About the track
Teesside Motorsports at South Bank Road in Middlesbrough claims the world's longest kart circuit, and it has grown into a multipurpose venue rather than just a kart track. Mondays and Tuesdays are given over to car and bike testing and track days, with karting running Wednesday to Sunday.
There are two layouts, and the difference is stark. The National circuit's lap record is 50.573 seconds. The International record is 1:19.544, roughly thirty seconds a lap longer. Their leaderboards are also split at 79.9kg into light and heavy classes, which is a fairer comparison than most circuits bother with and tells you something about how seriously they take the timing.
It is also very good value. A kids' 30-minute session is £27.50, which works out at 92p a minute and is the cheapest we have recorded anywhere. Adult sessions run from £37.50 for 30 minutes, and the 45-minute timed session at £55 is better value per minute than the 30-minute one at £45.
The scale is unusual. Around 40 karts in the fleet, an average of 15 Iron Man races on a typical weekend carrying 15 to 35 drivers each, and roughly 1,200 individual drivers racing every month. Three mechanics look after the fleet, with every kart taken out of service every fortnight for a full inspection.
Karting runs from age 8, with dedicated adult-only, kids-only and family sessions each week rather than everyone mixed together. It is also a serious owner-driver venue, with championships across seven classes from Bambino Comer C50 through Senior Rotax, its own 24-hour championship, and teams entered at Le Mans, Spa, Campillos and the British 24hr.
Racing your own kart
Owner-driver championships run across seven classes from Bambino through Senior. See their owner driver pages for regulations and dates.
The karts
- Adult hire kart
- Junior hire kart
- NRG kart
Sessions and prices
Set by the track. You book direct — we don't add a fee.
Good for
Opening hours
Advance booking required for arrive and drive. Check their activities calendar rather than assuming a session will be running.
Planning your visit
Accessibility
- The operator publishes a dedicated additional needs page, which few circuits do.
- Dedicated adult-only, kids-only and family sessions run every week.
- Live track camera and published lap records for anyone watching from home.
Questions people ask
How young can children drive at Teesside?
Eight. The operator runs dedicated kids-only and family sessions every week, so younger drivers are not mixed in with adults. A kids' 30-minute session is £27.50.
What does a session cost?
Kids sessions are £27.50 for 30 minutes. Adult and family sessions start at £37.50 for 30 minutes, with timed sessions at £45 for 30 minutes or £55 for 45. An Iron Man race is £80.
How many circuits are there?
Two layouts. The National circuit has a lap record of 50.573 seconds, and the longer International circuit 1:19.544, so the International takes roughly thirty seconds a lap more.
Why are the lap records split by weight?
Leaderboards are divided at 79.9kg into light and heavy classes, because a lighter driver has a real advantage in an identical kart. The gap between the two records is around a second and a half on the National circuit.
Which days can I go karting?
Wednesday to Sunday. Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for car and bike testing and track days on the autodrome side of the business.
Do I need to book?
Yes. Arrive and drive is advance booking only, by phone on 01642 231117 or through their online system. Check the activities calendar for availability.
What is an Iron Man race?
Their headline open timed race format, £80 a driver, run around 15 times on a typical weekend with grids of 15 to 35 drivers from all over the country.
What happens in my first session?
Every session starts with a face-to-face induction explaining how the karts work, the basics of racing lines and karting etiquette.
How well maintained are the karts?
Each kart comes out of service every two weeks for a full inspection, with all moving parts tested and the chassis checked, overseen by three mechanics. Staff arrive an hour before the first race to prepare the fleet.
Do they offer coaching?
Yes. An Academy Foundation lesson is £75, with Race Craft and Junior Rotax lessons at £175. Academy kart hire is available separately.
Can I race my own kart there?
Yes. Owner-driver championships run across seven classes: Bambino Comer C50, Cadet Honda 200, Inter Rotax and Honda R200, Junior Rotax, Junior Pro Kart, Senior Rotax and Senior Pro Kart.
Do they run endurance racing?
Extensively. Alongside public endurance events they run their own 24-hour championship and enter teams at Le Mans, Spa, Campillos and the British 24hr.
Is there anything else on site?
Yes. The autodrome side runs drifting, car track days, mini bikes, moped events, testing and driving experiences. There is a cafe, and a live track camera streams the circuit.
Getting there
Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, TS6 6XH
01642 231117
[email protected]
Where this came from
- eligibility, sessions, address — https://teessidemotorsports.co.uk/karting/public-hire/arrive-drive/ (Operator's own site)
- karts, fleet maintenance, operating days — https://teessidemotorsports.co.uk/the-karts/ (Operator's own site)
- lap records and circuit layouts — https://teessidemotorsports.co.uk/karting/lap-records/ (Operator's own site)
- pricing — https://teessidemotorsports.co.uk/product-category/karting/ (Operator's own shop)