Armed Forces Karting Championship

Last updated
Armed Forces Karting Championship
Category Kart racing
Country United Kingdom
Inaugural season2011
ClassesPremier, Endurance
Official website rafmsa.co.uk

The Armed Forces Karting Championship (AFKC), formerly the Inter-Service Kart Championship and the RAF Kart Championship, is a karting competition run for teams and drivers serving in or otherwise associated with the RAF, Royal Navy and British Army. It was first staged in 2011, evolving out the RAF competitions that had been staged for many years, but which had long welcomed karters from the other services.

The Championship is normally held over 6 or 7 rounds between April and September each year, and runs two classes of racing which are usually both run during a race weekend. All events are run by the RAFMSA in conjunction with the RNRMMSA and BAMA under the jurisdiction of the Motorsport UK.

The Premier Class is for high-performance karts with two-stroke engines up to 125cc. A variety of engines may be used including KF2, Rotax FR125, Parilla Leopard, PRD Fireball, IAME EasyKart 125, TKM BT82, TKM K4S and Parilla Lynx/Lynx Maxi, as well as the classic 100cc. Racing is on an individual basis, with each event usually consisting of three qualifying heats (around 10 minutes each), followed by a slightly longer final (around 12 minutes). There are two championship categories: ‘Serving Military’ for serving military personnel, and 'Overall' for all drivers. The Wally Pape Trophy is awarded to the best novice during the season, whilst the RAF Individual Kart Championship for serving RAF personnel is also contested at a nominated round.

The Endurance Class is for twin-engined Honda GX-160 powered Pro-Karts and is where most new drivers start. Races are usually between two and three hours in duration, and involve teams representing stations, units and other formations. There are two championship categories: 'Serving Military' for teams entered by station and unit clubs, and 'Overall' for all teams. A Station/Unit Trophy is also contested between station and unit clubs.

Endurance Class Winners

YearMilitary ChampionOverall ChampionStation/Unit TrophyInter-Service Cup
RAF Kart Championship
2009 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Brize Norton Boyz Red Bull Asylum Seekers
2010 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Cosford CatchupsSilver Fox Racing Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Cosford
Inter-Service Kart Championship
2011 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Brize Norton MortsJIZM Racing I Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Brize Norton
2012 Flag of the British Army.svg Army Karting ISilver Fox Racing Flag of the British Army.svg Army Karting
2013 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Odiham MortsSilver Fox Racing Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham
2014 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls ISilver Fox Racing Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Digby
2015 Flag of the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom).svg MOD St Athan MortsSilver Fox Racing Flag of the British Army.svg Army Karting
2016 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls ISilver Fox Racing Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
2017 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls I Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls I Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Waddington Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
2018 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls ISWKC Racing Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
2019 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls I Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls I Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Armed Forces Karting Championship
2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Marham Blue Bulls IIMonkey Motorsport Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Waddington Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
2022 Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Brize Norton Knights IWraith Racing I Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg RAF Waddington Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
2023 Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Fleet Air Arm IMonkey Motorsport II Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Fleet Air Arm Flag of the British Army.svg British Army