Toyota Canada Sponsored Youth Driving Program Expands Reach

The innovative youth driving program kartstart – made possible through the support of Toyota Canada – is expanding its reach this summer and will now help more than 1,000 children across five provinces.

“It’s important to understand safe driving techniques early and to apply them intuitively,” said Sandy Di Felice, director, external affairs, Toyota Canada Inc. “We’re pleased that the program is expanding to engage more young Canadians.”  

A unique driving education program, kartstart is designed to provide children and their families with a real-world understanding of the physics behind driving a motorized vehicle. One-day courses are offered with expert instructors for children between the ages of 8-16, where youth learn by driving in go-karts themselves – a driving experience that is the first for most.

“It’s important to stress how important our safety through education program is,” said kartstart administrator Russ Bond. “Every youth that goes through our program gets a fundamental understanding of how vehicle dynamics work and they experience this in vehicles that fit them. This is what makes the program so special.”

In addition to the go-kart driving, participants are also mentored in the latest safety developments in Toyota vehicles including Toyota’s renowned Star Safety System with active and passive safety technologies. Toyota’s Star Safety System features Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

2013 Program Schedule

Chilliwack, British Columbia

July 16

July 17

July 18

Location: Greg Moore Raceway

Calgary, Alberta

July 22

July 23

July 24

Location: Calgary Kart Club

Innisfil, ON

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

Location: Sunset Speedway

Montreal, QC

August 7

August 8

August 9

Location: Autodrome St-Eustache

Halifax, Nova Sotia

August 12

August 13

August 14

Location: Scotia Speed World

For more information on kartstart or to register for the program please visit: www.kartSTART.ca.