MightE, the UK-based electric powertrain supplier who secured exclusive Motorsport UK (MSUK) supplier status for the Bambino class in 2024, confirmed this week that they have gone on to secure official MSUK approval for their MightE Cadet class.
Posting on social media, MightE confirmed this approval means MightE Cadet is eligible to race at any Motorsport UK affiliated club nationwide. In 2026, MightE Cadet drivers will be eligible to race for a British National Title over 6 rounds at The Kart Championship, alongside the existing MightE Bambino class. This development gives young drivers a truly national platform to compete.
This news marks another key milestone in the growth of electric karting in the UK. Karting Hub featured an article on the performance of MightE's Bambino powertrain earlier this month.
Image credit: MightE Motorsport
British karting is going electric faster than anyone expected. MightE, a UK-based manufacturer, secured exclusive Motorsport UK supplier status for Bambino in 2024, marking the most significant grassroots karting shift in decades. The debut season saw grids grow to capacity, and the system now expands into Cadet racing through SuperOne Championship's 12-round 2025 series. For club racers navigating karting's notoriously complex engine world, MightE promises something radical: near-zero maintenance costs, guaranteed performance parity, and a level playing field where driver skill, rather than mechanical expertise or budget, determines results.
Performance and technical capabilities
The MightE Bambino Gen 4 powertrain centres on a 50.4V 35Ah lithium-ion battery delivering approximately 2HP through a brushless motor. Performance matches the outgoing Comer C50 petrol engine at 25-30mph, but instant torque from zero RPM provides superior acceleration out of tight corners where petrol engines bog down. Runtime reaches 60 minutes, with batteries rated for 500 charge cycles minimum. The Cadet powertrain matches Rotax Micro Max lap times and features fast charging under 45 minutes plus 30-second battery swapping.
Safety engineering meets FIA low voltage standards below 60V in all conditions. The Advanced Inverter Control Unit ensures identical performance across all powertrains - eliminating the notorious "engine lottery" where some petrol units inexplicably outperform others. Installation takes under 30 minutes initially, dropping to 10 minutes for reinstallation on any Motorsport UK-registered Bambino chassis.
"The other element that really appealed to me is the fact that all the electric powertrains are exactly the same for every child. It takes away the focus of the father spending more time in the garage or at the track working on the engine and shifts the focus back to the driver. Which is I think how it should be."
Nick Tandy, Le Mans winner and parent of MightE racer
However, limitations exist. The technology currently serves only Bambino (ages 6-8) and Cadet (ages 8-13) categories, with Junior/Senior expansion planned. The 60-minute runtime requires spare batteries or five-hour charging between sessions—though Cadet's fast-charging option partially addresses this. Cold weather affects lithium battery performance, and electronic failures require specialised knowledge beyond traditional mechanical repairs.
The MightE powertrain
Cost analysis: long-term savings despite higher entry price
The MightE Bambino costs £3,625 outright (£3,042 ex-rental), whilst Cadet lists at £4,458—or £1,950 annually through rental programmes. Traditional petrol alternatives show lower initial costs: IAME X30 engines run £3,600-£4,000 new (£1,000-£1,500 secondhand), Rotax Max £2,730-£3,276, and TKM units approximately £800-£1,000 new.
The financial equation transforms dramatically examining ongoing costs. MightE maintenance approaches zero—no oil changes, spark plugs, carburettor adjustments, or engine rebuilds. Electricity costs roughly £0.50-£0.60 per charge. Conversely, IAME X30 engines require top-end rebuilds every 15-20 hours (£250-£340), bottom-end rebuilds every 25-30 hours, plus fuel, oil, and consumables totalling £500-£600 annually.
Over three club racing seasons (30 race days annually), an IAME X30 programme costs approximately £18,500-£20,000 including purchase, running costs, and rebuilds. The MightE Cadet purchased outright totals just £6,301 after the 30% guaranteed buyback value—saving over £12,000. Even rental at £9,030 for three years substantially undercuts petrol equivalents.
Parents also report hidden savings: no specialist tools required, no engine builder fees, no transportation for servicing, and critically, unlimited practice without wearing out engines. One three-year MightE veteran states: "Had we raced petrol karts I would not have been able to navigate the minefield and cost of the engines. In our third year, having done 40+ race weekends and 100+ test days I can vouch for their reliability."
Maintenance drops to essentially chassis-only servicing: battery charging, tyre rotation, brake pads (reduced frequency due to regenerative braking), suspension, and chain tension. Technical expertise requirements plummet compared to petrol karting's demands for air/fuel mixture tuning, temperature/humidity compensation, and engine rebuilding skills.
Where to race: venues and championship support
MightE racing occurs at major UK circuits including Whilton Mill (which hosted the inaugural Motorsport UK O Plate for Electric Bambino in September 2024), PF International, Warden Law, Shenington, GYG Karting, Wombwell, Forest Edge, Rye House, Bayford Meadows, and Nutts Corner. Infrastructure requirements remain minimal—systems charge via standard domestic supply without dedicated charging stations.
MightE enjoys Motorsport UK's exclusive two-year supplier agreement (2024-2026) for Bambino Owner Driver. Hugh Chambers, Motorsport UK CEO, stated: "We have an opportunity to demonstrate innovation while showing the emerging generation that sustainable technology has a place in highly-competitive motorsport."
SuperOne National Kart Championships now features dedicated MightE Bambino and Cadet classes across 12 rounds in 2025 (entry fees £189 per weekend plus £150 registration). The Kart Championship includes MightE classes across six national rounds with global streaming. Champions Kart Club operates the dedicated Motorsport UK MightE Bambino Championship, which Dan Parker, Motorsport UK Head of Karting, describes as having an "extremely successful debut season" with "grids growing to capacity."
Regional championships include Ulster Karting Club (eight rounds), Forest Edge Championship, and Wombwell Championship. July 2024 race results show 22 karts competing in MightE Bambino finals—demonstrating genuine grid depth. The MightE Cadet powertrain entered Notice of Intent homologation until June 2025, with full certification expected for 2026 competition.
Motorsport UK's sustainability policy positions electric as "the future of Bambino" with Comer C50 petrol engines phasing out through 2025. This official backing provides confidence for families investing in equipment—unlike previous grassroots initiatives lacking governing body support.
Early adoption feedback and critical perspective
Feedback from early-adopters skews overwhelmingly positive - parents emphasise cost control, reliability, and fairness. One parent operating a Gen 2 unit for nearly two years and approximately 4,000 miles notes: "Faultless and very easy to maintain. What surprised me most was how well the battery operates in all weather conditions." Some kits have exceeded 6,000 miles whilst performing like new.
Critical perspectives prove difficult to locate - no forum discussions expressing significant scepticism, track operator complaints, or teams publicly criticising MightE emerged in our research. This may indicate genuine satisfaction, early adoption phase feedback limitations, or private discussions rather than public forums. While all the early signs appear promising, it's worth bearing in mind that the technology remains unproven long-term with only 18 months of operation.
The verdict
MightE presents the most viable electric karting option yet seen in the UK, backed by official recognition and delivering genuine cost advantages over three-season ownership. The performance parity system eliminates karting's "engine development arms race" where families spend thousands seeking marginal gains—transformative for non-mechanical parents.
However, caveats exist. The £3,625-£4,458 purchase price exceeds secondhand petrol alternatives despite long-term savings. The technology serves only Bambino/Cadet currently—families must eventually transition to petrol for Junior/Senior racing unless expansion materialises. Battery replacement costs remain undisclosed beyond the 12-month warranty. The 60-minute runtime constrains extended practice days without spare batteries compared to petrol's five-minute refuelling.
The £1,950 annual rental option deserves consideration for newcomers uncertain about long-term commitment, eliminating upfront investment risk whilst providing full championship racing access.
For club racers evaluating the transition: Performance matches petrol equivalents, costs drop dramatically after initial purchase, maintenance virtually disappears, and championship opportunities exist at national and club levels. Motorsport UK's official backing provides confidence unavailable with previous electric initiatives. For Bambino/Cadet racing through 2025-2027, MightE presents a thoroughly viable—perhaps superior—alternative to traditional petrol powertrains.
Britain's next generation of motorsport stars have once again proven their mettle on the international stage, with teenagers Kenzo Craigie and Noah Baglin delivering masterful performances to claim the prestigious Champions of the Future Euro Series titles in dramatic fashion at Sweden's Asum Ring.
The Kristianstad finale, which brought together more than 200 of the world's finest junior karting talents for the fifth and final round of the 2025 season, showcased exactly why British karting continues to produce Formula 1 calibre drivers. Both youngsters faced intense pressure in their respective categories but rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Fourteen-year-old Craigie arrived in Sweden as the OK class championship leader, though Spain's Christian Costoya and Belgium's Thibouat Ramaekers were breathing down his neck in the standings. Throughout a weekend of typically fierce European competition, all three title contenders remained at the sharp end, but it was Craigie's composed second-place finish in Sunday's final that secured the crown - following in the wheeltracks of fellow Brit Joe Turney, who claimed the same title in 2024.
Craigie's triumph was all the more impressive given his young age and the calibre of opposition. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Junior Programme member has been on the radar of F1 talent scouts since dominating the British karting scene in 2023. His credentials were further enhanced last season with a stunning OK-Junior campaign that included victory at the FIA Karting World Championship and a third-place finish in the Champions of the Future Euro Series.
Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Noah Baglin faced an even steeper mountain to climb in the OK-Junior category. Entering the finale weekend 31 points behind Australia's William Calleja, the young Brit's championship hopes appeared slim. However, Baglin produced a drive that will be remembered for years to come, surging into the lead on just the second lap of the final and never relinquishing his advantage.
With maximum points secured and Calleja failing to score, Baglin completed one of the most remarkable championship comebacks in recent European karting history. The Ferrari Driver Academy member's victory demonstrates the sort of racecraft and mental fortitude that has seen previous FDA graduates like Callum Ilott and Ollie Bearman progress to Formula 1.
The British success didn't end there, with Joe Turney adding to his impressive palmares with a fifth-place championship finish, whilst Roman Kamyab and Noah Wolfe also secured top-ten positions in the ultra-competitive OK class. In OK-Junior, Henry Domain's fourth overall championship position further underlined the strength in depth of British junior talent.
These results continue Britain's remarkable tradition of producing world-class karting talent. The Champions of the Future Euro Series has become a crucial stepping stone for aspiring F1 drivers, with many current grid stars having cut their teeth in this championship during their formative years.
For Craigie and Baglin, these European titles represent significant milestones in what promise to be exciting careers. With backing from two of Formula 1's most successful teams and clear natural talent, both youngsters will be hoping to follow the path blazed by Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon - all of whom started their journey to F1 in British karting.
The success also reflects well on the strength of Britain's grassroots karting infrastructure. From local club meetings to the British Kart Championships, the pathway that has nurtured these talents continues to prove its worth on the international stage. As attention turns to 2026, British karting can look forward with confidence, knowing the next generation is already making their mark at the highest level.
Both Craigie and Baglin will be ones to watch as they continue their progression through the motorsport ranks, with their Champions of the Future success providing the perfect platform for the challenges ahead.
Britain's most prestigious one-off karting event returned to PF International from 31 July to 3 August 2025, with drivers from across the UK competing for the coveted GP plates. The Kartmasters GP, which allows winners to display the GP plate throughout the year at all Motorsport UK events, featured six competitive classes including WaterSwift Restricted, MicroMax WaterSwift, MiniMax 950, Junior Max X30, Junior X30 Senior, and Senior Max. The four-day format provided drivers with extensive track time, including free practice on Thursday, qualifying and heats on Friday and Saturday, before culminating in repechage races and finals on Sunday.
The event maintained its reputation as the UK's blue-riband karting competition. Motorsport UK TV provided live coverage throughout finals day, with commentary from Henry Beaudette and Andrew Mather, whilst Kai Bachini and Xander Clements delivered trackside reporting. Entry fees of £425 reflected the championship's national status, with minimum National Licence requirements ensuring a competitive field of experienced drivers.
Championship racing intensifies at Kimbolton and Whilton Mill
The Wera Tools British Kart Championship maintained its packed schedule with rounds at Kimbolton from 8-10 August and Whilton Mill from 28-30 August. The Cambridgeshire venue of Kimbolton, a former Second World War bomber base, hosted crucial mid-season rounds as championship battles reached critical phases ahead of the autumn finale.
The late August event at Whilton Mill carried added significance beyond standard BKC rounds. The weekend marked the inaugural Motorsport UK T4 'O' Plate for the Tillotson T4 Class, making history as the first official O Plate awarded to the affordable four-stroke karting category. The T4 series, which features European-style chassis paired with low-maintenance four-stroke engines, has established itself as an accessible entry point for newcomers and returning adult drivers.
The T4 Class competed in two categories at Whilton Mill: T4 Junior for drivers aged 12-15 and T4 Senior for drivers aged 15 and upwards. The inclusion of the T4 O Plate represented a significant endorsement from Motorsport UK, elevating the class's status within British karting's official competition structure.
British 24-hour endurance race tests limits at Teesside
The British 24-hour endurance race returned to Teesside International Circuit on 9-10 August 2025, challenging teams on what organisers bill as the UK's longest and fastest kart circuit. At 2.1 kilometres with an average track width of 10 metres, the demanding layout provides constant overtaking opportunities, with lap times hovering in the low 1:20s and drivers facing gruelling 90-minute stints.
The event attracted both hire kart teams, competing in rental twin-engine 200cc machines, and owner-driver entries in their own equipment. Hire kart teams paid £2,100 for four to ten drivers, whilst owner-driver teams entered for £1,250 including fuel. The track's distinctive features include the notorious Rib Bend, where karts briefly become airborne, and the challenging 'D chicane' complex at the start-finish straight.
With its marathon format requiring precise driver rotation, mechanical reliability, and consistent pace across 24 hours of racing, the event represents the ultimate test of team endurance racing in British karting. The sheer physical demands of 90-minute driving stints, combined with maintaining concentration throughout the night, separate the strongest teams from the rest of the field.
Digital racing expands reach
The KartSim Esports UK Championship, running in partnership with Motorsport UK, opened qualifications for its third round on 25 August, closing on 31 August. The virtual competition featured two categories: Cadet Karters aged 8-11 driving the IAME WaterSwift Unrestricted model, and Seniors aged 12-plus in X30 Senior karts. The online qualifiers determined the top 30 drivers in each class for the virtual finals at Whilton Mill.
The growth of esports karting provides an accessible pathway for drivers without access to physical equipment, whilst offering current competitors valuable simulation practice. With the championship finals streamed live on the KartSim YouTube channel on 3 September, the series connects professional karters with esports enthusiasts in a competitive environment.
