Ballast
The EKS advises that all drivers use ballast to weigh up to the minimum weight of the class above their natural weight. This is to avoid a situation where drivers are racing in a class where they are heavier and hence at a competitive disadvantage to others racing in their class.
The tables below list the class that we would recommend each driver races in and the ballasting method that we would advise using to reach the minimum weight of each class.
Types of Ballast
In-kart Ballast
In-kart Ballast is the recommended ballasting method at all Kart Silverstone, Buckmore Park and PF International events.
The Kart Silverstone and Buckmore Park Sodi RT10 karts have ballast boxes inside their left sidepods where up to 30kg of circuit-provided ballast can be fitted for free.
The PFi Tonykart Viper karts have ballast boxes inside their left sidepods where up to 15kg of circuit-provided ballast can be fitted for free.
Ballast cannot be fitted directly to or inserted into any other karts which are used in the EKS.
Weighted Seat Inserts
Weighted seat inserts are permitted at every circuit which the EKS visits and they are the recommended ballasting method at circuits which do not provide in-kart ballast.
Seat Inserts
The EKS recommends purchasing a Caliba SRS seat insert if you would like to create your own weighted seat insert. These foam seat inserts are strong, comfortable to sit in and flexible which allows them to fit securely into different shape seats.
Alternatively any form of owner driver kart seat which is smaller than XL in size can be used to create a weighted seat insert. These seats however are typically uncomfortable to sit in and rigid meaning they usually do not fit securely into seats and move whilst driving.
Please be aware that all of the karts which the EKS use have either Tillett XL or Tillett XXL seats fitted to them.
Ballast Sheets
The EKS owns a collection of 1kg to 6kg ballast sheets which can be borrowed free of charge at any event where in-kart ballast is not available. These ballast sheets can be reserved when booking in to an event via the booking form.
These ballast sheets can also be permanently purchased from the EKS at our events for £6 per kilogram with the sheets wrapped in tape as protection.
To create your own ballast sheets, the EKS recommends purchasing a role of lead from a local builders merchants and then slicing this lead into chunks. A role of lead typically costs between £4 to £5 per kilogram.
These ballast sheets are best fitted to seat inserts using either strong Velcro or screws. This allows ballast sheets to be removed and added when necessary. Tape can be used to fit ballast sheets to seat inserts however this method makes adding and removing sheets impractical.
Body-Worn Ballast
All forms of body-worn ballast, such as weight vests, ankle weights and wrist weights, are allowed at the circuits which the EKS visits but are not advised due to the discomfort and bruising which they can cause whilst driving.
Ankle weights which weigh more than 2-3kg will make walking tiring whilst weight vests and wrist weights typically cause discomfort and bruising.