At all times, the way weight is attached to the kart must conform to the Karting New South Wales Rule Book.
The Karting NSW Rule Book States:
BALLAST
Ballast Rules
| BALLAST TYPE | MAX WEIGHT | MINIMUM FIXING REQUIRED |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed ballast bolted to: a)the chassis b)the seat |
5KG per single block | One (1) high tensile M8 bolt, oversized washer and nyloc nut for each 2.5kg (or part thereof) of ballast is mandatory. Oversized washer minimum OD 24mm |
| Weight Canister | 20KG Total Ballast | Canisters must have a minimum of three (3) fixing points attaching to the chassis or seat. Where possible, all fixing points should be via high tensile M8 bolts, oversized washers (minimum OD 24mm) and nyloc nuts. |
| Seat Inserts | 30KG Total Ballast | Motor vehicle seat belt straps and seat belt latches are the preferred method of securing the seat insert to the seat or chassis. For seat inserts 10KG and under minimum two (2) fixing points For seat inserts above 10KG minimum three (3) three fixing points |
Driver changes and strategy can change an entire endurance race Credit: Motorsport Photography Australia
All ballast must be secured to the satisfaction of the chief scrutineer.
Ballast can only be fitted to a kart when the kart is stationary.
The use of diver’s belts, or ballast within or attached to the drivers suit or anywhere on a drivers body is not only dangerous but is strictly prohibited.
Endurance racing requires multiple drivers with different body weights to race in the same kart. At all times teams must be above the 175kg kart and driver weight limit.
The first thing to do is bolt as much ballast as possible to the seat and chassis. Do this by adding enough weight to the kart to ensure your heaviest driver meets the minimum weight requirements. Remember also, a full tank of petrol weighs about 6.5KGS, so work this into your strategy.
There are two legal ways of quickly altering weight during an endurance race;
1. WEIGHT CANISTERS
Weight canisters must be firmly attached to the chassis at three points. Weight canisters can be made of a combination of metal and heavy plastics. The weight canister must have a lid or device that ensures the lead ballast cannot rattle lose during competition.
The advantage of the canister system is teams can make up specific weights to add for each driver. Teams can also add specific weights based on the fuel load at the time.
2. SEAT INSERTS
Depending on the weight of the insert, seat inserts must be retained by two or three mechanical fixings. These fixings should ideally attach to the chassis, however attachment through the outer fiberglass seat is also acceptable.
Inserts are made by using a fibreglass inner kart seat and attaching lead sheeting to this insert.
