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Kart Racing

Captain: Andrew Dawson

Email: andrew.dawson@durham.ac.uk

Website: www.dur.ac.uk/motor-sports.society/karting.html

About:

Durham University Kart Racing club was founded in 2005 with the mission of bringing this affordable and exciting motor sport, where Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton started racing, to the students of Durham. It maintains close links with Durham University Motor Sports Society (DUMSS) and organises events from informal indoor karting through to Durham’s entry into inter-university competitions. We are extremely lucky to have two outdoor circuits of over 1km in length, located in Sunderland and Middlesbrough, ‘arrive and drive’ visits to which form the basis of our club championship over 4 rounds on Wednesdays during the year. The club works hard to negotiate special prices, which are typically around £30 for a full afternoon’s racing with transport and safety gear both included. All members are welcome, no previous experience is necessary and a trophy is offered for best novice each season.

 

Since its inception the club has entered one or more teams into the British Universities Karting Championship (BUKC), where Durham competes in teams of four drivers against over 50 other university teams in high performance karts capable of 70mph+. BUKC 2009 will take place between January and April on tracks across Britain; open practice trials begin in October, from which we hope to send a number of teams forward to the first official test day in November and the qualifying rounds in early 2009. Coaching and extensive ‘track time’ will be available to help newcomers get to grips with BUKC racing. Although our rivals include professional racing drivers and students on dedicated motor sports degrees, Durham has an excellent record including our maiden victory at Rye House, Hertfordshire in 2007. For more information on BUKC 2009, please visit www.bukc.co.uk .

 

The club’s active social side includes nights out in Durham, meeting up with other kart clubs and potentially even a European karting trip. There is a fantastic team spirit through both the race team and club in general, which attracts a diverse range of students including postgraduates and international students. We are also able to offer help and advice to those wishing to own their own race kart, with good opportunities to race locally through the Tyne and Wear Kart Club ( www.twkartclub.com ) .