Indoor Karting Manchester vs Outdoor Karting

Although indoor kart circuits and venues near Manchester and Liverpool offer novice drivers an excellent, generally low-speed introduction to the sport of karting, karting 'proper' really only takes place on outdoor kart circuits like Three Sisters Circuit near Wigan in Greater Manchester.

Virtually all the drivers in the current Formula 1 grid started their careers at outdoor kart venues as youngsters, and there's a reason for that ...kart racing as a sport rarely happens indoors. It’s not that indoor karting is a bad way to start, but it has its limitations which only karting at an outdoor circuit can satisfy.

Let’s look at why indoor karting falls short:

Indoor Karting

• Limited space.
• Smaller circuits with no run-off areas.
• Slower, usually electric karts.
• Lack of a real driving challenge.
• Lack of overtaking opportunities.

Outdoor Karting

• Large, wide circuits up to 1.5km in length.
• Run-off areas and proper kerbs.
• Faster karts with larger engines.
• All-round more of a challenging experience.
• Varying weather adds to the challenge for drivers.
• Floodlit venues mean that racing doesn't have to stop at sunset.

Indoor karting is an ideal first-step into the exciting world of karting, and is great for having some fun with friends, but it's a far cry from the adrenaline-inducing motorsport experience that attracts so many enthusiasts looking to learn the art of cornering efficiently at speed, and perfecting their understanding of race-craft.

Outdoor karting is the next step up the motor racing ladder after indoor circuits for hire-kart drivers, with Motorsport UK licensed racing venues like Three Sisters Circuit being the place that owner/driver karters go for their racing excitement and thrills.