WRIGHT KARTS
ActiveOverview
Wright Karts manufactures competition kart chassis and components, primarily for racing. Established from a collaboration with Simon Wright Racing Developments, it supplied chassis used by drivers including Jenson Button and David Coulthard. The company diversified into general engineering as karting faced competition from lower-cost Italian imports.12
History
In 1981, Paul Wright founded Paul Wright Engineering Developments in a rented garage in Cambridge to produce garden gates and fabrications. His brother Simon of Simon Wright Racing Developments commissioned 25 racing kart chassis, leading to a name change to Wright Karts and a move to a dedicated industrial unit with the first employee. The company built a reputation for kart chassis supplied to SWRD, supporting early careers of drivers like Jenson Button and David Coulthard. In 1998, Paul started Wright Engineering alongside Wright Karts as kart orders declined due to Italian competition. Operations later moved to Soham with investment in Haas CNC machinery, including a VF-4SS mill in 2017.2
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Competition Kart Chassis | Racing kart frames for professional use | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| Kart Chassis Components | Custom parts for kart assembly | $200 - $1,500 |
| CNC Machined Parts | Precision components via Haas machinery | $100 - $800 |
Manufacturing
Products are manufactured at the facility on Newmarket Rd, Stretham, Ely CB6 3LJ, United Kingdom. Operations include in-house turning, milling, welding, fabricating, and tube forming with Haas CNC machines like the VF-4SS mill. The company expanded from a garage to industrial units in Cambridge, then Soham.12
Notable Products
- SWRD Homologation Chassis - Batch of 25 racing kart chassis commissioned in 1981 for homologation by Simon Wright Racing Developments.
- VF-4SS Milled Components - High-speed machined kart parts using 15,000rpm spindle Haas mill installed in 2017.
- Jenson Button Era Chassis - Chassis supplied to SWRD used in early career of Formula 1 driver Jenson Button.
- David Coulthard Chassis - Kart frames provided for SWRD supporting David Coulthard's racing development.
Reputation
Wright Karts holds an enviable reputation among UK karting circles for quality competition chassis in the 1980s and 1990s. It is noted for launching careers of prominent drivers through SWRD collaborations. Competition from low-cost Italian manufacturers reduced its karting dominance, prompting diversification into engineering.2