British Universities Karting Championship

Collegiate kart racing championship in the United Kingdom

British Universities Karting Championship

BUKC logo since 2011

Category| Kart racing
Country| United Kingdom
Affiliations| Motorsport UK
Inaugural season| 2001; 24 years ago (2001)
Classes| Premier, Clubman, Intermediate
Teams| 126
Manufacturers| Club100
Chassis suppliers| Birel ART
Engine suppliers| Rotax
Tyre suppliers| Dunlop
Drivers' champion|  Jack Finch
(University of Birmingham)
Teams' champion|

* Bath Bath
* (Premier)
* Loughborough Loughborough
* (Clubman)
* West of England West of England
* (Intermediate)

Official website| Official website

The British Universities Karting Championship (BUKC) is a university-based kart racing series in the United Kingdom operated by Club100 and licensed by Motorsport UK. Founded in 2001, the championship is contested by 126 teams from a pool of 115 universities, making it one of the largest karting competitions in the world.

The BUKC is unique in collegiate karting by using two-stroke engines: since 2019, it has operated with Rotax Junior Max engines on a Birel ART chassis. Each season takes place across five main rounds in three classes, followed by the annual Drivers' Championship and 24 Hour Race. Loughborough University and Oxford Brookes University hold the record for most national championships, each having won the BUKC on six occasions. The reigning champions are the University of Bath, who beat Cardiff University by three points in the 2025 season.

Current and former BUKC entrants have included a Formula One driver and two FIA World Endurance Vice-Champions, as well as several national karting champions, Formula Two, Formula Three, British Touring Car, GT3, and GT4 drivers. BUKC alumni have won numerous major motorsport titles, including the: 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, British GT Championship, European Le Mans Series, Nürburgring 24 Hours, American Le Mans Series, Italian Superturismo Championship, 24 Hours of Spa, Britcar Endurance Championship, and Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.

## History

[edit]

### Establishment

[edit]

The BUKC, originally called the Inter University Karting Championship (IUKC), was founded in 2001 by students Will Tew and Tom Batho of Imperial College London.[1] The inaugural IUKC season was organised by students from Cardiff University and the University of Nottingham, operated using four-stroke variety karts.[2]

### Association with Club100 (2002–present)

[edit]

#### TKM era (2002–2018)

[edit]

In 2002, the IUKC began an association with Club100, who supplied a fleet of two-stroke Formula TKM karts, becoming the first university karting championship to be run with two-stroke engines. The season was contested by 32 teams over four rounds, and won by Loughborough University.

In 2003, the format was altered, with a fifth round added; the championship renamed to the British Universities Karting Championship. In order to keep the organisation consistent and the relationship with Club100 strong, Batho and Tew founded 3T Racing Ltd in 2003 as an independent governing body for the championship.[3]

Between 2004 and 2006, Oxford Brookes University won three consecutive titles led by James Gornall, remaining the only university to complete a three-peat in the BUKC as of 2024.

Emanuele Pirro entered the first round of the 2015 season at Rye House as an independent entrant, becoming the first Formula One driver to compete in the BUKC.[4] The season was contested by 90 teams, with 13 qualifying for the Premier class and 13 for the Intermediate.[5] The winners of the 2015 Drivers' Championship qualified for the Red Bull Kart Fight at Buckmore Park.[6]

In 2018, the final season of the TKM era, Oxford Brookes became the first—and to this date, only—team to have achieved a 1–2 finish in the Premier class championship standings. Across nine rounds, Oxford Brookes A and B won six rounds with 12 podiums, achieving a 1–2 finish in qualifiers and round one. Oxford Brookes C also managed to finish the championship in ninth.

The final BUKC event raced with TKM engines was the 2019 season qualifiers at Whilton Mill in November 2018, won by Brunel University London and the University of Birmingham on the Friday and Saturday, respectively.

#### Rotax era (2019–present)

[edit]

For 2019, Club100 replaced their fleet of Formula TKM karts with Rotax karts, utilising their Evo technology,[7] ending a 17-year tenure of the BUKC using TKM karts.

To mark the new era, the championship was re-divided into three classes: Premier, Clubman and Intermediate (previously Premier, Intermediate and Rookie). The Premier and Clubman class championships are competed in the same races, with Intermediate the day after being targeted at less experienced drivers and teams. The BUKC partnered with Racing Pride that year.[8]

Coventry University are the only team to win multiple championships in the Rotax era, winning back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, Loughborough won their record-breaking sixth Premier class championship, with Oxford Brookes equalling this one year later.

The championship is contested by 126 teams from 65 universities over five main rounds, including qualifiers, with over 1,300 licensed drivers.[9]

## Format

[edit]

The BUKC uses a unique format that races in teams of four drivers, taking place across a number of rounds throughout the academic year at several world-class kart circuits in the United Kingdom.

### Qualifiers

[edit]

Qualifiers is a pre-championship round that takes place to determine which teams qualify for each class championship. The results of the round count towards each championship.

The championship qualifiers take place across 14 qualifying sessions, followed by 14 respective sprint races. The event is split over two days in randomly generated groups.

Of the 126 teams that enter qualifiers: 26 qualify for the Premier class championship, 28 for Clubman, and 54 for Intermediate.

### Premier/Clubman class championships

[edit]

In the Premier/Clubman class championships, commonly known as mains, each round takes place across six back-to-back races with randomly generated grids.

Each mains round is competed in one of two formats: sprint or endurance. In a mains sprint round, the six races alternate between lightweight (75 kg) and heavyweight (82 kg) races.

The sprint format is where each driver in the team gets to race in their own individual 25-minute race with no fuel stops or driver changes. Each team's score for the round is determined by the best three results from the four sprint races entered.

The endurance format splits each team into duos. Each duo competes in a one-hour endurance race. Two fuel stops a minimum of one driver change must be made by each duo. Each team's score for the round is determined by the points from both races entered.[10]

### Intermediate class championship

[edit]

In the Intermediate class championship, commonly known as inters, each round takes place across six qualifying sessions, followed by six respective sprint races.

In an inters round, each race is run to a 75 kg minimum weight.

### Points system

[edit]

Points are awarded for each race in increments of one, with the highest-finishing eligible driver receiving 60. Unlike other motorsport series, there are no points awarded for pole position or fastest lap.

In a sprint round, the best three results from each team are counted towards the points tally for the round, whereas both sets of results count in an endurance round.

The same championship points system is awarded for each overall round, with the best seven rounds from each mains team's campaign counting towards their final tally, and the best four from each inters team, both including qualifiers.

In the event of a tie in either a round or the championship standings, a countback system is used.

## Karts

[edit]

Main article: Club100

The BUKC are partnered with Club100 to provide karts for the championship, who operate the largest arrive-and-drive kart fleet in Europe.[11] The two-stroke 125cc Rotax engines produce over 20 hp, and are capable of speeds in excess of 70 mph.

The karts use slick Dunlop tyres in all weather conditions, with Club100 citing the logistical challenges faced with changing the tyres on over 50 karts.

### Kart specification

[edit]

In 2019, the BUKC moved from air-cooled Formula TKM engines to Rotax.[7]

Chassis  | Birel ART N35X[12]

|

Engine  | Rotax Junior MAX Evo 125cc[12]
Carburettor  | Dell'Orto F34mm fixed-jet[12]
Transmission  | Clutch, chain drive[12]
Brakes  | Kelgate K[12]
Tyres  | Dunlop KE1[12]
Power  | Free-revving 20 hp two-stroke[12]

## Circuits

[edit]

See also: Kart circuit

### Current and former circuits

[edit]

Since 2013, the BUKC has raced at 13 different venues. Glan Y Gors and Llandow are the only tracks the BUKC has raced at outside of England, both being situated in Wales. The BUKC is yet to race in either Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Buckmore Park

PF International

Whilton Mill

Warden Law

Glan Y Gors

Clay Pigeon

Shenington

Llandow

Three Sisters

Hooton Park

Rye House

Bayford Meadows

Teesside Autodrome

class=notpageimage|

Location of British Universities Karting Championship venues since 2013.
Current venues in bold. 24 Hour Race venues in italics.

## Calendar

[edit]

For the 2024 season, five rounds took place at four venues across the United Kingdom: Whilton Mill, PF International, Buckmore Park and Warden Law. The post-season 24 Hour Race took place at Teesside Autodrome.

Round  | Circuit  | Date  | Winning team  | Runners-up  | Third place  | Results

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Q | Sat |  Whilton Mill
(National Circuit, Northamptonshire) | 18 November 2023  | Oxford Brookes A  | Reading Reading A  | Sheffield Sheffield A  | Results
Sun | 19 November 2023  | Southampton Southampton A  | Coventry Coventry A  | Loughborough Loughborough B  | Results
1  | R1 |  PF International
(International Circuit, Lincolnshire) | 7 February 2024  | Coventry Coventry A  | Loughborough Loughborough B  | Bath Bath A  | Results
R2 | Reading Reading A  | Liverpool Liverpool A  | Coventry Coventry A  | Results
I1 | 8 February 2024  | UCL UCL A  | Derby Derby A  | Oxford Brookes C  | Results
2  | R3 |  Buckmore Park
(International Circuit, Kent) | 14 February 2024  | Southampton Southampton A  | Bath Bath A  | Cardiff Cardiff A  | Results
R4 | Southampton Southampton A  | Birmingham Birmingham A  | Exeter Exeter A  | Results
I2 | 15 February 2024  | Brighton A  | Edinburgh Edinburgh B  | SurreySurrey B  | Results
3  | R5 |  Warden Law
(International Circuit, Tyne and Wear) | 6 March 2024  | Southampton Southampton A  | Reading Reading A  | Birmingham Birmingham A  | Results
R6 | Bath Bath A  | Reading Reading A  | Cardiff Cardiff A  | Results
I3 | 7 March 2024  | Coventry Coventry D  | UCL UCL A  | Bristol Bristol B  | Results
4  | R7 |  Whilton Mill
(International Circuit, Northamptonshire) | 5 April 2024  | Bath Bath A  | Cardiff Cardiff A  | Reading Reading A  | Results
R8 | Bath Bath A  | Reading Reading A  | SurreySurrey A  | Results
I4 | 6 April 2024  | Swansea Swansea C  | Birmingham Birmingham C  | Bristol Bristol B  | Results
24H |  Teesside Autodrome
(International Circuit, North Yorkshire) | 15–16 June 2024  | Exeter Exeter A  | Central Lancashire Central Lancashire A  | Lancaster Lancaster A  | Results

## Universities

[edit]

See also: List of universities in the United Kingdom

The championship is open to entries from any institution of higher education in the United Kingdom. Each university may be represented by more than one team of four drivers; Loughborough University fielded three teams in 2008, with many universities following suit. In 2022, Oxford Brookes University became the first university to successfully qualify six teams for the mains championship, with five qualifying for the Premier class.

Loughborough and Oxford Brookes are the joint-most successful teams in BUKC history, each achieving six Premier class championships. The series is most popular among universities in the South of England; however, Wales is also well represented, including Cardiff University, Swansea University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, the latter finishing second overall in the 2009 season.[citation needed] Swansea won the 2018 24 Hour Race.

In 2009, the University of Edinburgh became the first Scottish team to enter the championship, with nearby Heriot-Watt University following in 2010. The University of the West of Scotland became the third Scottish team to join in 2015. Edinburgh Napier, St Andrews, Glasgow and Strathclyde have joined the championship since then. A joint entry between Heriot-Watt and UWS won the 2016 24 Hour Race, and Strathclyde won the tertiary championship in 2018 and 2020, becoming the only non-English championship-winning team in BUKC history.

In 2014, the Dublin Institute of Technology, now known as TU Dublin, became the first Irish university to race in the BUKC, taking part in the inaugural post-season 24 Hour Race in June, although they have yet to enter an official round of the championship. TU Dublin have since won the event twice, in 2022 and 2023.

A full list of registered universities can be found on the official BUKC website.

## Live coverage

[edit]

The championship is broadcast live on YouTube by Alpha Live with live footage, commentary provided by John Ratcliffe and Reeve Taylor, alongside interviews from Piers Prior for all Premier and Clubman class races.

The opening race of the 2024 season at PF International had a record viewership of over 11 thousand people with a season average of 10.1 thousand,[13] comparable to viewership of BUCS Super Rugby, whose live coverage averaged 8.73 thousand viewers in the 2023–24 season (including play-offs).[14]

Alpha Timing provide live timing for each BUKC event, including testing and qualifiers, via their website.

## Champions

[edit]

As of the 2024 season, 10 different universities have won the Premier class championship across 24 seasons: Nottingham, Loughborough, Leeds, Oxford Brookes, Hertfordshire, Bath, Coventry, Huddersfield, Exeter and Reading.[15] All Premier championship-winning teams in the BUKC have been from England.

Loughborough and Oxford Brookes hold the joint-record for most Premier class titles, each with six. Coventry are the only team to win multiple championships in the Rotax era, taking back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020. The three teams have dominated the championship since its inception, winning 16 of the 25 championships altogether, including seven consecutively from 2016 to 2022.

As of 2025, Nottingham, Exeter and Reading are the only championship-winning universities who do not offer automotive engineering at an undergraduate level, the former two of which still offer mechanical engineering.

### By year

[edit]

Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

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2001  | Nottingham Nottingham | Various
2002  | Loughborough Loughborough |  TKM
2003  | Leeds Leeds |  TKM
2004  | Oxford Brookes |  TKM
2005  | Oxford Brookes |  TKM
2006  | Oxford Brookes |  TKM
2007  | Hertfordshire Hertfordshire |  TKM
2008  | Loughborough Loughborough |  TKM | B
2009  | Oxford Brookes |  TKM | B
2010  | Loughborough Loughborough |  TKM | B
2011  | Bath Bath |  TKM | B
2012  | Loughborough Loughborough |  TKM | B
2013  | Hertfordshire Hertfordshire |  TKM | B
2014  | Coventry Coventry |  TKM | V
2015  | Huddersfield Huddersfield |  TKM | V | 2  | 8  | 414  | 98.571 (95.926)  | Oxford Brookes | 3  | Coventry Coventry | Results[verification needed]
2016  | Coventry Coventry |  TKM | V
2017  | Loughborough Loughborough |  TKM | B
2018  | Oxford Brookes A  |  TKM | B | 4  | 6  | 413  | 98.333 (94.444)  | Oxford Brookes B  | 5  | Huddersfield Huddersfield | Results
2019  | Coventry Coventry |  TKM
Rotax | B | 2  | 3  | 405  | 96.429 (92.778)  | Loughborough Loughborough | 1  | Oxford Brookes | Results
2020  | Coventry Coventry |  Rotax | B | 4  | 6  | 412  | 98.095 (92.407)  | Oxford Brookes | 1  | Exeter Exeter | Results
2021  | Loughborough Loughborough |  Rotax | B | 5  | 6  | 359  | 99.722 (97.292)  | Cambridge Cambridge | 7  | Oxford Brookes | Results
2022  | Oxford Brookes |  Rotax | B | 3  | 5  | 408  | 97.143 (94.815)  | Exeter Exeter | 2  | Manchester Manchester | Results
2023  | Exeter Exeter |  Rotax | D | 4  | 8  | 417  | 99.286 (98.148)  | Oxford Brookes | 16  | Southampton Southampton | Results
2024  | Reading Reading |  Rotax | D | 1  | 6  | 411  | 97.857 (96.481)  | Bath Bath | 2  | Coventry Coventry | Results
2025  | Bath Bath |  Rotax | D | 1  | 4  | 349  | 96.944 (96.429)  | Cardiff Cardiff | 3  | Oxford Brookes | Results
Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

### By university

[edit]

University  | Titles  | Year(s)[15]

|
|

Loughborough Loughborough | 6  | 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2021
Oxford Brookes | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2018, 2022
Coventry Coventry | 4  | 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire | 2  | 2007, 2013
Bath Bath | 2011, 2025
Nottingham Nottingham | 1  | 2001
Leeds Leeds | 2003
Huddersfield Huddersfield | 2015
Exeter Exeter | 2023
Reading Reading | 2024

## Other championships

[edit]

### Clubman class championship (2012–present)

[edit]

Since 2019, the Clubman class has been the secondary championship to the Premier class, both taking place in the same races. Prior to 2019, the secondary championship was known as the Intermediate class. This table includes the Intermediate class champions prior to the introduction of the Clubman class.

Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

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2012  |  |  TKM | B
2013  |  |  TKM | B
2014  |  |  TKM | V
2015  | Durham Durham |  TKM | V | 0  | 0  | 333  | 79.286 (74.630)  | Southampton Southampton | 14  | Warwick Warwick | Results[verification needed]
2016  |  |  TKM | V
2017  |  |  TKM | B
2018  | Huddersfield Huddersfield |  TKM | B | 0  | 0  | 312  | 74.286 (68.333)  | Newcastle Newcastle | 3  | King's College King's College | Results
2019  | Sheffield Sheffield |  TKM
Rotax | B | 0  | 0  | 311  | 74.048 (67.037)  | Leeds Leeds | 15  | Kingston Kingston | Results
2020  | Birmingham Birmingham |  Rotax | B | 0  | 1  | 343  | 81.667 (77.963)  | Leeds Leeds | 14  | Sheffield Sheffield | Results
2021  | Leeds Leeds |  Rotax | B | 0  | 0  | 318  | 88.333 (84.583)  | East Anglia East Anglia | 17  | Oxford Brookes | Results
2022  | Brighton |  Rotax | B | 0  | 0  | 323  | 76.905 (72.778)  | Loughborough Loughborough | 12  | Cambridge Cambridge | Results
2023  | Nottingham Trent Nottingham Trent |  Rotax | D | 1  | 3  | 363  | 86.429 (74.630)  | Loughborough Loughborough | 5  | Coventry Coventry | Results
2024  | Warwick Warwick |  Rotax | D | 0  | 0  | 337  | 80.238 (73.333)  | Lancaster Lancaster | 4  | SurreySurrey | Results
2025  | Loughborough Loughborough |  Rotax | D | 0  | 0  | 272  | 75.556 (68.333)  | UCL UCL | 8  | Birmingham Birmingham | Results
Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

### Intermediate class championship (2012–present)

[edit]

Since 2019, the Intermediate class has been the tertiary championship to the Premier and Clubman classes, replacing the Rookie class. This table only includes the Intermediate class champions after the re-branding, as well as the previous Rookie class champions.

Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

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2012  |  |  TKM | B
2013  |  |  TKM | B
2014  |  |  TKM | V
2015  | Salford Salford |  TKM | V | 3  | 3  | 234  | 97.500  | West of England West of England | 4  | Huddersfield Huddersfield | Results[verification needed]
2016  |  |  TKM | V
2017  |  |  TKM | B
2018  | Strathclyde Strathclyde |  TKM | B | 3  | 4  | 239  | 99.583  | SurreySurrey | 3  | Edinburgh Edinburgh | Results
2019  | Bath Bath |  TKM
Rotax | B | 1  | 4  | 236  | 98.333 (97.667)  | Birmingham Birmingham | 2  | West of England West of England | Results
2020  | Strathclyde Strathclyde |  Rotax | B | 3  | 4  | 239  | 99.583 (94.667)  | Leicester Leicester | 6  | SurreySurrey | Results
2021  | Central Lancashire Central Lancashire |  Rotax | B | 2  | 4  | 179  | 99.444 (99.167)  | Imperial Imperial | 2  | Leeds Leeds | Results
2022  | Coventry Coventry B  |  Rotax | B | 1  | 4  | 237  | 98.750 (98.000)  | Coventry Coventry C  | 10  | Loughborough Loughborough | Results
2023  | Imperial Imperial |  Rotax | D | 3  | 4  | 239  | 99.583 (97.000)  | Sheffield Sheffield | 14  | Coventry Coventry | Results
2024  | Oxford Brookes |  Rotax | D | 1  | 2  | 232  | 96.667 (95.333)  | Coventry Coventry | 1  | UCL UCL | Results
2025  | West of England West of England |  Rotax | D | 1  | 3  | 178  | 98.889 (87.083)  | Coventry Coventry | 1  | Edinburgh Edinburgh | Results
Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

### Graduate class championship (2017–2019)

[edit]

The Graduate class championship, also known as grads, ran from 2017 to 2019, offering a chance for non-recent graduates of each respective university to continue competing in the BUKC.

Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

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2017  | Sheffield Sheffield |  TKM | B | 2  | 3  | 178  | 98.889 (97.083)  | Brunel Brunel | 1  | Cardiff Cardiff | Results
2018  | Cardiff Cardiff |  TKM | B | 2  | 5  | 237  | 98.750 (98.333)  | Brunel Brunel | 1  | Coventry Coventry
Nottingham Nottingham | Results
2019  | Nottingham Nottingham |  Rotax | B | 2  | 4  | 179  | 99.444 (98.750)  | Loughborough Loughborough | 2  | Brunel Brunel | Results
Year  | Champions[15] | Engine  | Tyres  | Wins[15] | Podiums[15] | Points[15] | % Points | Runners-up[15] | Margin[15] | Third place[15] | Results

## Drivers' Championship

[edit]

Since 2013, the BUKC Drivers' Championship has been held after the final race week of the season. It is the only event of the BUKC season not held in university-based teams of four.

The championship is split into three classes: lightweight, heavyweight and graduates. Each class is divided into qualifying heats, being seeded into performance-based finals. The winners of each 'A final' are crowned as their respective class champions, with the top 10 from each progressing to the Super Final, which crowns the Drivers' Champion.[16] The 2015 victors qualified for the Red Bull Kart Fight at Buckmore Park.[17]

The 2021 championship was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The 2024 championship, due to be held at Whilton Mill, was cancelled due to rising costs and low graduate entries.[18]

Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorset has hosted the most BUKC Drivers' Championships, with six. In 2023, 163 drivers entered the event.[15]

Matthew Taylor of Oxford Brookes University is the only driver to win multiple Drivers' Championships, winning in 2019 and 2022.

### Drivers' Champions

[edit]

Year  | Circuit  | Drivers' Champion[15] | Lightweight Champion[15] | Heavyweight Champion[15] | Graduate Champion[15] | Results

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2013  |  Whilton Mill
(International Circuit, Northamptonshire) |  |  William Van Es  |  Steve Alvarez Brown |  Steve Hicks  | Results
2014  |  Clay Pigeon
(Dorset) |  William Van Es  |  Andrew Lawrence  |  Tom Dix  | Results
2015  |  Whilton Mill
(International Circuit, Northamptonshire) |  Joe Richardson |  William Van Es  |  Joe Richardson  |  David Pittard | Results
2016  |  Clay Pigeon
(Dorset) |  Sam Moffat |  Jessica Alexander  |  Sam Moffat  |  Mathew Tordoff  | Results
2017  |  Whilton Mill
(International Circuit, Northamptonshire) |  Robert Newman |  Jessica Alexander  |  Jamie Dzyra  |  Steve Hicks  | Results
2018  |  Clay Pigeon
(Dorset) |  James Dehavillande |  Josef Jaques  |  Henry Jackson  |  Peter Cole  | Results
2019  |  Whilton Mill
(International Circuit, Northamptonshire) |  Matthew Taylor |  Jack Ransom  |  Harry Farnhill  |  Ed Barrs  | Results
2020  |  Clay Pigeon
(Dorset) |  Sam Spinnael |  Sam Spinnael  |  Sam Pooley  |  James Dehavillande  | Results
2021  | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022  |  Llandow
(Vale of Glamorgan) |  Matthew Taylor |  Jonathan Dalton  |  Matthew Taylor  |  Ed Barrs  | Results
2023  |  Clay Pigeon
(Dorset) |  Fraser Brunton |  Fraser Brunton  |  Axel Slijepcevic  |  Rhianna Purcocks  | Results
2024  | Cancelled
2025  |  Clay Pigeon
(Dorset) |  Jack Finch |  Fraser Brunton  |  Seb Marlow  |  | Results

## 24 Hour Race

[edit]

The annual BUKC 24 Hour Race is held post-season at Teesside Autodrome, the largest kart circuit in the world,[19] for up to 90 university teams. Unlike the regular season, non-recent graduates are able to enter their respective university's teams. The 24 Hour Race is the only event on the BUKC calendar that does not utilise Club100 machinery, instead using twin-engine 200cc Prokarts.[20]

The event starts with a two-hour practice session, followed by a one-shot qualifying session, also known as superpole, to set the grid for the race. An endurance race is then run continuously for 24 hours, emulating the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona, which form two out of three legs of the Triple Crown of endurance racing.

### Winners of the BUKC 24 Hour Race

[edit]

Unlike the main championship, which has been solely won by universities from England, English teams have only won seven of the eleven 24 Hour Races held, as of 2024. A mixed team of students from Scotland's Heriot-Watt University and the University of the West of Scotland won the event in 2016, followed by Wales' Swansea University in 2018, and Ireland's TU Dublin in 2022 and 2023, the latter becoming the first non-British team to win a BUKC event.

Year  | Circuit  | Winners[15] | Distance  | Runners-up[15] | Interval[15] | Third place[15] | Results

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Laps | mi | km
2014  |  Teesside Autodrome
(National Circuit, North Yorkshire) | Loughborough Loughborough | 1,634  | 995.014  | 1,601.32  | Brunel Brunel | +3 laps  | Swansea Swansea | Results
2015  |  Teesside Autodrome
(International Circuit, North Yorkshire) | Oxford Brookes | 1,027  | 1,054.221  | 1,696.604  | Coventry Coventry | +2 laps  | Club100 | Results
2016  | Heriot-Watt Heriot-Watt
West of Scotland West of Scotland | 1,048  | 1,075.777  | 1,731.296  | Newcastle Newcastle | +19.490  | Nottingham Nottingham | Results
2017  | Nottingham Nottingham | 1,048  | 1,075.777  | 1,731.296  | Coventry Coventry | +1 lap  | Loughborough Loughborough | Results
2018  | Swansea Swansea | 1,056  | 1,083.990  | 1,744.512  | Warwick Warwick | +53.449  | Birmingham Birmingham | Results
2019  | Huddersfield Huddersfield | 1,012  | 1,038.823  | 1,671.824  | Coventry Coventry | +59.861  | Swansea Swansea | Results
2020  | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021  |  Teesside Autodrome
(International Circuit, North Yorkshire) | Birmingham Birmingham | 1,006  | 1,032.664  | 1,661.912  | Swansea Swansea | +0.700  | Oxford Brookes | Results
2022  |  TU Dublin | 1,034  | 1,061.406  | 1,708.168  | Brighton | +5 laps  | Hertfordshire Hertfordshire | Results
2023  |  TU Dublin | 990  | 1,016.240  | 1,635.480  | Brighton | +7 laps  | Sheffield Sheffield | Results
2024  | Exeter Exeter | 908  | 932.067  | 1,500.016  | Central Lancashire Central Lancashire | +7 laps  | Lancaster Lancaster | Results
2025  | Liverpool Liverpool | 1,022  | 1,049.088  | 1,688.344  | Baguette Motorsports  | +1 lap  | Sheffield Sheffield | Results
Year  | Circuit  | Winners[15] | Laps | mi | km | Runners-up[15] | Interval[15] | Third place[15] | Results
Distance

## Notable alumni

[edit]

Inclusion criteria: Entered the BUKC and competed in professional auto racing at an international level.

Driver  | University  | Season(s)  | BUKC  | Notes  | Ref

|
|
|
|
|

James Gornall | Oxford Brookes | 2004–2006  | 2004, 2005, and 2006 Champion  | 2008 British GT3 Champion  |
Nelson Mason | Oxford Brookes | 2006–2008  | 2006 Champion  | 2014 GP3 Series driver for Hilmer Motorsport |
Alex Brundle | Nottingham Nottingham | 2009–2011  |  | 2016 European Le Mans Series LMP3 Champion; 2013 FIA World Endurance LMP2 Vice-Champion  |
Tom Oliphant | Warwick Warwick | 2009–2014  |  | Former British Touring Car Championship driver  |
Steve Alvarez Brown | Hertfordshire Hertfordshire | 2011–2013  | 2013 Champion; 2013 Heavyweight Drivers' Champion  | Motorsport-based social media influencer, alias "Super GT"; Nürburgring Endurance Series driver for Black Falcon Team Bilstein  |
Ramón Piñeiro | Hertfordshire Hertfordshire | 2011–2014  | 2013 Champion  | Third place in the 2011 FIA Formula Two Championship |
David Pittard | Brunel Brunel | 2012–2014  | 2015 Graduate Drivers' Champion  | 2022 FIA World Endurance GTE Am Vice-Champion  | [21]
Patryk Szczerbiński [pl] | Salford Salford | 2013–2015  | 2015 Rookie Champion  | Former Porsche Supercup driver for Verva Racing Team [pl] |
Max Coates | Leeds BeckettLeeds Beckett | 2014–2016  |  | 2019 Renault UK Clio Cup Vice-Champion; former BTCC driver for Pro Motorsport |
Emanuele Pirro | Independent  | 2015[a] |  | Former Formula One driver for Benetton and Scuderia Italia; five-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner; two-time American Le Mans Series Champion; two-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner  |
Piers Prior  | Loughborough Loughborough | 2017–2020  | 2017 Champion; 2019 Vice-Champion  | 2020 BRDC British Formula 3 driver for Lanan Racing; commentator for the BUKC, GB3, and FIA Formula 3 |
Reece Ushijima | Oxford Brookes | 2022[b] | 2022 Champion  | 2022 FIA Formula 3 driver for Van Amersfoort Racing |
Tom Fleming | Reading Reading | 2022–2024  | 2024 Champion  | 2023 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli World Champion; GT World Challenge Europe driver for AF Corse and Garage 59  |

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Only competed in round 1 as an independent entrant.
2. ^ Only competed in qualifiers.

## See also

[edit]

* Club100
* Motorsport UK
* Kart racing
* List of kart racing championships
* List of British and Irish varsity matches
* Armorial of British universities

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://pocketmags.com/vroom-international-magazine/n-248-may-2022#
2. ^ "History of the BUKC". British Universities Karting Championship. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
3. ^ "3T Racing Ltd". 3T Racing Ltd. Archived from the original on 18 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
4. ^ "Pirro family at the BUKC". Facebook. BUKC. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
5. ^ https://tkart.it/en/news/events/british-university-kart-championship-kick-off
6. ^ https://www.redbull.com/au-en/red-bull-kart-fight-uk-2012-final
7. ^ a b "Club100 switches to Rotax for 2019". Karting Everything. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
8. ^ https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/racing-pride-expands-to-america-this-is-why-and-how/
9. ^ https://www.vroomkart.com/sites/vroomkart.com/files/www.vroomkart.com/rrc-global-brochure.pdf
10. ^ "The BUKC Championship format". BUKC Championship. 3T Racing Ltd. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
11. ^ Club100.co.uk
12. ^ a b c d e f g https://www.vroomkart.com/news/40801/club100-hits-another-milestone-and-introduces-cadets-to-arrive-drive-with-rotax
13. ^ "BUKC LIVE, PFi, Rounds 1 and 2, 2024 British Universities Karting Championship". YouTube. Alpha Live. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
14. ^ "BUCS - YouTube". YouTube. British Universities and Colleges Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs "BUKC Race Results". Alpha Timing. Alpha Live. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
16. ^ "BUKC Drivers' Championship". British Universities Karting Championship. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
17. ^ https://www.redbull.com/int-en/red-bull-kart-fight-uk-2012-final
18. ^ "BUKC (@thebukc)". Instagram. British Universities Karting Championship. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
19. ^ "Teesside Karting". Teesside Karting. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
20. ^ "BUKC 24 Hour Race". British Universities Karting Championship. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
21. ^ https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-2014/28/r-01x471/

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[edit]

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