It would be an exaggeration to say that aluminum hubs are always preferable to magnesium hubs for shifter karts. I also really like magnesium hubs because they offer an excellent grip when entering turns and, at the same time, a lot of control when exiting. Aluminum hubs, on the other hand, generate more grip overall. Even though Shifter karts do not drive around turns with smooth, round lines like Direct Drive karts do, because they have the advantage of the gearbox power to use a much more direct and sharper line through the cornering and “shorten the distances”, they too can benefit from the effects of magnesium hubs, especially when it is necessary to “free up” the chassis. Although the differences in the two driving styles can often lead to different set-ups, the discriminating factor in the choice of hubs concerns the conditions of the track rather than the type of vehicle. At the beginning of a race weekend, such as on Thursday morning when the first practice sessions of an international competition begin, there is not much grip on the track, so we at IPK always start with aluminum hubs. Then, gradually, as the asphalt develops layers of rubber from the tires, we start using magnesium hubs and often mount them for qualifying sessions, when the chassis needs to be freed up so that it does not get too “stuck” with new tires. Lastly, after four or five heats are completed, it is common to go back to aluminum hubs to get a little more grip on the used tires. Regardless of the differences between vehicles, this is a practice that applies both to Shifter and Direct Drive karts.
