If you feel that your pre-teen/teen is the next Lewis Hamilton or Danica Patrick, then our youth kart racing leagues are for you! Our Junior Challenge GP league is designed for children who are 4′ to 4’10” in height and our Teen Challenge GP league is designed for children who are 4’10” and taller and under the age of 18. Both leagues are held on the same evening.
Taller than 4′-10″? Click here for our Teen Challenge GP information
Over 18 years of age? Click here for our Adult Challenge GP information.
NOTE: Beginning with March’s event, participants must not be an employee of K1 Speed, or the relative of an employee at K1 Speed at any time during the season. Otherwise, their points will be omitted.
2025 Junior Challenge GP Schedule
Registration starts at 6:00 pm and ends at 6:30 pm. Racing begins promptly at 6:30pm.
A minimum of 3 participants is required to run each event. Be advised that if there are 13 or more racers the event time will be dramatically increased due to expanded race heats. Racers are only allowed to race in 1 league.
JANUARY 7TH
Burbank 1/12
FEBRUARY 4TH
MARCH 4TH
APRIL 1ST
MAY 6TH
JUNE 3RD
JULY 1ST
AUGUST 5TH
SEPTEMBER 2ND
OCTOBER 7TH
NOVEMBER 11TH*
DECEMBER 2ND
*Not on the first Tuesday of the Month
Pricing
Includes:
- 12-Mini grand prix races (12 lap qualifier/12 position race)
- Grid standing start final race w/ Viewpoint Onboard Camera included
- Prizes and awards at the end of the season
ONLY
$52.95
per event
Points
- Points based on total number of racers that compete in final heat . (15 racers means 1st place gets 15 points)
- 1 points less for each following place. (Same example, 2nd place gets 14 points, 3rd 13, etc.)
- 1 bonus point awarded for having the fastest qualifying time (pole position).
- If at the end of the season, there is a points tie, the driver with the best podium record will win.
- Points earned at a center apply only to that center’s league and cannot be transferred to point standings at other locations.
Racing Format
- There will be one qualifying round consisting of 12 laps. Your single fastest lap time from the qualifier will be used to determine your position at the start of the final race.
- The final race will consist of a 12-lap race for position and will begin as a grid standing start.
- There will only be ONE grid standing start! No restarts are allowed.
- If a racer causes an intentional or avoidable incident (crash, spin-out, etc.) that results in loss-of-position for the other driver, then the racer-at-fault is sent to the back of the grid. The innocent driver will resume the race from wherever they rejoined the field. (e.g.: if they were second and drop back to fifth as a result of the incident, they’ll continue in fifth position, not second).
- New drivers will be evenly distributed within qualifying groups.
- No equipment allowing driver-to-driver, or driver-to-spotter communication allowed.
Mechanical Issues
- There will be no switching of karts at anytime during both qualifying sessions unless there is a mechanical failure or accident, which caused damage to a kart.
- You will be able to remove a kart after the first round of qualifying.
- You will be able to remove a kart after the second round of qualifying (final JL race of the year only).
- There will be no switching of karts during a final race unless there is a severe mechanical failure.
Junior Challenge GP FAQs
How Do I Sign Up My Kid for the Junior Challenge GP?
It couldn’t be any easier to sign your kid up for our Junior Challenge GP series. All you have to do is visit your local center at 6:00 pm the night of the race, pay the registration fee, and they’ll go racing at 6:30 pm!
What Does My Child Need To Go Racing?
All your child needs to race in our Challenge GP is an active K1 Speed license (just $7.95 if they don’t already have one) and closed-toe shoes. We’ll provide the helmet and the go-kart!
My Child Turns 13 During the Season. Can They Still Race as a Junior or Do They Have to Move Up to the Teen League?
If your child turns 13 during the year, they can still finish the current season as a junior and can compete in the State/National/World Championships in this division. They can move up to the teen division once they meet the height requirement of our adult karts (58″ or 4’10”). However, they will have to forfeit any points accrued as a junior since no racer can compete in two different divisions simultaneously.
Can Racers Compete in Challenge GP at Different Locations During the Year?
Yes, racers can race in any location’s Challenge GP races during the year. HOWEVER, points will not transfer from one location to the other. For example, if one typically races at our Irvine location, goes on vacation to Denver, and races in their league, any points earned in Denver will not carry over to Irvine, and vice versa.
Your Road to the World Championship Starts Here.
See the 2025 Qualification Rules for 2026 Championship!
2024 Junior U.S. & World Championship Recap
On April 13th and 14th, we hosted our very first K1 Speed Junior U.S. Championship and Junior World Championship!
Check out the full recap now and see how our young racers did!
Choose your location from the dropdown to view Challenge GP results.
Learn More About Our Youth Racing League
We believe that there is no better way for youths to become involved with kart racing than with our youth racing league! The annual series is affordable, safe, accessible, and is intended to serve as an introduction to racing. As the season progresses, drivers are able to use their experience to continuously improve their performance, and our timing system provides objective results that can be compared to previous races. We are proud of our youth kart league and are confident that you will not be disappointed with it!
During the series, each driver will participate in a Mini Grand Prix format race, consisting of a qualifying session to determine the starting order for the final race, and then that final race for track position. In the final round of the season drivers will compete in a full Grand Prix format race, which includes a practice session, qualifying session and 12 lap final race. Our 12-round series provides participants with the opportunity to experience the thrill of wheel-to-wheel racing, allows for extensive seat time, and rewards top finishers with prizes and trophies. Needless to say, we highly recommend it!
Additionally, K1 Speed junior kart racing league provides children with invaluable lessons not only on racing, but sportsmanship and camaraderie as well. We believe that our youth kart league is a great way to spend time with your son or daughter and can serve as a wonderful learning experience for both! If you would like your child to become involved in karting competition, reserve a spot for your child in our racing league today, as space is limited!