Karting North East

About Karting North East

Karting North East runs the outdoor circuit at the Warden Law Motorsport Centre, a short hop off the A19 and roughly central to Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham. At 1,200 metres it is one of the longer purpose-built kart tracks in the country, and it is a Motorsport UK approved venue that has staged rounds of the British Kart Championship — so for arrive-and-drive racers, the appeal is lapping a circuit that genuine competition karters take seriously. It carries a 4.7 rating from well over 800 Google reviews, which is unusually high for a demanding outdoor track.

The Circuit

The full 1,200m layout has ten turns and mixes long straights with sweeping curves and a tighter technical infield section, so a competent lap runs to around 75 seconds. Adult karts are powered by 390cc Honda engines — a big step up from the 200cc machines used at most indoor centres — and reach the 60mph mark on the quicker sections. With space for up to 35 karts on the grid, this is a track that rewards racecraft over a single hot lap: braking discipline, holding a line through the sweepers and picking your overtaking spots. For mixed-ability groups and junior sessions the circuit can be shortened to around 850 metres, dropping the hardest section while keeping the flow.

Who Should Visit

This is a proper drivers' track, and it suits confident and improving racers best — anyone who wants outdoor speed, a long lap and real overtaking rather than a short indoor loop. Arrive-and-drive sessions need no experience or kit; you turn up, get kitted out and race. Grand Prix formats, timed practice and endurance-style events cater to those who want to race competitively, and weekday practice sessions are often discounted.

It works well for groups too — birthdays, stag and hen parties, and corporate days — and the site can bundle karting with other activities such as paintball and archery. Juniors are welcome from age 8 (minimum height around 1.3m) on junior karts and the shorter layout, so it caters for younger drivers as well as adults, with Blue Light and student discounts available.

Planning Your Visit

Karting North East is at the Warden Law Motorsport Centre near Sunderland (SR3 2PR), signposted off the A19 with plenty of parking on site. Being fully outdoor, sessions run in most weather — wet running is part of the challenge on a track this fast — but if severe weather is forecast it is worth calling ahead to confirm your session is going ahead.

Prices sit in the mid-range for UK karting, and weekday timed practice is often the best value. Book in advance for weekends, group bookings and any Grand Prix or corporate event, and confirm current session times and rates directly with the venue before travelling, as they vary through the year.

Frequently Asked Questions