Dundee’s first indoor go kart centre is on track to open by the end of April, according to one of the directors driving the exciting plan.
Ray Hooper, of the west-coast based firm Karting Ecosse, says he is ”optimistic” that the new venue will open next month in a 49,000 sq ft warehouse in the Gourdie Industrial Estate.
As the next nearest track is in Kirkcaldy, there are high hopes the business will prove to be huge hit with people in Tayside.
”I believe this will thrive in Dundee and attract a lot of visitors to the city,” said Mr Hooper, who spent 16 years working at Scotkart in Glasgow.
”We have been given lots of support from people and businesses who think it is great for the city. This is fantastic for us and I hope we can build strong links with local companies and communities.”
There will be 16 petrol-powered adult karts and a separate fleet of six cadet karts available when the track eventually opens.
Work is already well under way inside the huge industrial building, found near to the former NCR factory, with the track itself beginning to take shape.
As well as offering thrillseekers a straightforward blast around the circuit, bosses also hope to attract party bookings and corporate functions.
Dundee City Council finally granted permission last year to convert the empty warehouse into a race track, which is expected to generate 20 full and part time jobs.
The company’s previous application for the site was rejected on the grounds it did not satisfy the city’s development plan.
That rejection was one of a series of failed plans for a go-kart arena in Dundee, prompting Karting Ecosse to warn that the difficulty finding an acceptable location could force it to turn its back on the city.
But with these issues now resolved Mr Hooper explained the business is now able to move up a gear.
”It’s fantastic to see everything take shape,” he continued. ”We are expecting to do well here. The catchment area of the track is potentially huge and obviously students are another market we are aiming to win.”
A last-minute change to the name of the go-kart track has been forced on the owners.
Initially the plan was to call the new venture the Fastraxx Indoor Karting Arena. However, a separate company already uses the name Fastraxx. As a result it has been renamed the Dundee Karting Arena.
Details are still to be finalised over the size of the track but Mr Hooper confirmed it would be big.
”The average lap time for an indoor track is 35 seconds and we are well on our way to beating that so it will be a big circuit,” he continued. ”Eventually we hope to bring in fly-overs and other changes.”