Formula TKM is a British based karting category raced at club and national championships around the UK. It uses 100cc/115cc 2-stroke TKM engines (BT82) for the Junior and Senior classes respectively. A number of Britains elite racing drivers have competed in the TKM class at some point in their careers.
History The TKM karting class was created in 1989 by the British-based kart manufacturer, Tal-Ko. The company owner Alan Turney started the class with the ambition of keeping the large costs of kart racing down while maintaining a level of competitive and equal racing. To maintain the lower prices, only British registered homologated chassis were allowed, along with a Tal-Ko designed engine and hard compound tyres by Maxxis, Maxxis green TKM before now being replaced by Maxxis Sports TKM for the 2025 season.
The original uptake of the class was successful and with the lower costs involved, the class soared in popularity through the 90s, becoming the UK's most popular karting formula. The TKM Festivals of the late nineties saw over 100 entrants in both senior and junior classes and from this boom the class boasts several current Formula 1 drivers amongst its former racers.
Through second half of the 2000s Tal-Ko introduced a range of new rules for the 2-stroke class in regards to tyres, chassis and engine regulations. With these new rules the class became more relevant and so the numbers of entrants stabilised, despite a mixed set of reactions from people in the sport. It still offers a large field in the Super 1 National Kart Championships and at some club circuits in the UK. Most prevalently the class still finds healthy grids at Kimbolton and Rissington Kart Club.
Tal-Ko also introduced a 4-stroke class, which ran on 200cc 4-stroke engines. The series has never been as popular or successful as the 2-stroke TKM class and does not offer a Super One grid.
Classes Junior TKM: For 11- to 16-year-olds. Runs on 100cc TKM BT82 with a restrictor on the carburettor to give consistent power to weight ratios. TKM Extreme: Also known as Senior TKM, For those aged 16+, this class runs on 115cc TKM BT82 engines with no restrictor. TKM Clubman: For those aged 16+, Aimed for those on a budget. Maximum tread depth of 2.8mm, saving the costs on tires per meeting TKM 4-Stroke Junior: Runs on a 4-stroke 200cc engine with a restrictor on the carburettor to control speeds. TKM 4-Stroke Senior: Runs on a 4-stroke 200cc engine with no restrictor.
Racing
TKM acquired a reputation for close and competitive racing, notably for the extremely large grid entrants. The annual TKM Festival, held at a range of circuits, could once attract over 100 entrants for each class at the event. This is unparalleled for kart racing in the UK during recent history. The class is often cited as the purest form of kart racing owing to the relative simplicity of the racing and the equal playing field.
Although the introduction of the TAG version of the BT82 brought about some fundamental differences between the engine types, the class still offers some of the closest racing in the sport today.
Chassis Historically it was decided by the organisers that only TKM homologated, British made, chassis should be used for the class. This was opened up, however, to try to compete with the image of the Rotax Max class. MSA homologated chassis from across Europe have been permitted since 2010. Several manufacturers produce a TKM-specific chassis; these include the Tal-Ko Veloce, Tony Kart Viper, BirelArt TKM and Klaassen ARC.
Engine The class uses a fixed gear, 2-stroke TKM BT82 engine. The Junior engine has a capacity of 100cc and 16.8 BHP (without restrictor). The Senior engine is 115cc and outputs 20 BHP (without restrictor). Tuning of the engines is limited in order to keep costs down. In 2008 Tal-Ko introduced TAG engines featuring an on-board electric start system and centrifugal clutch. To compensate for this additional weight (the heavier engine, starting system and battery combine to add an additional 4.5 kg to the weight), the TAG benefits from a larger exhaust and increased compression. The engine can pull up to around 75 mph.
Tyres Maxxis produced tyres have been used in the class since its advent. The class organisers restricts the use to a single 'wet' and 'dry' tyre for the class, with the idea of creating a level performance level and removing the costs of requiring new tyres for each race weekend.
The 'new age' dry weather tyre which is currently used was chosen for its relatively hard compound, promoting durability and removing the need to replace them as often. In 2010 a new tyre was introduced which was designed to improve performance.
Historically a hard compound 'wet' tyre was used but to compete with Rotax Max in performance levels, a softer, stickier tyre was introduced into the formula for the 2005 season.
The Maxxis green TKM tyre has now been replaced for the 2025 season for the Maxxis Sport TKM
Notable figures TKM has continually been the breeding ground for many current and former notable motorsport figures.
2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button was the Junior TKM champion in 1992 . 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton dabbled in the Junior TKM championship in the mid 90s. Current Formula 1 test driver Gary Paffett won the Junior TKM championship in 1995 . Commentator and former Super Aguri and BAR driver Anthony Davidson enjoyed success in TKM in the 90s before moving into European karting. Former DTM drivers Oliver Jarvis and Jamie Green raced in the 1996 Junior TKM super 1 series. James Nash, a former British Touring Car Championship driver and race winner at Rockingham in September 2011. He raced both Junior and Senior TKM in the early 2000s. He came 2nd in TKM Extreme in 2004. Former British Touring Car Championship racer Tom Onslow-Cole progressed in the Junior categories in the early 2000s, finishing 8th in Junior TKM 2001. Current British GT Driver Scott Malvern also a former British Champion in Formula Ford & Formula Renault raced in Junior TKM 2002-4 & Senior TKM Extreme 2005 when he finished as Super One runner up to Adam Constable Formula E polesitter and Williams test driver Oliver Turvey finished 6th in Junior TKM in 2001. Abbi Pulling became the first female driver to win a British Championship in a TKM category by winning the Junior TKM class in 2017, she repeated this achievement in 2018. She currently competes in the GB3 Championship and is the 2024 F1 Academy champion.
List of British Champions
FORMULA TKM BRITISH CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 1989 Bill Tully 1990 John Aldred 1991 Antony McHugh 1992 David Hodkin 1993 Carl Willoughby 1994 Stuart Smith 1995 Stuart Smith 1996 Phillip Charles 1997 Jay Howard 1998 Gary Catt 1999 Adrian Coles 2000 Sam Quinlan 2001 James Gornall 2002 Charlie Bruce-White 2003 Anton Frost 2004 Ben Cruttenden 2005 Adam Constable 2006 Jason Moore 2007 Ryan Cole 2008 Daniel Graham 2009 David Eadon 2010 David Eadon 2011 Joe Porter 2012 Joe Porter 2013 Will van Es 2014 Joe Forsdyke 2015 Matt England 2016 Harry Moore 2017 Stephen Letts 2018 Joe Fowler 2019 James Pashley 2020 Adam Sparrow 2021 James Pashley
FORMULA JUNIOR TKM BRITISH CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 1991 Nelson Rowe 1992 Jenson Button 1993 Tom Sisley 1994 Carl Breeze 1995 Gary Paffett 1996 Gary Catt 1997 Sam Garford 1998 Mark Litchfield 1999 Ben Clucas 2000 Paul Wilson 2001 James Sutton 2002 Adam Palethorpe 2003 Lee Bell 2004 Tom Davis 2005 Daniel Graham 2006 Marcus Allen 2007 Jake Ball 2008 Gary Henderson-Keirle 2009 Oliver Hodgson 2010 James Peace 2011 Toby Sowery 2012 Jack Partridge 2013 Matthew Davies 2014 Arran Mills 2015 Matthew Graham 2016 Bradley White 2017 Abbi Pulling 2018 Abbi Pulling 2019 Zak Oates 2020 Louis Harvey 2021 Alfie Garford 2022 Leon Frost 2023 Yehan Kallychurn 2024 Yehan Kallychurn
List of British Open Champions
JUNIOR O PLATE CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 1991 Neil Hose 1992 Jenson Button 1993 Anthony Davidson 1994 Carl Breeze 1995 Judd Coupland 1996 Gary Catt 1997 Chris Lamare 1998 Mark Litchfield 1999 Ben Clucas 2000 Daryl McDonald 2001 Daryl McDonald 2002 Adam Chandler 2003 Lee Bell 2004 Daniel Graham 2005 Daniel Graham 2006 Jake Ball 2007 Jake Ball 2008 Oliver Hodgson 2009 Oliver Hodgson 2010 Ash Robinson 2011 Jake Walker 2012 Jake Walker 2013 Matthew Davis 2014 Alex Forward 2015 Matthew Taylor 2016 Adam Sparrow 2017 Abbi Pulling 2018 Reggie Duhy 2019 Oliver Richardson 2021 Aditya Kulkarni SENIOR O PLATE CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 1991 Carl Willougby 1992 Jim Rainbird 1993 Ryan Hensman 1994 James Workman 1995 Duncan O’Conner 1996 Robbie Kerr 1997 Jay Howard 1998 Terry Langley 1999 Lee Piercey 2000 Mark Litchfield 2001 Chris Lamare 2002 Paul Wilson 2003 Ben Cruttenden 2004 Ryan Cole 2005 Luke Caudle 2006 Alex Jones 2007 Marcus Allen 2008 Daniel Graham 2009 Daniel Butcher-Lord 2010 Phil Smith 2011 Phil Smith 2012 Phil Smith 2013 Joe Forsdyke 2014 James Ogden 2015 Matthew Allnut 2016 Matthew Taylor 2017 Roman Haskett 2018 Joe Stockford 2019 Adam Sparrow
CLUBMAN O PLATE CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 2022 Craig Summers 2023 Ben Spencer
List of TKM Festival Winners
TKM FESTIVAL SENIOR WINNERS Year Winner 1997 Mark Hunt 1998 Kevin Sale 1999 Joss Thompson 2000 Chris Petto 2001 Rob Weldon 2002 Ryan Furner 2003 Alex Bowen 2004 Ryan Cole 2005 Ryan Cole 2006 Ryan Cole 2007 Daniel Graham 2008 David Eadon 2009 Gary Henderson 2010 Joe Porter 2011 Joe Porter 2012 Phil Smith 2013 Toby Sowery 2014 James Ogden 2015 Ryan Cole 2016 Ryan Cole 2017 Bradley White 2018 Dean Hale 2019 Adam Sparrow 2020 cancelled*
TKM FESTIVAL JUNIOR WINNERS Year Winner 1997 Chris Petto 1998 Andrew Taylor 1999 Steve Williams 2000 Adam Palethorpe 2001 Shaun Carter 2002 Scott Allen 2003 Lee Bell 2004 Michael Collins 2005 Marcus Allen 2006 Marcus Allen 2007 Jake Bell 2008 Gary Henderson 2009 Ashley Jones 2010 Danny Keirle 2011 Danny Keirle 2012 Jack Partridge 2013 Daniel Baybutt 2014 Dino Lee 2015 Kristian Brierley 2016 Lee Whittingham 2017 Abbi Pulling 2018 Abbi Pulling 2019 Zak Oates 2020 cancelled* 2021 Aditya Kulkarni
TKM FESTIVAL CLUBMAN CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 2012 Matt Grant 2013 Ciaran McDonald 2014 Tom Longfield 2015 Michael Green 2016 Kyle Morby 2017 Jack Macaulay 2018 Sam Baker 2019 James Mills 2020 VOID* 2021 Matt Cardwell 2022 Will Hulaki 2023 Craig Summers
List of TKM Clubman Championship Winners
TKM CLUBMAN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Year Champion 2014 Jack Macaulay 2015 Daniel Mense 2016 David Turton 2019 Craig Summers 2020 Matthew Cardwell 2021 Craig Summers 2022 Craig Summers
List of Club Champions
HUNTS KART CLUB SENIOR TKM CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 2007 Luke Caudle 2008 Adam Jenkins 2009 Michael Cornell 2010 Sam Grogan 2011 Chris Pyke 2012 Michael Cornell 2013 Will Van Es 2014 Owain Rosser 2015 Michael Cornell 2016 Michael Cornell 2017 Michael Cornell 2018 Michael Cornell 2019 Joseph Reeves-Smith 2020 Charlie Savage
HUNTS KART CLUB JUNIOR TKM CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 2007 Gary Henderson-Keirle 2008 Will Van Es 2009 Richard Woolmer 2010 Jack Partridge 2011 Daniel Burton 2012 Liam Murray 2013 Lewis Outten 2014 Bradley White 2015 Jordan Lee-Chapman 2016 Jordan Lee-Chapman 2017 Spencer Stevenson 2018 Jack Nicholson 2019 Dominic Kilmister 2020 Alex Tuzzeo
CKRC KART CLUB SENIOR TKM CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 2013 Daniel Pepper 2014 Brendan Speight 2015 Daniel Pepper 2016 Kyle Sproat 2017 Megan Lawson 2018 Brandon Fort 2019 Brandon Fort 2020 VOID*
(* Void due to COVID-19 Outbreak)
CKRC KART CLUB JUNIOR TKM CHAMPIONS
Year Champion 2013 Kristian Brierley 2014 Ocean Bach 2015 Cameron Fisher 2016 Ian Sisson 2017 Samuel Wilson 2018 Kieran Pepper 2019 Lewis Smith 2020 Tyla Harris
(* Void due to COVID-19 Outbreak)
References
External links Tal-ko Racing NKC 2024
UK Karting
TKM 1993 Karting S1 A Final Part 1 of 2