Motor racing stars like Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button first showed their flair on British go-kart tracks before going on to dominate on the Grand Prix circuits of Formula 1. Just as the lengths of the Grand Prix tracks vary across the season from country to country, so do the sizes of the karting circuits in the UK.
Here is the leaderboard of the longest circuits in the UK. Before we start, we should say that length is just one factor that influences the unique personality of each track and so this isn’t necessarily a “best of” list. We’ve included the fastest lap time alongside the length of each track to give you an idea of other factors at play like the top speed of the karts on offer, the technical difficulty of the circuit and any changes in elevation.
NO. 1 - TEESSIDE KARTING
Location: Middlesbrough
Length: 2.1 kilometres
Fastest lap record: 89 seconds
The number one spot, by a comfortable margin, goes to Teesside Karting in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. One of the advantages of being over two kilometres in length is that the straights give you the chance to floor it and hit the karts’ top speed of 60 miles per hour! Bear in mind that driving on a longer track means each lap takes longer, and if you book in for a time-limited session, you won’t get as many opportunities to fine tune your approach to each corner.
NO. 2 - THREE SISTERS CIRCUIT
Location: Wigan
Length: 1.5 kilometres
Fastest lap record: 50 seconds
The Three Sisters Circuit is next. It’s a 1.5-kilometre series of challenging corners after tricky turns and has a reputation for being one of the most technically demanding tracks in the country. It’s not just karting enthusiasts who say so, because this venue also hosts car track days, drifting days and motorbike events.
NO.3 - PFI KARTING
Location: Grantham
Length: 1.382 kilometres
Fastest lap record: 56 seconds
Paul Fletcher International Karting, or PFI, comes in next. This track has been a racers’ favourite since 1994, but the track you see today has gone through several transformations since it first opened. The most recent addition to the facility is a flyover where the track doubles back on itself - perfect for adding some drama to a race!
NO. 4 - DAYTONA MILTON KEYNES
Location: MIlton Keynes
Length: 1.3 kilometres
Fastest lap record: 58 seconds
Daytona operates several karting venues around the country, but its biggest circuit is in Milton Keynes. The track combines straights of different lengths with corners of all kinds. Racing here is a thrilling experience for people of any karting ability, but it’s especially rewarding for experienced racers who are able to nail each corner in succession.
NO. 5 - RED LODGE KARTING
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Length: 1.2 kilometres
Fastest lap record: 53 seconds
NO.5 - BUCKMORE PARK
Location: Chatham
Length: 1.2 kilometres
Fastest lap record: 48 seconds
There’s a tie for fifth place, with Red Lodge Karting in Suffolk and the circuit at Buckmore Park in Kent coming in at 1.2 kilometres in length. But that doesn’t mean there's nothing to choose between them - the fastest lap times suggest that higher speeds can be reached at Buckmore, while Red Lodge might have tougher turns.
HONOURABLE MENTION - TEAMSPORT WARRINGTON
Location: Warrington
Length: 1 kilometre
Fastest lap record: 58 seconds
It just misses out on a top spot, but we want to include this track on the list. Why? Because it’s the longest indoor karting circuit in the UK. Indoor karting is a different beast. As well as the echoes of engines and tyre screeches reverberating around the enclosed space, you usually have to deal with the climbs and descents of a track that’s arranged over several levels! On top of that, no amount of rain can spoil your day, which is a real boon when you’re in Northwest England.
Has that got your heart rate up? In order to indulge your need for speed, check out our karting experiences around the UK. If you want to know more about the go-kart scene in this country, read our article about the karts you can drive at UK venues.
