Karting
Don't pass up the opportunity to sample some of these hallowed racing tracks.
Racing fans are all familiar with the names of classic tracks like Silverstone, Spa, Monza and Suzuka.
Genk, La Conca and the unfortunate-sounding Wackersdorf may not carry the same emotional resonance, but you could argue that they're even more important; it was at these legendary kart circuits that the F1 drivers of today spent their formative years pounding out the laps and learning their craft.
Europe is blessed with many great karting tracks, but these eight are some of the finest, and definitely worth booking a holiday conveniently close to…
South Garda, Lonato, Italy
South Garda is a name that’s been synonymous with karting for over three decades. Near Lonato, Garda is one of the spiritual homes of karting, with drivers from Lewis Hamilton to Davide Fore all having had success at this famous Italian circuit. The annual winter cup held here in January is traditionally the first major event of the karting calendar. The circuit has had a number of layout changes in its history, but the fast and famous Sector One remains unchanged.
Sarno, Italy
Near the base of Mount Vesuvius, Naples International Raceway is one of the world’s fastest kart circuits. A real challenge for all who drive the track, bravery is as important as skill here, with speeds reaching over 100mph approaching Turn Two in the KZ classes. Long, fast corners, a technical final sector and the biblical rainstorms that come with being so close to the eastern Italian mountain ranges all combine to make Sarno a very challenging circuit.
Wackersdorf, Germany
Wackersdorf is one of the most frequently-used circuits on the world karting scene. A very wide track with many overtaking opportunities, it makes for a great racing and a true karting spectacle. This circuit is characterised by its tight hairpins, with heavy braking contrasted with fast corners in the first and middle sectors. The 2017 KZ (as in gearbox) Championship was held here, with Paulo DeConto retaining his crown ahead of France’s Anthony Abbasse for the second year running.
PFI, England
Host of the 2017 World Karting Championship, Paul Fletcher International is arguably one of the best karting circuits on the planet. It has perfect radius corners, immaculate racing tarmac and kerbs, plus a paddock fit for F1. Sector One was extended in 2011 to include a crossover, with a long banked left-hand corner followed by a sharp right plunging down to join the original layout at a much higher speed. The circuit is constantly undergoing upgrades, with a refurbishment of the floodlighting in winter 2017, allowing racing at night.
La Conca, Italy
La Conca’s place in the theoretical karting Hall of Fame is undisputed. Sweltering temperatures in summer and huge amounts of grip thanks to the racing surface are the most notable features of this great circuit. Multiple World and European championships have been held at La Conca, and many more will be in future. Its most famous corner, the Senna S chicane, sees the world’s best kart drivers fly though the air over the kerb and land with a flurry of sparks – quite the spectacle!
Genk, Belgium
Genk is one of the best-known circuits in the European karting arena, and for good reason. The circuit is almost the quintessential premium karting track; it has everything, from technical corners and hairpins to fast sweeping turns and overtaking opportunities. No surprise, then, that it’s a regular on the European and World scene. It’s also the track where the talent of one M. Verstappen was honed…
Le Mans, France
Directly adjacent to the famous Porsche Curves at the Circuit de la Sarthe lies the Le Mans Karting International circuit. Created in 2013, the circuit has built its reputation rapidly and is now a favourite for many drivers. It’s scheduled to host the 2018 IAME International Series finals after holding a round of the European Championship last year. Despite being flat, the circuit has a number of challenging corners, with positive and negative camber making for a thrilling ride.
Zuera, Spain
In the arid landscape of northern Spain between Bilbao and Barcelona, you’ll find the fast and flowing Zuera kart circuit. Often windy and scorching hot, Zuera poses a unique challenge due to its fast and open layout. The high speeds and flowing corners make maintaining speed crucial, and smooth driving is required to extract the best lap times. The speed is evident when watching the best drivers race around Zuera – just check out this video shot from the start-finish gantry…
