Third karting track to open at Turf City

SINGAPORE — A third karting track is set to open in February, but unlike the existing facilities in the west and north of the island, the latest venue is targeted primarily at fun-seekers.

To be built on a plot of land measuring 140m by 50m at Turf City off Dunearn Road, the S$1.3 million Karting Arena will have a 480m track.

The facility will be constructed by Havelock Management, which recently snagged a three-year S$500,000 lease from Centaurs, a company that operates rugby and football pitches at Turf City.

Racing driver Yuey Tan, who heads Havelock, will operate the facility in partnership with former national swimmer Kenneth Yeo, who had helped Tan run karting events where the doomed Changi Motorsports Hub was supposed to have been built. The pair have been searching for a new home since the temporary occupation licence at Changi expired late last year.

While Kartright’s 750m Jurong track and KF1 Karting Circuit’s 960m circuit in Woodlands are configured for serious racing — and popular with racers and fun karters — the new facility is not.

Tan and Yeo, though, are confident of carving out a niche for their business.

“We are catering to those are keen to learn karting or want to do it for fun,” said 32-year-old Tan, who races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series.

“Sometimes, it can be intimidating for learners when there are serious racers watching them trying to handle a kart on the track, so Kenneth and I felt they needed a place where they don’t face these pressures. This is why we don’t want any competitive racing on our track.”

Tan plans to charge a membership fee of S$50 a year, but says their rates for 10-minute sessions will also be competitive. Corporate events will form the facility’s other key revenue stream.

Tan feels the Singapore market is big enough to support three kart tracks.

“Since Formula 1 came to Singapore in 2008, interest in motor racing has been growing,” he said. “So there is plenty to go around, especially (when) catering to people who want a taste of what racing feels like.

“When they reach a point where they want to go for real racing, there are the two existing tracks that will cater to them.”

Race driver Claire-Louise Jedrek, who made her debut in the Malaysian Super Series touring car championships earlier this year, is lending Tan a helping hand.

Jedrek, 31, is the only woman in the series and had two years of karting under her belt before she graduated to touring cars.

“It helps to have a woman in the team, because many women tend to be shy to take up a sport that is widely seen as male-dominated,” said Jedrek. “I think I will be able to coax them to have a go at karting and be confident about it.” IAN DE COTTA