The 1st round of the British Kart Championship 2019 comes to Paul Fletcher International Circuit.
PF International kart circuit was first opened in 1994 and was, and still is, the brain-child of Mr Paul Fletcher. The circuit is located in the village of Brandon, close to Grantham, in the lovely Lincolnshire countryside.Over the years, PFi has developed and grown and is now recognised as the UK’s premier Karting facility.During 2011, P.F.I saw perhaps it’s largest transformation to date – a track extention that incorporates a bridge with flyover. This sensational new feature has increased the overall track length to 1382m and helped the circuit to secure it’s International ‘A’ grade track licence – the only kart track in the UK to achieve this level. Attaining this grade of track licence has firmly placed P.F.I on the Global Karting scene and has helped to secure several CIK-FIA kart race events to date.
The 1st Round of the ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE EURO TROPHY comes to Genk.
Belgium, the small country with a tremendous motorsport tradition has hosted the ROTAX MAX Euro Challenge for many years now. Genk Kart Track is a large International Kart track which is situated near Genk in Belgium.It’s without a doubt one of the leading European Kart tracks, hosting a huge number of events throughout the year. It’s a fantastic venue which is centred around the 1350M track, making it one of the longest in Europe. It’s a pretty technical track, with a mix of high, medium and low speed corners.As well as the track the circuit also leads the way with facilities, permanent parc ferme facilities, shower block, Kart shop as well as a two storey control tower and pit building.The 1.350 metres long track at Genk represents one of the most modern karting circuits and provides a huge challenge for the drivers. The highly technical track combines demanding chicanes with high speed passages and requires full concentration at all times. Two long straights make for many overtaking manoeuvres following some challenging hairpins.
Round 2 of the British Kart Championship 2019 comes to the Rowrah.
Rowrah is a national level Kart circuit, located in Cumbria. It’s built in an old limestone Quarry and as such is situated in a bit of a dip. The circuit hold club meetings as well as some national level events. The 1030M track is reasonably fast, with some fast corner sections and a couple of difficult chicanes. It is easy to find but a long way for most! When you arrive you overlook the track which sits in an old quarry. There is a lake down the back straight of the circuit and an amazing back drop of the Lake District. The track itself is very challenging with 2 very tricky chicanes, 2 hairpins and a number of fast corners. The first chicane is blind and very fast. As you climb up the chicane there is a short straight then you enter the first of the 2 hairpins. They are very tight and perfect for overtaking. After the 2 hairpins you pass back down the longest straight into a long, double apex right hander with a small tight chicane on the exit, the kerbs here are very flat and jumping them is the quickest way. You then flick back down the hill into a very quick right hander, shortly followed by a tighter left. This section is very quick and very enjoyable to drive. You then sweep right for the final corner which is very long and opens out on the exit. Many different lines are used here.
The 2nd round of the ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE EURO TROPHY comes to Adria.
Adria Karting Raceway is situated in the Veneto region of Northern Italy along the coast just over an hour south from the ancient city of Venice. Built alongside the car circuit of the Adria International Raceway, it first opened to karting enthusiasts on November 1st, 2014, becoming one of the most modern and technical international kart circuits to date. With a length of 1,302 metres, the CIK-FIA homologated track becomes the second longest on the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy tour in 2019. Providing some great racing and many overtaking opportunities, the Italian circuit that continues to host numerous international events, has become one of the most popular locations. Unlike all the other venues on the calendar, Adria is a very unique combination of concrete and colour inside the circuit layout itself with extensive run-off areas. The facilities are unmatched by any other in the European series, including a permanent race control room equipped with state-of-the-art digital systems, fully lockable pit boxes along the start-finish straight underneath the hotel apartments overlooking the circuit. There are also other hotel rooms available on the complex, together with undercover parking storage for race transporters, pit garages and a café restaurant.
Round 3 of the British Kart Championship comes to Mansell Raceway.
The Mansell Raceway track is a unique outdoor track set in a rural location next to the airfield at Dunkeswell. The track measures 750 metres long and an average of 8 metres wide and laid with smooth racing Tarmac. With challenging & technical corners and long straights, there are plenty of opportunities for over taking. A good lap, in dry conditions takes approx 44 to 48 seconds (Lap record is 41.546 seconds). For wet conditions add 10 to 12 seconds a lap.
The 3rd round of the ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE EURO TROPHY comes to Kristianstad.
The picturesque Asum Ring is a 1,234 metre-long circuit with A Grade CIK-FIA homologation, set on a 120,000 square metre complex in stunning forest landscape that’s located just 10 minutes from the beautiful local seaside. Regarded as being quite a technically difficult course, it includes a number of overtaking possibilities which allows the opportunity for some close, competitive racing. This undulating layout favoured by many drivers worldwide who came to take on the challenge, combines 16 corners with a total difference in level of up to 6 meters and has 2 chicanes plus 3 corners of 180 degrees. Kristianstad Karting Club, who recently celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Asum Ring, provides welcoming hospitality and fantastic facilities trackside for all their racing fanatics and guests.
The Rotax Festival & E Plate comes to Clay Pigeon Raceway.
The Clay Pigeon Kart Circuit was founded in the late 1950’s early 1960’s on a disused Second World War Military Hospital site. The original track was built by joining the hut (ward) concrete bases together with tarmac to make a 500 metre track. The Blandford Karting Club was formed and a Royal Automobile Club Permit was obtained and the first ‘official’ race took place on Sunday, 5th May 1963. The circuit has now become a seven day a week business organising Arrive and Drive Sessions, Corporate Race Events and hosting most major championships that tour Britain. Recently Chelborough Ltd. (the circuit owners) has come under the control of Southern Counties Leisure who now own all the leisure facilities surrounding this circuit.
Round 4 of The British Kart Championship 2019 comes to G.Y.G
Glan Y Gors park is set in the picturesque North Wales countryside on the A5, 15 miles east of the popular tourist destination Betws-y-Coed. Glan y Gors Park, the largest go karting circuit in the North West. Attracting visitors world wide to compete at British Championship rounds and racing events. The Motorsport centre is a welcoming family run racing circuit driven by passion and set in the heart of North Wales.
The Rotax O Plate comes to Mansell Raceway formerly Dunkeswell Kart Club.
Established over 30 years ago Dunkeswell Kart Club has grown from the early roots of karting and motorsports interests in the UK. Based in the west country it had early links with Exeter and Plymouth Kart clubs which are no longer on the karting map, but the two clubs have since left a legacy of experienced drivers and enthusiasts who are now using their skills at Dunkeswell and other UK circuits. Like our present day club many of the UK’s early Motor Sports organisations used some of the old American and RAF Airfields which were left behind after the the ‘Yankee’ soldiers and Battle Groups from America and Europe departed at the end of the last war. Many of these great Landing Strips have now been dug up, returned to arable pastures or redeveloped, but fortunately the early Club was lucky to have a good group of dedicated Karting and Motorsport enthusiasts to seal the fate of part of the old Airfield Fuel Bay and Runway and put the area to good Sporting use. Although the Race circuit of today is situated on the southern side of the Blackdown Hills – recognised for its outstanding natural beauty, those early days at Dunkeswell or any other venue were rustic to say the least. Some parts of the early airfields were surfaced in concrete and most were left open to the elements, barren and in disrepair which meant a bumpy ride for those early drivers who sought to experience the thrills of driving at speed. The original ‘Go Karting’ concept was developed over 40 years ago in 1950s America. The idea was soon to spread to the UK, Europe and across the continent thanks to some innovative developments in chassis design and adaptive use of early motorcycle and motocross engines in the 50s and 60s by companies such as Villiers, Ariel, Montesa, Baltacco and McCulloch.
By 1961 the Italian manufacturer, Parilla, had produced the first Rotary Valve induction engine which effectively opened the door to the future of 100cc Karting developments. As Kart Racing became popular here in the UK and abroad we saw the birth of today’s recognisable names such as Tal-Ko (TKM), Ital, Honda and Dap. Whilst Zip Karts carried the Komet engines of the early 1970’s and Dap sought to put the Dap T70 on the worlds race grids, Dunkeswell was proving ever more popular as a venue for race meets and was holding Car Sprint and 200 and 250cc kart events in conjunction with local and UK kart and motor clubs. Kart Racing at this time was still an adult sport but thanks to the work of JJ Blow the cadet kart concept was born out of the innovative use of an industrial engine bolted on to a small chassis. Coupled with the important advent of a new Junior Britain class Go Karting was to become available to young junior drivers throughout the UK.
A lot has changed since those early years, Kart Clubs such as Plymouth and Winkleigh have gone and new classes have seen the demise of those early machines but we now have a fantastic choice in chassis and engines to race which suit any driver at all levels, whilst race venues, UK, European and World Karting Championships have seen great names such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Shumacher, Ivan Capelli, Heinz Harald Frentzen, Jarno Trulli, Nigel Mansel,Vestappen and Fisichelle and Jenson Button (to name a few) go on to win drives in Formula One and other Motorsports. Like many of the UK’s circuits, Dunkeswell race circuit has gradually been transformed by the club from a rough piece of open ground once held by the MOD to a Kart and motorsport venue which has been used by thousands of racing drivers of all skills and ages coming from all areas of the UK. The transformation has been an on going project and is often a slow process but new ideas are under constant review and are likely to be implemented over the next five years. Such ideas include corporate hire facilities, track extensions and a number of improvements which will enhance the area both for the club and its members, our neighbours and visitors and tourists which are vital to the Rural Devon economy.
Round 5 of the British Kart Championship 2019 comes to Clay Pigeon
The Clay Pigeon Kart Circuit was founded in the late 1950’s early 1960’s on a disused Second World War Military Hospital site. The original track was built by joining the hut (ward) concrete bases together with tarmac to make a 500 metre track. The Blandford Karting Club was formed and a Royal Automobile Club Permit was obtained and the first ‘official’ race took place on Sunday, 5th May 1963. The circuit has now become a seven day a week business organising Arrive and Drive Sessions, Corporate Race Events and hosting most major championships that tour Britain. Recently Chelborough Ltd. (the circuit owners) has come under the control of Southern Counties Leisure who now own all the leisure facilities surrounding this circuit.
