Singapore Go-Karting Track Guide: The Last 2 Places to Race

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Contrary to popular belief, motorsport isn’t a pastime only for elites. Karting, or carting, is the first rung on the ladder that leads to F1, and it’s an activity that the entire family can take part in. Having visited the permanent Singapore go-karting tracks, I have summarised the differences between each below. After a brief period where we had up to five tracks, these are the only and best places for go karting in Singapore.

Updated: Mar 10, 2024 @ 11:36 PM

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Permanent Gokart Tracks in Singapore

1. KF1 Karting Circuit Kranji

The KF1 Circuit at Kranji gave Singapore its largest go-kart track, and a CIK-graded one at that. Designed by Herman Tilke of Sepang International Circuit/Istanbul Autodrome fame, it can be run in both directions. In terms of practicality, it’s accessible from Kranji MRT station via a sheltered walkway. The land will be reclaimed by the government for housing purposes, so its days are numbered. Go while you still can.

Address (nearest MRT station) and operating hours

1 Turf Club Avenue (Kranji)
Mon to Fri: 1 – 9 p.m.; Sat, Sun, public holidays: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Website

Details

Opened: 2014
Track location (nearest MRT station):
Track length: 960 m
Turns: 18
Good lap time: 1 min
Live timing: Yes
Normal Fun Kart session fees: S$28 (off-peak) – S$35 (peak), S$18 for under-21s with proof of age
Advanced Fun Kart session fees (driving license required): S$35 (off-peak) – S$45 (peak), S$22 for under-21s with proof of age
A one-time registration fee of S$5 applies for first-time visitors

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Facilities

Racing simulator: No
Food: Podium Club cafe, food court and shops at Kranji station
Merchandise shop: Yes
Professional Races: Yes
Race kart storage: Yes

Read my review of the KF1 circuit here.

Singapore-go-karting
Clouds move in

2. HyperDrive

Address (nearest MRT station) and operating hours

The Palawan @ Sentosa (Beach Station)
Mon to Fri: 12.30-9 p.m.; Sat, Sun, public and school holidays: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Last entry 8.30 p.m. daily
Off peak hours: 12.30-1.50 p.m. Mon to Fri except public and school holidays
HyperDrive Website

Details

Opened: 2023
Track length: 308 m
Turns: 14
Karts: Single and twin-seater Sodi LRX, RSX2 and X2Drive electric karts
Novice karting fees: $30 (off-peak junior kart)-$45 (general period senior kart); Dual karts $40 (off-peak)-$50
Advanced karting fees: $35 (off-peak)-$45 (Driving license + Novice lap time <34.5 s to qualify)

Facilities

Food: HyperDrive Cafe

  • Only permanent track on Sentosa Island, Singapore and the only current multistorey track
  • Touted as Asia’s first gamified electric gokart circuit with in-race boosts and tools

Permanently closed Singapore Go-Kart Tracks

The Karting Arena (Bukit Timah)

The Karting Arena is the brainchild of racer Yuey Tan, and with its opening, Singapore had its first centrally located go-kart circuit, and also its first electric go karts. The site at the former Singapore Turf Club even had simulators in case of inclement weather. It closed in 2022 with the government’s reclaiming of the site for the construction of the Cross Island MRT Line.

Details

Track length: 500 m
Opened: 2015-2022
Turns: 9
Good lap time: 40 seconds
Live timing: Yes
Karts: Single-seater electric karts

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Here’s my review of The Karting Arena.

The Karting Arena
The Karting Arena at Bukit Timah

KF1 Expo

With little in the way of international travel and conventions and exhibitions during the COVID-19 pandemic, KF1 opened a go-kart track in a corner of the Singapore EXPO’s car park near Timbre+. By the end of 2023 the space was restored to its former self.

Details

Opened: 2021-2023
Track length: 750 m
Turns: 16
Karts: Single-seater petrol
Website

Maximum Drift

No licenses were needed at the only drift kart venue in Singapore. It was inexpensive to boot. The business quietly folded during the pandemic and the closure of ORTO sealed its fate.

Details

Opened: 2016-2020
Track length: ?
Turns: 10
Good lap time: 35 seconds
Live timing: No
Karts: Single-seater electric drift karts

Read my review of Maximum Drift here.

Maximum Drift Orto Yishun Singapore

Kartright / KF1 Arena / Karting Arena Jurong

KF1 acquired the site of the former Kartright Speedway and created a new track that ran from late 2017 to 2020. Two-seater karts were available and it inherited a good view of the track from the rooftop of the Arena Country Club. It was then replaced by The Karting Arena, which has also ceased operations.

Details

Opened: 2017-2020 (KF1 Arena) 2021-2024 (Karting Arena)
Track length: 780 m (KF1 Arena) 700 m (Karting Arena)
Turns: 14 (KF1 Arena) 11 (Karting Arena)
Good lap time: 45 seconds

KF1 Arena karting track Singapore

Race Hub

The temporary track at Orchard Road’s *SCAPE park may be closed but you can download it from their website and drive it virtually on Kart Racing Pro, available on Steam.

KF1 Circuit Tiki

Like KF1 Expo, a lack of tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic meant there was a lot of unused space in the car park of Resorts World Sentosa. The indoor track meant consistent driving conditions on the tight and twisty layout. Waiting times were as long as two hours at its peak.

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Details

Track length: 550 m
Turns: 23
Good lap time: 57 seconds

Check out my review of Circuit Tiki here

Circuit Tiki arch entrance

TurboCharged Marina Bay

A five-week pop-up track in the shadow of the Marina Bay Sands hotel had its stay marred by frequent rain. The anti-clockwise circuit was very bumpy and twisty, given the small and uneven plot it was built on. Food and beer were available on-site and staff had breathalysers to ensure people didn’t drink before they hit the track.

Details

Opened: 14 December 2023-21 January 2024
Track length: 480 m
Turns: 12
Good lap time: 31 seconds
Turbocharged Website

Kart World

You got to have a long memory to recall this track behind the KFC at Yung Ho Road. It may have been the first local go-kart track outside of a theme park and I recalled remote controlled cars and even motard events there. It closed in the mid 2000s.

Requirements for Go karting in Singapore

  • You need to be tall enough to reach the pedals with your feet
  • Covered shoes, please
  • No loose clothing or untied long hair
  • To drive the faster karts, bring your driving license (foreign ones are accepted)
  • As a courtesy to other users, wear the balaclava or shower cap you’re given before putting on the helmet
  • These are not bumper cars, so don’t punt other people off
  • Most facilities won’t let you drive on a wet track unless you come with your own kart and grooved tyres. Then again, you wouldn’t need this blog if you own these

Singapore go-karting

Here’s what else you can do in the rest of Singapore and what karting on the streets of Tokyo is like.

This post on Singapore go-karting was first published on 30 Dec 2015