You can’t beat the thrill of going 60mph down the straight,” Cpl Steven Jones (AGC (SPS)) tells Soldier from the pit lane at the Llandow Circuit in South Wales.
The 31-year-old has just completed the first practice session ahead of the opening round in the 2025 UK Armed Forces Karting Championships and the buzz of being back behind the wheel is plain to see.
A self-confessed Formula One addict, the soldier has served for 14 years but had no idea he could pursue his passion for motorsport in service circles until relatively recently when a social media post advertising trials for the army team piqued his interest.
\He duly signed up and made his track debut in 2023, claiming a second-place finish in his very first outing at the Rye House Kart Raceway.
"I’d never karted before, so I thought ‘let’s give it a go’,” Cpl Jones, who transferred to the Adjutant General’s Corps after 12 years with The Queen’s Royal Hussars, continues. “The first day at the trials went well, I got some tips from the other drivers and made it through to the second day on the pro karts, where I posted fast enough times to make it onto the team.
“I was pretty nervous at the start; I’d always played football, and this was something totally different. But when I came back with a trophy from my first race I was buzzing – I still have the pictures on my phone.
“I’ve been on the team ever since. Last year I managed to win two trophies on the same race weekend at Ellough Park and my goal for this season is to finish in the top three of the overall standings.
“I just love the sport.”
The championship is staged over seven rounds at circuits across the country – with more than 60 karts on the grid for the various classifications. As well as the official army team, the field boasts racers from various corps outfits – including the Royal Engineers, Royal Signals and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – as well as the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Civilians are also included.
Army trials were staged in February, with 60 personnel registering an interest. That number was then whittled down to 31 – which includes mechanics. As with any motorsport, karting doesn’t come cheap, but the squad owns five pro karts for drivers to use and invested in two new chassis over the off season at a cost of more than £8,000. Sponsorship and service funding help mitigate the financial burden on personnel, who pay £100 each per race weekend.
For Gnr Matthew Bonnett (RA), the championship has allowed him to continue in a sport that he first started as an eight-year-old alongside his father. He joined the army at 16 and after arriving at his unit – 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery – was told about the set-up and immediately put his name forward.
“I was so happy,” he says. “I went to the trials and was one of the quickest drivers.
“I now race heavyweight karts in the endurance championship. In April 2023 we travelled up to Scotland and managed to win the team’s first trophy in that classification since 2019. It meant so much, and we went from strength to strength – taking six or seven further trophies that season.
“It is a great championship, and we all push each other on.
“This is a special team; we have a good connection and look after everyone. It’s also nice to get away from work and mix with people from different cap badges.
“This year we want to win back the Inter-Services Championship. We’re in a good place and have the right mentality.
“There are a lot of people who come into the team without experience. But if you have the ability to adapt and listen to what the other drivers say, you will develop. If anyone is thinking about trying karting, I’d say ‘give it a go and then stick with it’.”
With the team now set, the next opportunity for newcomers will come at the trials scheduled for February 2026. Chairman WO2 Toby Knight (QRH) – who races in the rotax ranks at speeds of more than 70mph – hopes to see as many personnel in attendance as possible, with driver and pit crew slots up for grabs.
“A lot of sports can be quite cliquey, but that is not the case here,” he explains. “If you aren’t pulling your weight, you’re out.
“We have people who have been racing since they were children, but we will take complete novices if they are quick enough. If you like cars and racing, come and give it a bash.”
While those behind the wheel are charged with delivering on the track, the team’s support crew play an equally important part on a race weekend. A two-hour endurance race sees the karts stop every 40 minutes, when they are pushed from the pit lane for refuelling and any mechanical work before a new driver hops in and continues the quest for the chequered flag. Mechanics are also primed and ready should a vehicle break down mid-race.
“This is a team sport, and you have to work as one,” Knight says. “We are known for being one of the best at pit stops. You can easily lose a few minutes, so time is of the essence.”
Cpl Joe Stretton (QRH) is the 2iC mechanic and got involved in the role through his unit’s strong representation on the squad. “I’m a Challenger 2 crewman and love getting covered in grease,” the 24-year-old explains. “And I’ve always liked motorsport.
“For us it is about the basic maintenance of the karts and addressing whatever needs fixing. Put simply, it’s a couple of lawnmower engines and some nuts and bolts, meaning they are fairly simple to use and fix.
“We can try out as drivers as well, but this side is much easier – there is no real pressure on us.
“This season we want to be better than the other army teams – it is a competitive field, and pit stops can make the difference."
Follow @army_kart_team on Instagram to track the squad’s progress this season and for details of next year’s trials.
