how you push , what moves you go for and how you manage the car as the race goes on. You decide whether to push hard at the start and fall of towards the end or maintain the car throughout the race to capitalise on competitors mistakes. The mentality shifts from high paced quick races to longer races where endurance and tyre management play a vital part.

Karting's high paced nature makes thinking time limited which means decisions are instant, requiring a driver to commit to there decisions fully to make up positions, the lack of time to cognitively rest means you have to mentally prepare for a short but chaotic race. In comparison FF1600 gives drivers more thinking time allowing them to decide strategically , this is important as drivers will need to decide on whether or not to make that move or if they should push and go for that next position or not risk the car and stay behind. FF1600 requires a more strategic mind state rather than a quick paced do or die thought process.

Leading the pack in FF1600

In karts a mistake can ruin a lap due getting out of the rhythm leading to the next corners having mistakes , this require you to be precise all the time and not lacking concentration. Similarly in FF1600 a mistake can hamper your lap but for a different reason, the long straights is where the majority of the time goes due to the mistake , yet because of the long straights you have time to calm yourself down and not make further mistakes on the up coming corners. The rhythm in karting is critical and will punish you without it whereas its more the long straights that punish you in FF1600.

Recovery in karting usually stems from the mental drain of near-instant decision making and the physical abuse from the track usually leaving a couple bruises to heal in the coming week. In comparison FF1600 drains your endurance , slowly whittling down the muscles and your cognitive endurance. The longer laps and higher g-forces mean the body has to deal with long periods of medium strain rather than the large but intermittent strain on the body from the karting.

To have confidence in a kart you need to be precise but able to commit without hesitation and understand how to move the kart in certain ways , for example jacking the rear inside wheel on a hairpin, and trust your instincts particularly in races due to the chaos and near-instant decisions you have to make. To have confidence in a FF1600 you need to be one with the car , to know its limits and how the weight transfers through it , understanding the feedback from the car and its behaviours throughout corners to extract its potential. Furthermore in races you need to be aware of your surroundings but also trust your competitors that you can make that move and they will see you.

Without a doubt in either series you must be certain and never doubt yourself as that is what kills your confidence and certainty of your instincts.

Going between a FF1600 and a kart is not easy but it's just about taping into that other mind state. I recently did a test day at PFI in a kart and it took a couple laps for that quick paced thinking to come back but once it did it was like I hadn't left.