Premier Class, 2024
The Premier Class is the BUKC at its most intense. Teams of 4 drivers from each uni come together to battle it out over the course of a qualifiers weekend and 4 further double header race meetings held between November & April the following year.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Premier Class Championship takes place over 5 days between November 2023 and early April 2024. Please note the dates below may change.
- Sat 18th & Sun 19th Nov – Qualifiers – Whilton Mill, Northamptonshire
- Wed 7th Feb – PFI, Lincolnshire
- Wed 14th Feb – Buckmore Park, Kent
- Wed 6th March – Warden Law, Sunderland
- Fri 5th April – Whilton Mill, Northamptonshire
The qualifiers count as the first round of the 9 round championship, with the best 7 results counting toward the team’s overall championship position at the end of the season.
The top 54 teams from the qualifiers will be considered Premier & Clubman class teams (top 26 Prems, next 28 Clubmans).
Each subsequent race day after the qualifiers will consist of two rounds with the formats running as follows:
- Rounds 1&2 – PFI – Sprint format in morning, Endurance format in afternoon
- Rounds 3&4 – Buckmore Park – Sprint format both rounds
- Rounds 5&6 – Warden Law – Sprint format both rounds
- Rounds 7&8 – Whilton Mill – Sprint format in morning, Endurance format in afternoon
Each team must consist of 4 drivers exactly for each round. Exceptions to this rule are detailed in the BUKC Rules & Regulations.
Every driver racing in the Premier Class must obtain BOTH a Motorsport UK K-X Licence Licence AND a BUKC Race Licence
The price of the qualifiers is £570 per team. Each subsequent Prems / Clubmans round is £615 inc VAT per team.
RULES & REGULATIONS
Please download and read the BUKC Rules & Regulations.
The formats
Sprint Format
The Sprint Format is where every driver in the team gets to race in their own individual 25 minute race. No fuel stops, no driver changes. Just a 25 minute sprint to the flag with 3 to 5 laps practice prior.
The teams finishing score for the round is determined by adding up the best 3 results from the 4 sprint races.
In each Sprint Format round, there will be 2 weight categories. Lightweights will run at a minimum weight of 75kg. Heavyweights will run at a minimum weight of 82kg. Drivers who do not meet the minimum weight threshold will be able add ballast to their kart and / or seat insert.
3 of the 6 races will be designated as LW races and the other 3 will be designated as HW races.
There are 3 classes in the Drivers Championship:
- Lightweights (those who weigh under 76kg)
- Heavyweights (with a Super Heavy Weight sub class for those over 90kg)
- Graduates (all running at 82kg)
Endurance Format
The Endurance Format is where the team (of 4 drivers) is split into 2 teams of 2. Each mini-team of 2 drivers races in a one-hour race.
2 fuel stops must be made, and at least one driver change must be made.
The teams finishing score for the round is determined by adding up the points from both the 2 one-hour races.
The minimum weight threshold will be 75kg for all drivers.
Lightweights and Heavyweights will be running the following format at a cost of £105 per driver:
- 2 x 10 minute heats (first heat with 3 laps practice)
- 10 minute final
The graduates class will be running a longer format at a cost of £160 per driver:
- 10 minutes practice (prior to first heat)
- 2 x 10 minute heats
- 10 minute final
And not only that, but the top 10 lightweight, top 10 heavyweight and top 10 graduates will all battle it out in the one and only Super Final! It’s literally the best race of the year.
