KartSTART teaches kids how to drive

Canadians are invited to join in on the fun at the racetrack this summer as kartSTART Presented by Toyota celebrates its eighth year providing hands on drivers’ safety education to kids across Canada.

Led by retired professional race car driver, Russ Bond, and sponsored by Toyota, the ASN Canada FIA safety endorsed program has helped over 6,000 kids establish an early foundation for safe and responsible driving using a car just their size – a go-kart!

Beginning June 30, kartSTART will visit 10 cities across Canada, including a new stop added to the tour in Ottawa, Ontario.

By popular demand, the program will also return to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where it last visited in 2015.

New to this year’s program is a professionally designed go-kart made accessible for kids with physical disabilities so that they can drive too.

The accessible go-kart looks the same as the other karts, but with hand-controlled throttle and braking incorporated into the design of the steering wheel.

As a mobility company, Toyota is committed to supporting the creation of a more inclusive society where every individual has the freedom to move.

Jonak Motorsport, one of Canada’s leading racing fabrication and restoration companies, was tasked with designing, building and testing kartSTART’s accessible go-kart.

The company specializes in highend projects, from restoring vintage Formula 1 cars, to building safe, racing quality go-karts.

Jonak Motorsport has been a partner of kartSTART for eight years and has been instrumental in developing a specialized fleet of karts for the program.

The 2018 kartSTART Presented by Toyota National Tour dates are:

• Chilliwack Area – Greg Moore Raceway - June 30-July 3 – Chilliwack, BC

• Red Deer Area – Westerner Park - July 6-8 – Red Deer, AB

• Saskatoon Area – Martensville Speedway - July 13-15 – Saskatoon, SK

• Winnipeg Area – Red River Exhibition Park - July 19-21 – Winnipeg, MB - (July 19 -evening)

• Hamilton Area – Flamboro Speedway - July 25-27 – Millgrove, ON - (July 26 - evening)

• Toronto Area – Sunset Speedway - August 5-8 – Innisfil, ON

• Ottawa Area - E Y Centre - August 11-13 - Ottawa, ON

• Montreal Area – Autodrome August 15-17 – Saint-Eustache, Quebec

• Trois-Rivieres – SC Performance - August 20-22 – Saint-Celestin, Quebec

• Halifax Area – Scotia Speedworld - August 25-27 – Goffs, NS