Owners of karting track near Leamington say site will not reopen

The owners of a karting track near Leamington have said that they will not be reopening the site.

Mr Karting, an award-winning indoor kart track, was based at The Hangers in Harbury Lane in Bishops Tachbrook.

The kart track was home to kart clubs, a race school, as an experience for adults and children and played a role in getting many young people into motorsport and karting.

On Monday the owners, the Stretton family, took to social media and their website to tell everyone they would not be reopening the Harbury Lane site.

In the message they said it was not a decision they had taken lightly.

The owners said the reasons for their decision included the operating restrictions they would have to put in place and the impact the restrictions would have in terms of capacity and operation costs.

Like many businesses the kart track was closed during the lockdown and the owners said that this has led to them 'incurring huge debts' and concerns about the future.

They said: "The continued uncertainty going forwards for any indoor activity means the long- term viability of continuing to trade would have been impossible and would have added to the debt which we could just not sustain.

"This has resulted in us being unable to retain our lease and premises."

The Stretton family also issued the following thank you to all their supporters and customers: "so, it is with a heavy heart that we would like to thank all our customers and staff for their support during our time at Mr Karting.

"We have really enjoyed our time there and will miss each and everyone of you especially kart club, race school and the sprint race series as it was a real joy to see the young racers learning their race crafts with many going on to race their own karts and enjoy great success."

Since the news was announced many people have commented on the Facebook post to express their sadness and how much they will miss the track.

One person said: "So gutted to hear this, but I’d like to say a massive thank you to all the staff at mr karting for hosting amazing events and setting me off in the amazing world of motorsport, I wish the staff and the Stretton family the best for the future thank you for the amazing experiences that you have provided for me over the last 7 years, all the best "

Another said: "Absolute tragedy, terrible shame. Great memories of our times there. Mr Karting race school turned out some fantastic drivers. I always reckoned it was being able to throw a Kart around on that concrete that gave Matt England the edge in Formula TKM".

Despite having to close their current site the Stretton family said they were looking for other opportunities.

They said: "The company remains active, and we still have the karts and assets and are currently looking at other opportunities."

The Stretton family have been approached for a comment.