I don’t know about you, but I love motorsports, but when it comes to participating, I am a complete piece of garbage. However, there is a way to enjoy the speed of the race track in a safe way, and it doesn’t really matter where you end up. I talk about pleasure in karts, I say pleasure because I know there are some who take the sport very seriously, in fact this is where Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton started their trade before getting into F1. Because you’re low to the ground and these machines are very responsive to controls, you really get a fantastic driving experience, speed around the track.

One place I go regularly on vacation is Go Karts Orihuela Costa, which is not far from our second home. It is located on the N332 south of Torrevieja in Spain. Aside from the fact that it’s much cheaper than back home in the UK, the weather also tends to be better. There are 3 sizes of Go Karts, from the very small for your kids, then the adult or teen size which is what I would go for, then the faster, bigger engined Go Kart for the best driving experience. As a safety precaution, they don’t allow the smaller go-karts to ride with the big, powerful machines, so kids can race with mom and dad, without risking bumping into thrill-seekers.

Back in the UK there is a mix of indoor and outdoor karting centers where you can just show up and race, or book a tournament, for a group, especially popular with corporate events. But you can also book in some centers a go-kart driving experience that takes you beyond this level, training you to drive faster and more powerful karts, with instructions from a qualified driver. These tend to be more expensive and really only for those who want to be serious drivers.

However, I love the sun and the ability to relax and not worry about the competition around me. It is true when traveling at 30 mph. Just inches off the ground, even in these karts, your heart races and a bit of competitive spirit arises. But I gave up trying to win, when I found fearless 13-year-olds running around me at almost every turn. In fact, my goal is not to be the last and not to get out.

It’s amazing how much effort it takes to race these karts, let’s say even 5 minutes. Orihuela Costa go karts give you between 5 and 7 minutes per race depending on how busy it is and for most people this is the right amount of time to have a good happy experience, rather than a long exhausting one. So for you, the next F1 champion, I can understand the real Go Kart driving experience, but for me, I will stick to Go Karts Orihuela Costa for a bit of fun.