Go Karting in the South West

Go Karting in the South West

The South West combines stunning scenery with excellent karting facilities. Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorset is particularly notable as the track where both Jenson Button and Lando Norris honed their skills before reaching Formula 1.

Cornwall visitors can enjoy St Eval Kart Circuit near Padstow and Newquay, perfect for combining a beach holiday with some racing action. Bristol has TeamSport's 800m petrol-powered track in Avonmouth, while Thruxton Kart Centre offers 50mph karts at the famous Hampshire circuit.

Karting Across the South West

The South West stretches from the chalk downs of Hampshire down through Dorset and Somerset to the Devon and Cornish coast, and its karting reflects that spread. Because so much of the region is rural, it is home to some of the country's best full-size outdoor circuits — long, weather-exposed tracks where you run genuine race distances rather than the same three corners on repeat. The larger towns and cities balance that with polished indoor centres for year-round racing. Between them you can find everything from an eight-year-old's first cadet session to serious club and endurance racing, often within an hour's drive.

Where Champions Began

Few regions can match the South West for pure racing heritage. Clay Pigeon Raceway, on Wardon Hill near Dorchester, has been running since 1963 on the site of a former wartime hospital, and it is where Jenson Button started karting in May 1988 — taking the club's cadet title that same year, aged eight — and where Lando Norris later found his feet before reaching Formula 1. Its 815m Motorsport UK-licensed layout has six turns, an S-section and a couple of locally-named corners that reward patience. Over in Hampshire, Thruxton Kart Centre sits beside the famous Thruxton race circuit near Andover: a fast 1,100m outdoor track with 18 turns and a flyover — a first for a UK outdoor kart circuit — that hosts national events including the British Schools Karting Championship.

Indoor vs Outdoor Options

The South West is unusual in offering strong choices of both. For outdoor racing, St Eval Kart Circuit near Wadebridge is one of Cornwall's largest at 1,000m, running lower-powered 200cc karts for families and juniors and more powerful 270cc machines for adults — ideal for combining a session with a beach holiday around Padstow and Newquay. Indoors, TeamSport Bristol in Avonmouth packs an 800m multi-level circuit with a flyover into the city, while Exeter's RaceWorld runs a 400m multi-level track with its own flyover bridge and fast 200cc RiMO petrol karts capable of around 40mph. Bournemouth's TeamSport pairs a 450m electric circuit with racing simulators, pool and an arcade, making it more of an all-day entertainment venue than a pure track.

Best for Families, Beginners and Serious Racers

Families with mixed ages are best served by St Eval, which runs a separate small circuit for children aged 3 to 6, opens the main track from age 7, and rotates junior, open and adult-only sessions so the kart power matches the driver. TeamSport Bristol and Bournemouth both welcome cadets from age 8 and are well set up for birthday parties, stag dos and corporate days, with the indoor setting meaning a booked event will not be rained off. More experienced drivers should look to RaceWorld, whose quick, technical layout and race-prepared karts (minimum age 11, height around 155cm) reward existing skill, or to Thruxton and Clay Pigeon, where the length, speed and heritage make for the most authentic racing in the region.

Getting There and Planning Your Visit

Most South West venues are rural and reached by car, and many of the outdoor tracks run hire sessions only on set days — so booking ahead is essential, especially in the school holidays and for parties or group visits. Always confirm current prices, session times and the minimum age or height with each venue before travelling.

• Clay Pigeon Raceway — Wardon Hill, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9PW (on the A37 between Dorchester and Yeovil)
• Thruxton Kart Centre — Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8PW (on the A303)
• St Eval Kart Circuit — St Eval, near Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7UN (between Padstow and Newquay)
• RaceWorld — Greendale Business Park, near Exeter, Devon, EX5 1EW
• TeamSport Bristol — Avonmouth, Bristol
• Karting at Haynes — Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford, Yeovil, BA22 7LH