It’s official – Karting Australia will crown a National ‘Masters’ Champion in 2026, contested by a single class at a one-off event in June.
The Green Plate will be awarded to the winner of the KA3 Masters category at Coffs Harbour’s Australian Kart Masters event (the Ian Brown Over 40s Titles) in June.
The event will cater for other (as yet unannounced) categories, but only KA3 Masters (weight unconfirmed) will hold official Australian Championship status.
The announcement comes months after renowned karter Kip Foster became vocal about an official Masters Australian Champion and the possibility of having that incorporated into the multi-round Australian Kart Championship.
Coincidentally, Foster just won the opening round of AKC outright at the venue in the KA3 class two weeks ago.
The official statement from Karting Australia is below.
NATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED IN COFFS HARBOUR
The annual Australian Kart Masters, held in honour of Ian Brown at the Coffs Harbour Kart Racing Club, will take on added significance from 2026, with the winner of the KA3 Masters category to be officially crowned the National Masters Champion.
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Recognising the growing appetite for experienced competitors to compete for a national ‘green plate’, the Australian Kart Masters provides the ideal platform to determine the sport’s premier Masters driver in a single-event format.
A staple of the Australian karting calendar for more than 30 years, the event is traditionally held across the June long weekend and continues to attract strong fields from across the country. From 2026, the KA3 Masters category – open to drivers aged 35 and over – will serve as the battleground for national honours.
With the championship decided over one event, the format offers a unique opportunity for older drivers who may be unable to commit to a full Australian Kart Championship campaign to compete for a national title.
Karting Australia Chief Executive Officer Kelvin O’Reilly said the initiative reflects the diverse age range of drivers within the sport.
“Karting is not just a pathway – it’s also a destination in its own right. While some of our best young drivers have gone on to compete in other forms of motorsport, we have thousands of others who have chosen karting to be their forever home,” said O’Reilly.
“The National Masters Champion has been designed to recognise this fact, and the Australian Kart Masters provides the perfect stage to celebrate that passion and commitment.”
Interest in the 2026 event is already building, with former Australian Champions Kip Foster, Remo Luciani, Kris Walton, Troy Hunt, Richie McLeod and Jess Golding all expressing interest in competing.
The gauntlet has been thrown down for Australian karters aged 35 and over. This June at Coffs Harbour, the nation’s Masters drivers will go head-to-head for National Glory and the Green Plate – BE THERE!
Supplementary Regulations and further event details will be released in the coming weeks.
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