Suffolk is a county with a rich racing heritage. The headquarters of British horseracing are in the town of Newmarket, where organisations and stud farms are found alongside the twin tracks of Newmarket Racecourse. And racing doesn’t just take place on legs, but also wheels, most famously at the stomping ground of the Witches speedway team, Foxhill Stadium in Ipswich. Speedway is a motorbike racing sport that takes place on oval tracks, but there’s the chance to get going on much more complex tracks, in four wheeled vehicles here, and that’s karting.

It is the simplest way to enjoy motor racing. You don’t have to worry about delicate vehicles, complicated rules or spending a fortune, you simply get into the kart, put pedal to the metal and go! The karts themselves are small, four wheeled vehicles that sit close to the ground and usually seat just one person. With either manual or automatic transition and a steering wheel and pedals set up similar to what you find in a car, it’s easy to get the hang of driving one of these machines - though becoming a champion takes time and dedication. There are several excellent venues around here where you can get behind the wheel and take one for a spin. There are indoor and outdoor tracks, adult and junior karts, short sessions and endurance tests on offer - keep reading to find out what’s right for you!

Where are the best karting tracks in Suffolk?

• Ipswich: One of the best karting tracks in the area is on the outskirts of the county town, in the direction of Sproughton. As an indoor venue, it has the advantage of all weather racing, as well as controlled and constant conditions for those with a passion for beating their best times. In addition, the main circuit split over two levels which means it features climbs, descents and flyovers, and completing a single lap of the track feels like going on a real journey. There’s even a smaller circuit for younger racers. In fact, all age groups are catered to here, by a fleet of karts of four different sizes. And talking about them, some have electric motors which are fantastic for a guilt free sensation of speed.

• Beccles: The biggest facility in the county is the Ellough outdoor circuit near Beccles. The track is a huge 1,100 metres in length, which is specially designed and built for racing - and that’s part of the reason that it hosts the British Championships every year. But when the professionals aren’t around, the fun can start. There are all kinds of options for enjoying this circuit, from casual practice sessions on a hire-and-drive basis, to Grand Prix style races and endurance events. On top of all that, the venue is fully floodlit, so the action can go on late into the evening, even in the winter months.

• Red Lodge: The county isn’t blessed with just one outdoor circuit, but two. The Second is outside the village of Red Lodge on the border with Cambridgeshire. There are two floodlit circuits on the site, the most popular one being the 700 metre long track, but they can be combined on special occasions to create a single circuit that’s almost 1,200 metres long. But in spite of that length, lapping the track can be the work of a moment because there are powerful karts here, some of which are capable of reaching speeds of 55 miles per hour. These hot rods are for the grown ups, but there are smaller ones for kids and teens too, and racers can even bring their own vehicles to special events.

What are the options for an experience?

- Your choice of karting action depends on who you are, who you’re with, and what you want to get out of the experience. But one thing’s for sure - there’s something for everyone in Suffolk. The simplest way to get your fix is by going to a track as an individual or small group and hiring karts for a blast around the track. You’ll share the tarmac with other users in this kind of activity, but your lap times will be recorded by an automatic timing system. The duration can be as little as 15 minutes, or up to 1 hour. There are also open races that you can join and compete against other petrol heads, these take place several times a month, usually on weekday evenings.

- If you’re organising a birthday party, a stag or hen do, or a corporate event, you’d do well to consider it as an activity that everyone can enjoy, with a bit of friendly competition to give things an edge. You can organise a group race as long as there are more than 5 of you, which can last between 30 and 90 minutes, but the best events are designed for larger groups. Here you can organise your very own Grand Prix, an event which includes practice sessions, qualifying heats, and a final prize race in the space of 2 hours. There are also team endurance races, which include continuous racing for up to 3 hours.

Who can enjoy this activity?

Fun for all the family is a phrase that’s bandied around a lot in the leisure industry, but when it comes to this sport, it could hardly be more apt. Children as young as 5 can get involved here, driving their very own, specially designed vehicles around circuits that are kept separate from the main tracks. It’s easy to organise a 1 or 2 hour session for these little speedsters at the venue in Ipswich. Once the kids are 7 or 8 years old, they can start racing in larger vehicles, while the full size options come into play at 16 years of age.

For group bookings, the smallest number that will get to enjoy it for yourself is 5, but most racing events are designed for groups of 8 or more. At the other end of the scale are Grand Prix events which are suitable for up to 22 competitors - with that many vehicles on the track, the action is guaranteed!

Why don’t you hone your racing instincts by seeing how quickly you can make a reservation for an experience with us? 3,2,1…book!