Formula 1, 2017. What you need to know

    The countdown to the new F1 season is almost over and with new cars, new drivers and new rules it's set to be one of the most exciting seasons yet! So, to make sure you're ready for all the excitement of another year of Formula 1, here's everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix. When does it start? The new F1 season kicks off with qualifying on Friday, but it's not until Sunday that the real racing starts. You'll need to set an alarm clock to catch the action from the off though, but if you're half as excited as we are you won't mind the 6am start! Who's driving for who? When Nico Rosberg announced his shock retirement just

Congratulations to Karting Manchester; December’s Venue of the Month

The F1 season may have come to a close with a bang, but there’s still plenty of time to squeeze in some karting before the end of 2016, and December’s venue of the month is the perfect place to see out the year in style! After reading through our most recent feedback one venue in particular caught our eye and top of the podium for December is Karting Manchester! This action-packed indoor circuit stretches over 500 meters and gives racers the perfect opportunity to unleash their inner speed demon, which is probably why it’s such a big hit with our customers! In total the track covers roughly 30,000 sq ft and there’s excitement and acceleration squeezed into every inch. Immediately after

Lewis Hamilton – Where it all began

Believe it or not, this week marks 10 years since Lewis Hamilton first made his name in Formula 1. Even though Lewis’s first drive in a Formula 1 car didn’t come until 2007, it was a year prior that McLaren announced he would be driving alongside Fernando Alonso for the 2007 season. But where did it all begin for one of Britain’s greatest ever Formula 1 drivers? Like most F1 stars Lewis made his name in karting, but it was long before that he discovered his love of motor sport. His first taste of racing came in 1991 when his dad bought him a radio-controlled car, and it wasn’t long before Lewis was racing it competitively. After winning a number of

A day in the life of a Race Director

From firing up the karts to tweaking the circuit setup, our karting instructors certainly like to live life in the fast lane. But what do they really get up to on a daily basis? For the inside track we spoke Karting Northampton’s Liam Beckwith… Name: Liam Beckwith Venue: Karting Northampton Top Tip: Don’t feel pressured into going flat out straight away. Go at your own pace and slowly speed up when you feel comfortable. “After spending years racing karts in the MSA Clubman Series, I wanted to remain involved with karting, which is why I applied to become an instructor. I’ve been working as an instructor for over three years now, and during my time here at Karting Northampton I’ve been involved with the junior

Go Karting jargon explained

Every sport has its own gigantic dictionary of terms players use that will go over the heads of non professionals- and karting is no different. Instead of leaving you confused, we’ve compiled a mini dictionary of the basic terms you’ll need to know. Electric Karts/Petrol Karts: Can accelerate to faster speeds in seconds, making them perfect for racers with a need for speed. The lack of a petrol engine makes them more environmentally friendly too, with no fumes coming out of the back of the engine. Petrol karts are the classic engines you’ll find on most of our tracks. When you think of the racing experience, you’ll likely think of these beasts. Two Stroke and Four Stroke Engines: Two Stroke engines are

Lydd Karting Joins!

We’re delighted to welcome Lydd Karting to the Karting Nation network. This full throttle outdoor circuit is one of the fastest in the country, and with a whopping 1040 meters of track to race round you can really push your karting skills to the limit! The mix of tight corners and high speed straights makes this venue perfect for drivers of all abilities, and even children as young as six can take on the track. The venue’s fleet of karts includes everything from Babino karts to twin-engined ProKarts too, which means there’s karts to suit all ages and abilities. With GP Experiences, Sprints and traditional Grand Prix packages to choose from the amount of time you spend out on track is completely

Kids Karting

Our kids can drive us all mad, but thanks to the facilities available through Karting Nation, they can also drive a range of super-fast, super-fun go karts. Did you know that Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and many other top Formula 1 drivers got their first taste of motor racing in karts? And despite what many people think, this activity isn’t reserved for the mega-rich. If your little devil is a speed demon, you’re bound to find an exciting karting package to suit your family and your budget. Kid’s party packages are a great way to introduce your young ones to racing in a safe and fun environment, and celebrate their birthday while they do it! These events, available in many karting venues

Ben’s Stag Weekend Karting

"When my best mate told me he was getting married, it was up to me to give him the perfect send off…’cause it was all down hill from there! We’re a sporty bunch of lads, and I knew he’d want the chance to let loose and act like a bit of a big kid again. I wanted the weekend to be a hundred mile an hour and chock full of laughs and stories to tell. As fans of the Formula 1, go karting was an obvious choice but we still wanted more. When I spoke to one of the guys at Karting Nation, about places to kart in Birmingham, they suggested we try paintballing too and found places we could do both

Karting, Your Questions Answered.

Go karting is accessible motor racing madness that’s taking the nation by storm! But not everybody has the inside track on this super-speedy social event, so we’re here to provide the answers to all your nagging karting queries. What should I wear? Few of us drive like The Stig, and even less of us share his fashion sense! But when it comes to the big race there are some definite clothing DO’s. All racers are required to wear a helmet which covers the face, a set of fireproof overalls and protective gloves. Sometimes waterproof overalls may also be appropriate, if racing outdoors in bad weather. These items will almost always be provided by the karting facility, however, you will be asked to bring

Tison the Speed Demon

KARTING sensation Kieran Tison is aiming to follow Lewis Hamilton's slipstream – all the way to Formula One. Teenager Tison has made a stunning start to the sport since he first took to the track just 12 months ago. The 16-year-old, from Cable Street, Wapping, has won four championships in the past year and is currently lying second in the Junior Club series at the circuit where F1 stars Hamilton, Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson first burst onto the scene. Tison's career is picking up speed and his uncle Joe Tison believes that the talented young driver can emulate Hamilton by reaching the top in motorsport's biggest competition. "He wants to become an F1 driver and the talent is there," he said. "Lewis is