A karting school at the Layrac track to obtain your “golden steering wheel”

LF Karting in Layrac, hosts leisure karts for all audiences and very popular championship events on an atypical 1200m track, with several technical turns. The KCPA Club, dear to President Jacques Refloch, has its headquarters there and amateur drivers do well in the regional championship, young people in particular. We were able to follow the debuts of Mathis Brageot, Aaron Bordanova, Hugo Herroin and even Lilian Forny.

To go karting safely, especially before the age of eight, you must have received training. The Forny Family, manager of the track, opened a driving school which operates on Wednesday afternoons. Thanks to their Professional Certificate, Karting option, two Forny children: Léo and Lucie are the master trainers, under the leadership of Jérôme, their dad, who has become director of the school. There are around fifteen young people from all over the region, one or several times a month.

This last Wednesday, there was Leni, accompanied by her grandpa, who comes from Bordeaux, Alexandre de Montauban, Jules de Marmande, Arthur and Paul de Saint Hilaire de Lusignan and Adam de Layrac. We can imagine the motivation of these young people who travel long distances to indulge in their passion. At the same time, we imagine the perseverance of the parents or those who bring them there.

800 euros for 10 three-hour sessions

It is a school with its theoretical courses and its “practical work”. Driving the Kart turns out to be the reward of Wednesday afternoon. “At the very beginning,” explains Jérôme, “we provided the equipment: helmet, gloves, overalls, neck brace, rib guards and shoes. The children then equip themselves with their own money.” The cost per year is around 800 euros for 10 three-hour sessions. » The progress of the students is measured by the color of the steering wheel: “like in skiing,” explains Jérôme: bronze, silver, gold and is entered in the “driver’s booklet”.

The “lessons” begin with safety questions: equipping yourself, getting on and off the machine, knowing the meaning of the flags that you might see waving at the edge of the track, holding the template of your kart. It will be more technical afterwards, with driving, performance and regularity. At the same time, we will get to know our machine: the parts, the brakes, the engine. The golden steering wheel will be acquired when you know how to dominate your kart and be close to the times practiced in the competition.

The apprenticeship takes place over a year, in 10 months. Students come once or twice a month, depending on their availability. They must join the Federation. The KCPA helps them by offering the contribution.