I am often asked which is the best karting venue in London and, although I am biased, I always answer that the best London go karting circuit is Daytona Sandown Park – in Esher, Surrey. Of course people expect me to pick one of our circuits, but they also question the validity of the the circuit being judged as “in London”. For me the answer is easy; there is only one NKA approved and MSA licensed kart circuit inside the M25.
Daytona Sandown Park is situated inside Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher. The start-finish line of the 900 metre tarmac circuit is 13.2 miles as the crow flies from Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Central London – I know this thanks to Google Maps Measuring Ruler tool. I do agree that we can’t all unfortunately fly like crows and thus us mere mortals have to use cars or trains. The good news is that Daytona’s Sandown Park Venue is just 3 miles from the A3 Kingston Bypass and just 6 miles from Junction 10 of the M25. It is also just two minutes taxi ride from Esher Station – which is just 20 minutes by train from Clapham Junction.
I drive to my office from my home in London most days. Its just 10 miles and it takes me 25 minutes from my front door to the track in the rush hour. Considering driving from my house towards Central London can take anything from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours, I am confident that I can legitimately refer to our track in Esher as a valid London Circuit.
So that leaves the question of whether it is the best track in London? Well, there are a few smaller indoor and outdoor circuits in the London area but Daytona Sandown Park is the only Motorsports Association Licensed Circuit in London offering 65mph twin-engined prokarts, 80mph Dmax 2-Stroke karts, 900 metres of racing tarmac – plus dedicated a Bambino Training Circuit and the ability to split the GP Circuit into the shorter Indy Circuit (perfect for Junior Drivers) and the Club Circuit (loved by Advanced Bambino Graduates).
The 900 metre GP Circuit has 9 different usable configurations, all of which offer exciting, close but safe racing for up to 40 karts. The circuit was recently voted the best track that the Vodafone Dmax Champs visits by the drivers we polled to help us decide where to take the Championship next year.
All of the above makes me supremely confident that Daytona Sandown Park is the best karting circuit in London – especially if you are looking for a team-building event for up to 240 drivers.
Oh… and the second best circuit in London? Well thats obvious: Daytona Milton Keynes! Just 35 minutes up the M1 from Staples Corner!
Lets go racing!
Jim Graham
TEAM DAYTONA