A New Home: After 23 months of searching and building the race track, Kartright Speedway is ready to take off.
One would hardly think to find Singapore’s first permanent competition-length karting race track to be located directly opposite an Army training camp and enclosed by an industrial factory. However, despite the lack of a scenic and more glamorous background, it makes perfect sense. This 750 m race track is located at a place where the roar and hum of the race karts are nothing out of the ordinary. Apart from being minutes away from two bus stops and the Joo Koon MRT station, the race track, aptly named Kartright Speedway, is complemented by a pro shop for drivers, an indoor kart storage room, spacious public viewing galleries and F&B outlets.
Inspired by the frenzy born of the Singapore Formula One Night Race, the completion and the grand opening of Kartright Speedway caused much excitement and buzz. Kartright Speedway, the brain child of Mr Jude Benny and Mr Allan Teo, both directors of Kartright Pte Ltd, is actually a scaled down version of the track we see at the Marina Bay. This chance to live out their racing fantasies would have fans of motorsports and go-karting alike going giddy with enthusiasm. Night racing is also possible due to the race track being equipped with full flood light facilities.
The main event started after the traditional speeches and the unveiling of the plaque.. Any cynicism or jokes relating to the toy-like appearance of the race karts were quelled once the demonstration race went into full throttle. 12 race kart drivers ranging from ages as old as 49 and as young as 13 raced, roared, rattled and hummed through the circuit, each trying to overtake one another as they ate up track. Amidst the screech of tires on tarmac, one can only imagine how it must feel to be in a race kart in the thick of a race.
As intense the race was, it was only a demonstration race which the makes the wait for Kartright Speedway’s first competitive race all the more worthwhile. And it seems that fans might not have to wait that long. It was announced that the first Singapore Karting Championship will be launched in this year and all of the five race series that it comprises of will be held at Kartright Speedway.
Throughout the grand opening event, one could not escape from the jovial laughter and the all round high-fives exchanged by the various people who invested and helped bring this race track to life. Any assumptions of Kartright Speedway becoming a “white elephant” would be quickly cancelled out as it seeks to not only establish Go-Karting and Motorsports as a popular sport in Singapore but most importantly, provide a place where fans can actually participate, try out and train their racing skills.
By: Muhammad Hydar, RP
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