Karting
6 of the best kart tracks in Asia
Asia can now lay claim to some of the best kart circuits in the world – here are our favourites.
The Asian motorsport scene has exploded in the last decade, with more and more of the continent's circuits making it onto high-profile race calendars of series like F1 and the World Endurance Championship. The increase in popularity and passion for the sport in these counties has spread right to the grassroots, and now some of the world’s best kart circuits are also to be found in Asia. Here are six of the best…
Bahrain International Kart Circuit, Bahrain
Potentially one of the best kart circuits in the world, and McLaren development driver Lando Norris’ favourite kart track. A mixture of fast undulating corners, long straights and a technical last sector, this circuit came onto the world karting scene in 2012 when it hosted the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy and U18 World Championship. The circuit made for some great racing and was a hit with all who drove it.
KF1 Karting, Singapore
This technical circuit is characterised by the highway that is suspended above it, making it one of the world’s most recognisable tracks in the most unique surroundings. Due to Singapore’s climate and the roadway over the circuit, the track poses a unique wet/dry challenge when it rains that’s not found anywhere else. Many hairpin turns and slow and medium-speed corners make up the circuit that hosts the Singapore ROK Cup and X30 Challenge throughout the year. With so many tight corners, overtaking is frequent and racing is frantic.
Al Ain Raceway, UAE
The Al Ain circuit was built in 2007 to bring a world-class track to the area, with the 2007 Rotax Grand Finals hosted there soon after. The event was such a success it returned for 2011, where Brit Ben Cooper took the win in the senior Rotax class. The sweltering temperatures and sand that blows onto the circuit make finding the correct kart setup critical for good lap times.
Coloane Karting Track, Macau
This circuit in Macau is a truly world-class venue. It's very wide, with many fast corners leading into tight hairpins offering ideal overtaking opportunities. And while Macau is most famous for the motorcycle, GT and Formula Three races held on its street circuit, in 2010 the world karting finals stole some of that limelight; the final race in the Super KF class started dry, but a shower during the race meant the drivers had a much tougher time in possibly one of the most nail-biting finishes to a world championship in karting’s history.
Sepang, Malaysia
Not far from the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is the wide Sepang kart track. The circuit lends itself to great racing; its wide, long-radius corners and fast straights offer the opportunity for perfect slingshot passes. As seen so often in Formula One, Malaysia is known for its sudden downpours of torrential rain, meaning that drivers must make sure they've mastered the circuit in both wet and dry conditions to be successful around this track.
Suzuka, Japan
One of the most thrilling kart circuits to drive in all of Asia, the Suzuka circuit sits right by the entry to one of the world’s most famous corners – 130R on the Suzuka race circuit. The Suzuka kart circuit is massively fast, with two colossal straights and a section very similar to the ‘S curves’ of the F1 track just over the fence, a sequence of fast, flowing left and right-hand corners that lead into one another. The circuit has previously hosted rounds of the world karting championship both in 2011 and 2012.
