Ayr karting complex is off the starting grid

Nov 14 2008 by Stuart Wilson

Emotion Go-karting

A MASSIVE go-kart complex could produce the next Lewis Hamilton in Ayr.

Developers are pledging to make the indoor attraction, which got the go-ahead this week, the envy of the nation.

And they reckon Ayrshire tourism will receive a huge boost when the centre opens in March.

Emotion Karting will transform a disused building at the Mosshill Industrial Estate.

In its place will be a 300 metre racetrack complete with corporate suites and catering facilities.

The company behind the bold plan want to make Ayr the focus of Scottish motor racing.

Stuart Morris, Emotion’s operations manager, revealed: “We looked all over the country for a suitable site and Ayr was the clear choice.

“This will be something that Great Britain has never seen before and is 10 years in the planning.

“Ayrshire doesn’t have anything like it and it’s going to be a major boost for tourism in the area.”

The kart centre will also be the first in Britain to boast a track tunnel and is based on designs from Italian and Spanish circuits.

Mr Morris and his team hope to carry out soft testing on the £250,000 centre early in the new year.

He explained: “We’ve contacted David Coulthard, Jackie Stewart and Alan McNish and hope to have some of them along for the opening.

“There will be a motor racing museum on the site as well so this will be a place for real racing enthusiasts to come.

“I’ve got a passion for karting and been around the business since I was five years old so this is a dream for me.

“There are good drivers here and we want to help get youngsters to the level of Lewis Hamilton without needing huge financial backing behind them.”

Plans for the kart centre were widely praised at a meeting of South Ayrshire Council’s planning panel.

Councillor Bill Grant admitted: “It’s a move to be welcomed based on the recent success of Lewis Hamilton.”