Test your driving skills against these epic go karting tracks and see if you can make it onto the podium.
The growl of the engine, the wind in your hair, the adrenaline pumping in your veins – nothing beats the thrill of go karting. So you’ll be happy to know there are loads of places to do it in Yorkshire. This is your chance to get behind the wheel and show your mates how it’s done as you take on daring turns, super-fast straights and multi-levelled tracks that seem to go on forever. Indoor or outdoor, with family or friends, you’ve got options, lots of them!
Teamworks Karting York
This is indoor go karting at its best. The venue, which used to be home to York Motorsports Village, now races under the Teamworks Karting flag – and the venue is as exhilarating as ever. The impressive indoor circuit is the first Teamworks Karting venue in North Yorkshire, and it can cater to all ages, with super speedy karts and specially-designed ones for junior racers.
Under 16s can master their racing skills with the two-hour Cadet Club on Sundays, groups can get competitive with Grand Prix events, or you can simply put pedal to metal with 30 incredible minutes of Karting 30. Be sure to refuel at the on-site bar and cafe once the helmet comes off.
Teamworks Karting York, Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross Leisure Park, York, North Yorkshire, YO32 9JS.
TeamSport
Credit: TeamSport Go Karting
The number one indoor go karting centre in the UK, TeamSport has three locations in Yorkshire – Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford. Each track is different. Leeds is a 580-metre whip-around in a 200cc Petrol Kart, Sheffield is a 950-metre multi-level behemoth in a 200cc Biz Petrol Kart and Bradford is a 580-metre lap in a 200cc Sodi Kart.
Whichever you choose, you can reach speeds of up to 40mph as you whizz around the track, tackling foot-down straights, super-hard turns and hair-raising flyovers as you hurtle towards the finish line. Kids as young as eight years old can join the fun in their Cadet Karts.
TeamSport Leeds, South Accommodation Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1NQ. TeamSport Sheffield, Tinsley Industrial Estate, Unit 7 and 8, Shepcote Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S9 1TL. TeamSport Bradford, Units 1 & 2, Beckside Business Park, Beckside Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 2JT.
Teeside: Karting
Did know you that one of the world’s longest go karting tracks is right here in Yorkshire? Teeside: Karting at Teeside Autodrome is a former rallycross track in Middlesbrough that has been transformed into a kart circuit, and at 2.1 kilometres, it’s an absolute beast.
Here, you can hit speeds of up to 60mph on hand-built racing karts. They offer ‘Arrive and Drive’ sessions that will see you speeding around the track after a quick induction, with dedicated adult-only, kids-only and family-only sessions to make you feel at ease. But you can also take on their Iron Man Challenge and try a 40-minute endurance race against friends and strangers.
Teeside Karting, Motor Sports Park, Teesside Autodrome South Tees, South Bank Road, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, TS6 6XH.
Tockworth Motorspots
Tockworth is a multi-functional facility that’s obsessed with driving in all its forms. It has a driving and motorcycle school, as well as LGV and PGV courses, but it’s their racing experiences that will get your adrenaline pumping.
Go karting is a big part of their offering and anyone over the age of 14 can have a go on their twin-engine pro-karts. Got younger kids? They’ve got special karts for kids aged seven or over. Junior racers are encouraged to do a 60-minute training session with one of their instructors, but they also offer a half-day course to help you get the most out of the experience.
Tockworth Motorsports, Fleet Lane, Tockwith, York, North Yorkshire, YO26 7QS.
GT Karting
Go karting in Leeds doesn’t get better (or cheaper) than this. GT Karting has the only dual-level karting track in Leeds. It’s 420-metres long with a 100-metre flyover and you can tackle it at speeds of up to 40mph in one of their 200cc Honda go karts.
They offer junior karting for kids aged eight and over, as well as a Mini Grand Prix where you can challenge your mates in a 20-minute race after a five-minute qualifying session. Ease down the straight, speed over the flyover and whizz round the hairpin turns as you fight for the finish, claim the winner’s medal and take the title of top karter.
GT Karting, Hudson Road, Harehills, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 7DX.
BattleKart Sheffield
Now for something a little different. BattleKart Sheffield puts you behind the wheel with a truly unique karting experience, blending full-throttle racing with gamified elements in the form of projections and virtual scenery across the track.
Go full blast with intense 15-minute game sessions and a selection of challenges. From the football-themed BattleFoot to the disco dancefloor of BattleColour and the classic BattleRace, there’s so many games to choose from, each one delivering something completely new. Plus, there’s no minimum age here (but all racers must be at least 1.45m)!
BattleKart Sheffield, 1 Downgate Drive, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S4 8BT.
Wakefield Indoor Karting
Wakefield Indoor Karting is ahead of the game. Not only were they one of the first indoor go karting tracks to tarmac their course, but they also created one of the most challenging courses in the UK. It has a state-of-the-art timing system, an 80-metre straight where you can put pedal to the metal and a series of reflex-testing hairpin bends that take your breath away.
But what about their karts? They’re SODI RT8s, a new breed of kart that guarantees a smooth, lightning fast ride. Kids aged 8+ years can have a go here, with a Junior Race School to help serious drivers develop their skills behind the wheel.
Wakefield Indoor Karting, 5 Millennia Park, Thornes Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 8PW.
Parkwood Karting
If it’s outdoor karting you’re after, Parkwood is one of the best places to go in Yorkshire. The 470-metre high-grip tarmac track is floodlit for all-year-round racing and you can reach up to 45mph in their 270cc Honda petrol karts. Come rain or shine, they’ll open their doors, which means you can try your hand at dry and wet racing, as you battle to beat their 36-second average lap time.
The track itself is an intricately designed knot of twists and turns that will put your reaction times to the test, especially as you come out of the downhill straight and into the corner. Kids aged 8+ years can also try junior karting.
Parkwood Karting, Parkwood Road, Neepsend, Sheffield, North Yorkshire, S3 8AG.
Cover image Credit: TeamSport Go Karting.
