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Rain does not usually stop outdoor karting in the UK. Circuits keep running in the wet and cancel for snow, ice or extreme conditions. A wet track is slower and slipperier, and it rewards smooth driving.
Does outdoor karting run in the rain
Usually, yes. Some examples from the venues' own pages:
- Buckmore Park says all its events are risk-assessed to run in any weather, with extreme weather such as snow the exception. It contacts you to reschedule if that happens.
- Lydd calls karting "normally an all-weather sport" but may cancel if the rain gets too heavy.
- Kinsham Raceway runs its hire karts in the wet, but not in ice or snow.
- Revolution Karting and Brentwood Karting describe their floodlit outdoor tracks as all-weather, and Red Lodge says karting continues in most weather.
Weather terms differ, and this is the part worth reading before you book. If Lydd cancels, it reschedules or refunds you, but if you cancel because of rain while the circuit is open you lose your deposit. Race Kart Centre gives no refunds for weather cancellations and lets you rebook within a year. Tracks for small children can be stricter: St Eval's infant electric track runs in dry weather only.
What changes on a wet track
Grip drops, so everything takes longer: braking, turning and accelerating. Lap times go up. Buckmore says experienced drivers lap its circuit in about 50 seconds but that conditions can push a lap past a minute.
Do not count on rain tyres. Club100, which supplies the karts for its arrive-and-drive championships, says its karts are never fitted with wet tyres and stay on slicks whatever the weather. That is why smooth driving matters more in the wet than in the dry.
Marshals may show a yellow flag with red stripes, which means the surface ahead is slippery. Our driving tips list the other flags.
How to drive in the wet
This is general advice rather than any venue's rules. The briefing on the day comes first.
- Be smoother. Every input you make in the dry needs to be gentler in the wet. Turn the wheel progressively and squeeze the throttle on rather than stamping on it.
- Brake earlier and more gently. Do your braking in a straight line before the corner, and start with braking points well before your dry ones. If the kart locks its wheels or slides, ease off the brake.
- Be patient on the way out. Too much throttle on the exit of a corner spins the rear wheels. Add power progressively as you straighten the wheel.
- Try different lines. The best line in the wet is often not the dry line. Watch where the quicker drivers go, and ask staff.
- Leave more room. Karts throw up spray and take longer to stop, so give the kart in front more space.
If the kart starts to slide, look where you want to go and ease off the pedals rather than adding more steering.
Keeping your visor clear
Rain on the outside and your breath on the inside can make a visor hard to see through. In damp, cold weather the inside mists up most. If your visor is misting or scratched, tell staff before you go out.
If you own a helmet, a Pinlock insert lens is the usual fix for misting. Pinlock says its lens absorbs moisture and its seal stops condensation forming. Each helmet needs its own Pinlock lens, so check that one is made for yours. See our helmet guide for the rules on visors.
If you wear glasses, TeamSport's advice is to put the helmet on first, then lift the visor and slide them in. It does not recommend sunglasses or tinted lenses, which make a dull, wet day darker still.
What to wear in the rain
Many outdoor venues lend waterproofs when it rains. Buckmore Park supplies plastic wet suits in wet conditions, Mr Karting provides rain suits, and Formula Kart has wet suits for rain. ELK Motorsport and Nottingham Raceway list a wet suit among the kit they provide.
If you race regularly, a wet-weather suit of your own is worth having. Club100 recommends that all its drivers buy one. Under Motorsport UK's rules, a properly fitted wet-weather suit can be worn over an approved kart suit. Our suit guide has the detail.
Bring a dry set of clothes for the journey home; Buckmore recommends it even with a wet suit. Gloves and shoes get soaked, so a spare pair of each helps if you are on track more than once. Some venues have a covered area to wait in between sessions, such as Mr Karting.
Indoor karting is the dry option
If the forecast puts you off, an indoor track takes the weather out of it. Our data lists 66 indoor tracks and 40 outdoor ones. Many indoor tracks run electric karts. See the indoor karting list and the electric karting guide.
If you would rather drive outdoors after dark in winter, look for floodlit circuits. Revolution and Brentwood are both floodlit, and Anglia Karting Centre can switch on floodlights for evening sessions. Compare venues on the outdoor karting list.
Sources
- Buckmore Park, FAQ (weather policy, wet suits, lap times, spare clothes)
- Lydd Kart Circuit, FAQs (weather policy, deposit)
- Club100, Driver's Guide (slicks in all weather, wet-weather suit)
- Motorsport UK, National Competition Rules 2026, Chapter 18 Appendix 5 Article 6 (yellow flag with red stripes); Chapter 18 Appendix 7 Article 4 (wet-weather suit over a kart suit, as cited in our suit guide)
- Pinlock, Pinlock insert lens
- TeamSport, Go-karting FAQs (glasses and tinted lenses)
- Venue facts on the linked track pages, each sourced to the venue's own website (read 3 November 2026)