New £8m kart circuit next big addition for Silverstone

Stuart Pringle has some exciting news about how those hard-earned British Grand Prix profits are being ploughed back into Silverstone. “We are going to build an international kart circuit here, as good as any in the world,” he reveals. “It will be to CIK-FIA standard, but will also be where a family can come even when an event is on, including during a grand prix, to get in a kart just as you can at Le Mans.”

The circuit, which will cost £8m to build, will feature scaled versions of Maggotts and Becketts within its design. “Fans will be racing their mates on it at the 2023 British Grand Prix,” Pringle confirms.

A few weeks before our visit, BRDC president David Coulthard had let slip during an interview for our website. “Silverstone is a fantastic venue that has invested heavily to continue to grow the facilities and there’s nowhere as complete in the UK,” said the two-time British GP winner. “One thing we are working towards is having a world-class karting facility in addition to everything else we have there. It makes sense to have that full experience at Silverstone.”

Beyond the kart circuit, there’s a private development also planned for launch in 2023 at Maggotts, the Escapade luxury short-stay accommodation project, to offer that ‘premium’ experience of visiting the British GP.

Pringle also reveals a plan for one of Silverstone’s hidden gems, easily overlooked by the public. “We want to restore the farm and this wonderful heritage we have in the centre of the track, to make it somewhere where people with a passion for cars have somewhere to go. You’ll find great examples at Goodwood and Caffeine&Machine. There’s no reason why we can’t have something similar.”