Karting Terms and Conditions
Contents
1. Our Commitment
2. Your Safety
3. Racing Code and Conduct
4. Briefing
5. Flags, Lights and Signals
6. Additional Health and Safety
7. Information about you and your visit to Our site
8. Acknowledgement of Risk and Disclaimer
9. Limitations on Our liability and indemnity
10. Session Information
11. Junior Karting
12. Medical Requirements
13. Alcohol and Drug Policy
14. Participant Conduct
15. Availability, Ticketing, Black Out Dates, Events Outside our Control, and the Weather
16. Changes to Experiences
17. Changes of Plan
18. Statutory Rights
19. Insurance
Please note that these terms and conditions (the Terms and Conditions) apply to all Silverstone Karting Experiences (each an Experience) run by Silverstone Circuits Limited (We/Us/Our) which includes but is not limited to Driver Training, Timed sessions, Corporate events, Race and Endurance Days and Free practice/Open sessions.
For Our general Terms and Conditions and additional information please visit the following:
https://www.silverstone.co.uk/terms-and-conditions
The purchase and partaking in a Karting Experience by you or a recipient with Us is subject to these Terms and Conditions which can also be obtained by contacting Us at [email protected] or by writing (enclosing a pre-paid self-addressed envelope) to: Silverstone Circuits Limited, Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN.
Please note that by booking a Karting Experience you confirm (on your own behalf and on behalf of any other person nominated to participate in the Experience) that the Terms and Conditions have been read and accepted in their entirety and that any failure to fully comply at all relevant times with the Terms and Conditions may result in removal from Silverstone Circuit (the Venue), irrespective of whether the Experience has been completed. In the event of such a removal We have no obligation to re-book the Experience or offer a refund. Please refer to the Karting Experience Information ( insert hyperlink here) for eligibility .
1. Our commitment
We are committed to ensuring that all Our customers enjoy Experiences of the highest quality, which are safe, exciting and value for money. Whether a novice kart driver or experienced professional, We want you to feel welcome and to enjoy fun racing and healthy competition in a safe and friendly environment and pleasant surroundings. We know how much Our customers look forward to their Experiences and Our Terms and Conditions have been carefully written to ensure that there are no misunderstandings which could detract from your enjoyment. Please take the time to read them. If you would like more information please contact Us here.
2. Your Safety
We are recognised and licenced by the governing body of UK Motorsport – Motorsport UK , as well as the National Karting Association. All Our karts are operated and maintained by Kart Silverstone (a trading name of Silverstone Circuits Limited), with regular checks by independent and appropriately qualified technicians. All Kart Silverstone staff will be first aid trained, and senior staff will be FREC 3 trained. We have an experienced team of Motorsport UK licenced instructors (ARDS/ARKS). .
3. Racing Code and Conduct
We are a member of Motorsport UK and the National Karting Association and as a result We condone the use and following of Race with Respect and their guidelines.
The values for this are:
• Respect
• Integrity
• Fair Play
• Self-Control
• Good Manners
- We expect all participants to follow these values to create a safe, respectful and positive environment for racing to take place in. It is important to note that this does not solely apply to participants, but also to officials, track staff, organisers and accompanying guests of the partaking participant.
As in accordance with Motorsport UK’s values to #RaceWithRespect, We also expect individuals involved to:
• Contribute to a welcoming and friendly environment that ensures the safety and welfare of all participants
• Always behave with integrity and uphold fairness in the sport; play your part in keeping the sport safe through your actions
• Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or socio-economic background, language, religious or other beliefs, disability, sexual identity or other status
• Recognise that we all represent the sport and therefore have a duty to be polite and respectful to all staff, officials, competitors, volunteers, as well as fans and supporters
• Respect the rules, regulations and authority of the officials and Motorsport UK
For further information on Race with Respect please visit: https://www.motorsportuk.org/racewithrespect/
If the stated guidelines are not followed and respect is not shown to others, We reserve the right to remove individuals from the Venue in accordance with Clause 13. This is a nationwide expectation as seen with other registered Motorsport UK circuits and is seen as the standard to maintain positive racing both on and off track.
4. Briefing
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND THE BRIEFING irrespective of experience level, time constraints or any other given reason. Participants must arrive at the booking time advertised to ensure there is sufficient time for putting on equipment, the briefing and any further preparation. Participants who have not attended the briefing will not be permitted to participate in the Experience, therefore it is paramount participants arrive on time. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not host a second briefing in the event the first one is missed by the participant. We will not be liable for any lost track time due to a participant’s punctualit y, and no refunds will be given under these circumstances. Please note that the booking time advertised is 45 minutes before the scheduled session time.
5. Flags, Lights and Signals
Participants are required to obey all forms of communication from marshals and officials running the session, including but not limited to LED karting light panels, starter lights, flags, signs, gestures, and verbal instructions. All applicable signals will be included in the safety briefing.
The list of signals and lights can be found below to familiarise yourself prior to the session:
Green
Waved to signal any previous yellow flag caution has been resolved and back up to racing speed.
Yellow
Caution ahead – no overtaking and slow down. There is likely an incident or a possible danger ahead. Participants should slow to no more than 50% of the natural race pace. Failure to maintain control and safety under yellow flag conditions, or overtaking under a yellow flag will incur a warning, diagonal black and white flag (see below), or a black flag and removal from the session(s) if serious or repeated.
Red
Racing must stop. Immediately bring the kart to a safe, controlled walking pace (or stop where instructed to do so), ensuring to check all surroundings to avoid posing a risk to any other participants whilst doing so. Avoid sudden braking and steering to reduce this risk. Return to the pits if instructed to do so by the marshals. This usually means a major incident has occurred or racing under the current conditions is no longer safe and applies to the entire track when waved. Pay attention to marshals and officials and await further instructions.
Diagonal Black & White
Flag indicates a warning to an individual participant – pay attention to the LED karting light panel showing this flag as it will display your kart number and may give an indication as to why it has been waved. Note this reason and avoid repeating such action. Repetition may result in a black flag and or removal from the session(s).
Black
Flag indicates misconduct on track, and will be shows with your kart number on the LED karting light panel. Return to the pits at the end of the lap. You have been removed from the session(s) for one of many reasons that could be but are not limited to:
Overtaking under yellow flags
Unsafe, dangerous or aggressive driving causing danger to yourself or others (e.g. deliberate contact, dissent, “showboating”)
Unsafe equipment or clothing
Repeat offences of warnings
Mechanical issue
An official will meet you back at the pits and will explain why you have been shown this flag. This is not to be debated and instead learnt from. You may be denied entry back into the session, or future Experiences in accordance with Clause 13.
Chequered Black & White
This indicates the session has finished, slow down to yellow flag pace and drive back to the pits to be met by officials.
Note – We will not be liable for any time lost as a result of any of the above flags being shown, or early termination of any sessions as a result of a participants conduct.
6. Additional Health and Safety
Apparel
All helmets, neck braces and race suits will be provided by Us and their compliance with safety standards and regulations will be maintained and ensured. If using a helmet provided by Us, a balaclava must be worn. If a participant wishes to use their own race suit, the suit must comply with CIK-FIA N2013.1 standards or above. If a participant wishes to use their own helmet, it must comply with Snell K2020, or FIA 8878 standards or above. It is your responsibility to ensure your equipment meets the above standards, if not, you will be required use Our provided equipment instead. We reserve the right to refuse any personal race suit or helmet from a participant on the grounds of safety.
We shall not be liable for any damage to any personal race suits and or race helmets should a participant choose to bring wear them. Additionally, We shall not be liable for any personal injury (save for Our own negligence) if the personal race suit and or helmet fails to perform to its expected standard.
All helmets and race suits MUST be securely fastened before entering the track.
All under 16 participants MUST wear a neck brace at all times whilst on track.
Gloves MUST be worn at all times whilst karting. Scarves, ties, hoodies and other loose, exposed clothing items must be removed and are NOT permitted at any time while on track. Long hair must be securely put away or tucked into the back of the race suit. Race or kart boots are recommended for karting, but flat bottom trainers are also acceptable. We do not recommend a shoe with a thick sole. Open foot shoes such as sandals, flip flops and high heels will NOT be permitted on track at any time. Footwear must ensure it covers both the heel and the toe at all times. Failure to comply with the above standards will result in a black flag or refusal in participating in the session or future Experiences.
7. Information about you and your visit to Our site
We process information about you in accordance with our privacy policy. By using Our site, you consent to such processing, and you confirm that all data provided by you is accurate.
8. Acknowledgement of Risk and Disclaimer
The very nature of a karting experience means that some personal risk may be involved in taking part in Our Experiences and you are deemed to acknowledge and accept such risk on your own behalf and on behalf of any person who participates in the Experience when purchasing the relevant Experience. MOTORSPORT IS DANGEROUS AND NOISY AND PARTICIPANTS AND SPETATORS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY MAY BE EXPOSED TO POSSIBLE RISK OF PHYSICAL HARM DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE EXPERIENCE.
We require every participant in an Experience to complete a disclaimer (the Disclaimer) before their Experience begins. A parent or guardian will be asked to complete the Disclaimer if the participant is under the age of 18.
9. Limitations on Our liability and indemnity
Information regarding the insurance We hold in relation to an Experience can be found in Clause 19.
We will not be liable for any loss of any kind, injury or damage, howsoever caused, to a participant, their guests or their property unless it’s as a result of Our negligence or that of Our employees or authorised agents. Our liability is excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law and limited to the face value of the relevant Experience. We reserve all rights in relation to any damage which is caused or contributed to by the participant and any of their guests to any third party or property, and you (on behalf of the participant) agree to fully indemnify Us and Our group companies and ours/their officers and employees from and against all and any claims which arise, as a consequence of their reckless and/or negligent conduct whether during any Experience or otherwise.
10. Session Information
Each session will be run by a Karting Duty Manager and may be accompanied by other deputy officials to run the session. They will control the session and have the power to make on-track decisions such as imposing penalties and withdrawing inappropriate participants. Their say is final and is not subject to appeal.
If you believe your kart has an issue, be that mechanical or otherwise, safely return to the pit lane (or side of the track if driving to the pit lane is not possible) where a marshal will meet you to resolve the issue where possible.
You may compete in a series of different formats whilst on track. These commonly are made of the following:
Timed session/Practice (Arrive and Drive): Designed for participants to familiarise themselves with the track, kart and their confidence on track.
Qualifying: A shorter session format prior to any race or endurance race. The results of this will be used to set the starting grid for the race or endurance race based on a participants fastest lap in the allotted time.
Race: The main session where a participant’s final position is determined by on-track racing over a set number of laps. Once the final lap has been completed, participants will return to the pits at the end of the cool down lap, returning at a yellow flag pace.
Endurance: These are Our longest sessions and will consist of participants completing the greatest number of laps in the allotted time. In the event two participants/teams finish on the same number of laps, the overall position will be determined by who finishes the final lap first, once the chequered flag has been waved.
Starting procedure: Unless otherwise specified, the race will commence from a standing start using the grid boxes. The standing start procedure will be as follows: all the red starting lights will turn on consecutively, and the race will begin when all these lights turn off or turn green. If there is a fault with the starting lights, participants will be notified by marshals, and the race may instead be started by the drop of the Union Flag.
Penalties: These may be imposed for a single incident, or an accumulation of multiple warnings where appropriate. These may be given, but are not limited to, exceeding track limits, contact, or aggressive driving. The severity of each penalty may be decided on a case-by-case basis and will likely be determined by the extent of the advantage gained, and if an offence is seen as deliberate or not. Most penalties will result in a black flag. These decisions will not be subject to appeal.
11. Junior Karting
We have two separate junior karting categories: Junior and Bambino. These are divided based on age range. The ranges for these are:
Junior 8-15
Bambino 6-7
Bambino participants are required to complete and pass the Silverstone Bambino induction programme, which will assess their ability and safety on track. Passing this programme will enable a Bambino participant to participate in other Bambino products.
Junior participants are entitled and encouraged to complete the Silverstone Junior induction programme, however, it is not mandatory.
12. Medical Requirements
Participants with pre-existing medical conditions must notify Us before the Experience to discuss if special arrangements are required.
You declare that you are in good health and that your eyesight meets the minimum standard required for driving.
You declare that you are not suffering from any illness, disability or anything else that may affect your participation in the event (including epilepsy, even if you have not had a recent seizure) and that you are not pregnant.
Please note that some medical conditions preclude certain participants from taking part in the Experience and that by signing the Disclaimer participants certify they are medically fit to undertake and participate in the Experience. For further details please contact Us at [email protected].
If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact Us at [email protected] with 7 days notice before your booked Experience.
13. Alcohol and Drug Policy
By registering for a Silverstone Karting Experience, the nominated participant confirms to Us that they have not consumed alcohol and/or drugs prior to or during the Experience which may affect their ability to participate in it. We reserve the right to refuse participation in an Experience to any person(s) suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and /or drugs. This policy ensures the safety of all participants, officials, and third parties. No refunds will be given under these circumstances.
14. Participant Conduct
You must follow the direction of staff, security, stewards and signage at all times. Any form of anti-social behaviour, including but not limited to harassment, discrimination, verbal or physical abuse towards staff, other participants, or other third-party members, will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove a participant or accompanying third-party member should their behaviour be deemed to be anti-social, or a danger to others, themselves, or site infrastructure, and the aforementioned parties may be permanently excluded from future Experiences, and / or from the Venue itself. No refunds will be given under these circumstances.
15. Availability, Ticketing, Black Out Dates, Events Outside our Control, and the Weather
Our Experiences are non-transferrable and non-refundable, and are offered subject to availability of dates, staff and facilities; adverse weather and any other act, event, omission or accident beyond Our reasonable control.
If We are unable to run your Experience due to extreme adverse weather conditions or other material events beyond Our control, We will notify you and you will be able to re-book your Experience for a later date/time provided that you contact Us within 14 days of your cancelled date. The rescheduled Experience must be booked within 3 months of the original cancelled date.
You will be unable to book Experiences on dates which coincide with certain Venue events (“Black Out Date/s”) which includes but is not limited to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
Due to the karting circuit sharing some facilities with the Venue, participants and any accompanying guests may require additional accreditation, ticketing or other general access to enter the Venue on a given day, notified to them from time to time. If a Venue event or Black Out Date is rescheduled in a way which affects your Experience, We will notify you, and you can either continue with the same Experience with having purchased the additional required accreditation (an event ticket) where possible, or reschedule the Experience within three (3) months of the original cancelled date provided that you contact Us within 14 days of your cancelled date. The rescheduled Experience must be booked within 3 months of the original cancelled date. If this is not possible We may offer a refund at Our sole discretion.
16. Changes to Experiences
We reserve the right to cancel, alter, amend, and postpone bookings of Experiences in exceptional circumstances at Our sole discretion.
We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised prices for Experiences, however such changes will not affect any Experience where it has already been booked and paid for.
17. Changes of Plan
If the nominated participant for any Experience is unable to attend and you wish to send a replacement, We can accept substitutes up to the time of registration on the designated date and time of the Experience, provided We have written authorisation from either the purchaser or the original participant and the nominated substitute complies with all other necessary criteria as set out in these Terms and Conditions. We reserve the right to levy an administration fee for any changes to a booking.
18. Statutory Rights
Your statutory rights are not affected by these Terms and Conditions.
19. Insurance
We pride ourselves on Our impeccable safety standards, but motorsport activities can be dangerous, and accidents can happen. Participants acknowledge and accept the risk by your participation in an Experience by signing the Disclaimer.
