2 tracks in Greater Manchester run grand prix events. The full race weekend in miniature: qualifying to set the grid, heats, then a final with a podium at the end.
Manchester
TeamSport Manchester Victoria is an indoor electric kart track underneath the Manchester Arena car park, beside Victoria station in the city centre. The 550-metre multi-level layout has 15 corners and includes a flyover section.
Price not published
Wigan, Greater Manchester
Three Sisters is a multi-use outdoor motorsport circuit on Three Sisters Road at Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan. Alongside karting it hosts car and motorcycle track days, drift events and driver training.
The thing that catches groups out. Below the minimum you either pay for absent drivers or book an open session instead.
Blackpool, Lancashire
Formulakart is an outdoor hire-kart circuit on Queen's Promenade at North Shore, Blackpool, about a mile north of the Tower. The 750-metre concrete track sits in a bowl-shaped arena, averages 9 metres across and is edged with tyre barriers.
Colne, Lancashire
Prestige Go Karting is an indoor kart track at Holker Mill on Holker Street, off Burnley Road in Colne, east Lancashire. The same site has a laser battle arena.
Maryport, Cumbria
West Coast Karting is an indoor kart centre on the Solway Trading Estate in Maryport, on the west Cumbrian coast. It has been running since 1992 and describes its track as the longest indoor karting track in north-west England.
Ask how many laps the final is. A 30-lap final is a proper race; a 10-lap one is a sprint with ceremony attached.
Six drivers is typical. Some formats need ten or more to fill a grid properly.
Some tracks run junior versions of the same format at the same price. Others set race events at 14 or 16 plus.
Printed results and a podium are what people remember. Live timing screens make the qualifying session matter.