The Learning Curve: JP Tuason Racing Project

March 13,2002

Boil a car down to its essential components, and chances are you’ll end up with a racing kart. Something to make it go, something to stop the vehicle, and something to make it turn. And a seat for you, the driver.

The propulsion is provided by a single-cylinder two-stroke engine producing all of 14 bhp. That output may seem fit only for a lawnmower, but keep in mind that a kart with a 60-kg driver can weigh as little as 148 kg. The resulting power- to-weight ratio is better than that of a Corolla Altis 1.6. You’re running only a few inches from the ground, so the sensation of speed is much greater than what you’re actually running.

Braking is by single disc at the left rear wheel. Again, quite adequate for brick-wall stopping ability. As for turning, nothing could be more direct. Steering is via the most direct mechanism, resulting in instantaneous response.

The kart’s simplicity doesn’t mean that driving it quickly is instinctive. In fact, its capabilities are quite extensive, so we needed professional instruction to get the most out of our machines. We were thus fortunate that karting and Formula 3 racer J.P. Tuason acted as our Yoda for the day.

Actually the first thing we had to do when behind the wheel was to unlearn many years of road-car driving notions. We had to believe, that yes, we could take that 90-degree corner at 90 km/h without lifting the throttle. Also, the kart’s response is so immediate compared to a normal road car’s that we had to avoid flooring the throttle or twisting the steering wheel, as these could lead to instant spins.

The most important lesson of the day was learning the racing line. This is the quickest way around a corner. This entails positioning the kart just where it should be and judging when to brake and accelerate. Being on the racing line was not difficult, but taking it at anything close to racing speeds was a challenge to our concentration and physical coordination.

All of today’s Formula One racers started out in karting, and indeed it’s an excellent introduction to racing. JP Tuason said that the racing kart is the closest in feel to an F1 car, beating even a Formula 3 racing car. You don’t have to take his word for it; try it and experience the thrills for yourself. Be warned though that the feel is utterly addictive.

One lap and you may find yourself returning to the track repeatedly for that next chance to carve up that corner at full throttle.

Tuason Racing Project
640 Boni Avenue Mandaluyong City
531-2962, Fax 535-4769
[email protected]

JP Tuason [email protected] 0917-533-8751
Jeanette Tuason [email protected] 0917-527-2963

By Jason Ang | Photos By Jason Ang
Originally Published in March 2002 Issue

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