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The foundations for a racing career are laid in karting. But even if a racing career isn’t in your (or your kid’s) future, karting is still a blast. Too bad it’s prohibitively expensive for average families. Toyota knows this, and while it’s obviously still a business, the Japanese automaker cared enough to build an affordable machine that can be hauled to the track in the back of a minivan. It’s called the GR Kart, and seemingly everything about it is made to make life easier on owners.
For starters, it costs the Japanese equivalent of $2,495, which is thousands less than competitors. We’re talking about a 215cc kart, after all. I asked my coworker Jerry Perez for some context, given that he has legit kart racing experience. He explained that you’d easily spend three times that much (if not more) when building a similar package with parts from other reputable chassis and engine suppliers—think TonyKart, Birel, and the like. Then there’s the fact that you don’t need to purchase a trailer, a truck, or any specialized equivalent to tote it around. Toyota says it’ll fit snugly in a Noah or Voxy minivan; both are smaller than the Sienna we get in the U.S.
You can also store it upright, if that fits your setup better. It has a specialized engine oil catch tank, a float-chamber-free diaphragm carburetor, and a fuel filler that’s specifically designed to minimize leakage when stood straight up. Not having to drain all the gas and oil out of the machine every time you transport it is a huge plus.
Is this a response to the Honda Motocompo? Well, no. But they both fit in the back of a car, so they have that going for them. Toyota
The GR Kart is also quite adjustable, fitting drivers between 53 and 73 inches tall. (I’m 77 inches tall, but then again, I’m used to being too big for karts.) That means multiple family members can drive the same kart, and if there’s a minimum weight requirement in your class, there’s space for 33 pounds (15 kilograms) of ballast.
Finally, the kart’s design was built for easy maintenance. It’s belt-driven rather than chain-driven, so you don’t have to oil it. An automatic tensioner also removes the need to adjust it before each outing. The battery charges itself, and the primer pump readies the carb before starting. Turnkey is the focus, then, and you don’t have to worry about rusty axle shafts or degrading fuel lines inside the tank because they’re all made of stainless steel. Nice!
Toyota
You’re probably wondering by now if you can buy the GR Kart in the United States. Sadly, you cannot. It’s only available for purchase at select tracks in Japan—which Toyota lists by region in its press release—or certain GR Garage locations. I’m not sure anything is stopping you from shipping one to the States, but since most kart classes here are capped at 100cc and 125cc, it might be too big.
Either way, cheaper motorsports is something almost anybody can get behind. Chalk this up as another reason to move to Japan.
Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com
From running point on new car launch coverage to editing long-form features and reviews, Caleb does some of everything at The Drive. And he really, really loves trucks.
