Minimal

The karting circuit in Dunston, Gateshead has changed hands more times than I care to remember. Back in 1996, it was the first circuit I ever drove and, back then, had a tremendous layout despite not making the most of the available space. Aaaah, those were the days. :)

The current owners, however, have gone for a seriously emasculated layout, with the exception of a headline-grabbing flyover. The entire circuit consists of straights and hairpins or wide 90° corners, with nary a chicane or technical section in sight. Even the flyover does nothing to enhance the experience (although it did enhance the bruising on my back).

If you add to the circuit’s mediocrity the poor quality and preparation of the karts, you’ve got a venue that is, overall, quite crap. Not only did the karts have an unusually slow pick-up, they were limited to a decidedly low top speed. Where you should have been making your good lines count, you found yourself maxed out and, consequently, unable to make the pass. Your higher corner speeds hold little value if your kart just stops accelerating as you get alongside a rival. Deeply frustrating.

Safety-wise, it’s an own-goal too. You find yourself forced into overtaking in, or immediately after, the corners, rather than safely on the following straights. It’s a recipe for dangerous driving that the circuit owners might want to think about.

The reason for today’s visit, incidentally, was a stag party and I can see that being the primary business for the circuit these days. Indeed, another 3 stags were in while we were there. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a circuit where you can really enjoy the technical side of karting, you’re far better served heading a few miles south to Warden Law. Even in the rain — especially in the rain — it’s a bigger, more rewarding challenge and every bit as much fun.