_
Contents
1. Basic Information
2. Track Details
3. Track Layout
4. Other Information
5. Current Driver Laptimes
Basic Information
Location: Middlesborough
Length: 1300m/2100m
Karts: Unknown
HUGS Record: 50.755 (Imran Khan)
Track Details
Teesside Karting (sometimes known as Langburgh) is a two hour journey from Hull and is the most expensive track we visit - still, it's well worth the trip, and despite the high cost, represents excellent value (a race of the same length at another top track in England could be more than double what you pay here) On arrival your greeted by the sight of the longest go-karting track in Europe - 2.1 kilometres in length. Even when shortened (which it usually is) it ranges 1,300 metres, with double-engined karts that hit 80mph at the fastest point on the track.
The Marshalls are a pretty laid back lot and as a result usually don't come and help when you've spun off the road unless you're really in trouble, but since the track spans such a large area, you are allowed to get out and push the kart back onto the road again and feel fairly safe that no one will crash into you. Even so, be careful! Another notable point is that the marshals are often unwilling to replace defective karts, and are much more likely to make you wait while the kart is being repaired as opposed to giving a new kart, which several drivers have found out to their cost
The circuit has a good timing system which feeds to one small TV at the end of the briefing room - during a race this is usually a popular area to have a chat and there's often a crowd either checking their times or just keeping out of the cold! To start with, if you can get round the track in 55 seconds then you're doing well, however as you get used to the circuit you should be aiming for 52s and 51s, with the best drivers even breaking into the 50s.
The Teesside circuit will favour those who have a smooth driving style, as most of the corners are taken at extremely high speed. Indeed, there are only 2 braking points on the whole track. The track starts with a long run down to the first corner, a long sweeping right-hander that can definitely be taken flat out. (as you may notice in the layout below, there is an off-camber chicane before this, but this failed an MSA safety test in early 2009 and hasn't been used since, and is unlikely to be any time soon). As soon as you have exited the first turn, you have little time to straighten up before taking a slight turn to the right before a double S-bend, which can be completely straight-lined. Upon exit, the next turn is a left-hand hairpin, and one of only 2 braking points, and requires heavy braking at that as you are likely to be travelling at about 75mph at this point. A traditional outside line is favourable upon entrance, but stay away from the kerbs! This is followed by a right-handed hairpin, tighter but as you are travelling much slower upon entrance to this one, does not require braking at all, a little speed may need to be scrubbed through the turn, but that is all. Then it's the long blast up the back straight, again ignoring the chicane, and you then meet a banked corner, which is again flat-out, before straightening up and meeting the second braking point on the track, at a right-hand hairpin. This is probably the best overtaking opportunity on the track. This hairpin is immediately followed by a left-hand hairpin, so you will need to quickly cross-over to the other side of the track to get the best entrance, braking is unnecessary again just scrub a little speed through the corner, and then its back on the power, with a kink to the left and another to the right, the best line is to just clip both the apex’s, and then you are on the main straight for another lap of this brilliant track
Track Layout
Other Information
None
Current Driver Laptimes
01. Jon Beagles - 50.212s
02. Pip Hammond - 50.287s
03. Mark Foley - 50.445s
04. Sam Jackson - 50.482s
05. Marcus Stuttard - 50.510s
06. Tom Smith - 50.541s
07. Josh Overhill - 50.556s
08. Nick Drewett - 50.619s
09. Imran Khan - 50.755s
10. Mike Miller - 50.856s
11. Rich Towers - 50.995s
12. Sam Firth - 51.064s
13. Keith Herbert - 51.226s
14. Phil Blanchard - 51.284s
15. Brock Hayes - 51.348s
16. Paul Hutton - 51.351s
17. Ben Best - 51.486s
18. Peter Szedlak - 51.508s
19. Jane Cummings - 51.542s
20. Graham Reeds - 51.554s
21. Lawson Whiting - 51.584s
22. Matt Batten - 51.745s
23. Colin Smith-Bowen – 52.004s
24. Adam Hibberd - 52.186s
25. Daniel Naylor - 52.846s
26. Tom Buxton - 53.065s
27. Jon Whitwell - 53.089s
28. Roger Palmer - 53.257s
29. Alex Tweed - 53.602s
30. Amy Charles - 53.999s
Correct as of 12th May 2010