For decades, Margay Racing has been a mainstay in the sport of karting. It’s an iconic brand. Their early years were defined by innovative designs and products that helped to shape the sport and were followed by decades of success at all levels here in North America. For the last two decades, the family-owned business has turned their focus to bringing people into the sport of karting. The driving force since 2014 has been the Ignite Karting program.

2026 Ignite Challenge begins at the 61 Kartway this weekend (Photo: Mark Schwigen)

Margay’s spec chassis/engine platform helps put the focus on driver performance while keeping the family fun atmosphere involved. The Ignite program has grown to multiple karting tracks and clubs throughout the USA, along with Canada. To provide the next step up from the club level, Margay Racing introduced the Ignite Challenge championship in 2017 to bring together Ignite racers with a stand-alone traveling schedule.

The 2026 Ignite Challenge Presented by Skip Barber Racing School begins under the lights at 61 Kartway. Situated about 45 miles north of the Quad Cities region, the Delmar, Iowa facility is one of the key components to the Ignite Challenge foundation. The May 2 event will run through the afternoon with the main events taking place under the lights – providing a ‘Field of Dreams’ feeling to kick off the year.

The second weekend of the championship is one of the unique opportunities in karting – back-to-back races after different venues over one weekend. The Ignite Challenge’s second round will be contested at Norway Motorsports Park on June 13 with drivers contesting a full day of action on that Saturday. Competitors will wrap up their action at the Sheridan, Illinois and then travel just 36 miles east to the Kart Circuit Autobahn in Joliet, Illinois. Round Three will take place on that Sunday, challenging the competitors to two tracks in two days.

Night racing returns for Round Four of the Ignite Challenge Presented by Skip Barber Racing School with a trip to Springfield, Illinois and the Mid-State Kart Club facility. The historic venue will host the program on August 8. The series finale will take place on October 17 at the Gateway Kartplex inside the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois – just minutes away from downtown St. Louis.

What makes the Margay Ignite Challenge distinctive is the spec categories for both 4-cycle and 2-cycle racing. The program began and continues with the grassroots-focused Briggs & Stratton 206 engine, offering classes for drivers from 8 years old to over 35 years old with Rookie, Junior, Senior, Heavy, and Masters. Rookies competes on the Margay Ignite K2 chassis while the others compete with the Margay Ignite K3 chassis, all utilizing the spec Hoosier R80 tire.

Margay Ignite 100 (Photo: IgniteKarting.com)

Launched in 2024, Ignite 100 provides the next step from the Ignite 206 platform and into 2-cycle racing. The Ignite 100 package keeps the focus on the driver, with the Ignite K3/100 chassis, spec Hoosier R70 tire, and a sealed engine program for the VLR 100 powerplant. Both a Senior and Masters class are available through the Ignite Challenge championship.

In addition to the Ignite Challenge, Margay Racing helps put on the Ignite Majors events. Ignite’s participation at the WKA Daytona KartWeek event held at the end of 2025 kicked things off, and there are two more races in this special program that helps bring together veteran racers and new karters. The historic Quincy Grand Prix takes place on June 27-28 with the majority of racers competing on the Ignite program for Senior and Masters drivers. Temporary circuits continue to be part of the fun on Labor Day weekend with the annual trip to the Rock Island Grand Prix on September 5-6. The Ignite Dash at Daytona on December 28-30 later this year, opening up the 2027 Majors schedule.

2026 Ignite Challenge presented by Skip Barber Racing School Schedule

May 2: 61 Kartway – Delmar, Iowa
June 13: Norway Motorsports Park – Sheridan, Illinois
June 14: Kart Circuit Autobahn – Joliet, Illinois
August 8: Mid-State Kart Club – Springfield, Illinois
October 17: Gateway Kartplex – Madison, Illinois

For complete details, including details surrounding the Ignite Karting packages available from Margay Racing, visit ignitekarting.com and be sure to follow Margay Racing on Facebook and Instagram.

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