Not everyone is built for F1 racing or auto racing, but that isn’t going to stop those of us who want some Tokyo Drift-inspired fun behind the wheels in a smaller car. Enter kart racing or karting, a road racing sport on open-wheel vehicles and scaled-down circuits. These cool cars can range from motorized ones that let you zoom down a circuit and the pedal-powered ones that are child-friendly.
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Feeling the need for speed? Check out these places for go-kart racing in and near Metro Manila:
EKartraceway
SM City North EDSA, North Avenue corner Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Open daily from 10am to 10pm
Officially opened on May 1, 2022, EKartraceway is touted as the Philippines’ first all-electric indoor go-kart racing track. The facility has junior-sized karts for guests weighing below 60 kilograms and standing under 5’8” as well as adult-sized kart units with a driver weight limit of 100kg. The circuit covers more than 2,000 square meters of space, which has safety barriers and sensors to avoid accidents. Rental for the adult kart starts at P950 per ride (eight minutes), while the junior karts are at P650 per ride (six minutes). The two-seater with dual controls comes at P1,200 per ride.
Driftito Academy
Driftito, which is led and owned by Tee Jay Jamlang, started out as a distributor and seller of California brand Razor’s Crazy Cart. The product features small four-wheel carts built for kids and larger ones for adults. Driftito or Driftito Academy now stands as a full-fledged attraction at local malls, whether as a weekend pop-up or a permanent facility for mall-goers. Cart rentals range from P200 to P650.
Driftito Academy has go-kart racing facilities at these Metro Manila malls:
- Robinsons Metro East - East Deck, Marcos Highway, Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City
- SM Southmall - LG/F, Alabang-Zapote Road, Almanza, Las Piñas City
- SM City Novaliches - Parking E, Quirino Highway, Novaliches, Quezon City
- Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balingasa, Quezon City
- Tutuban Center, Tondo, Manila
They also have outposts at Robinsons Malolos (Bulacan), SM City Molino (Cavite), and Robinsons Starmills (Pampanga).
Drift Motor Speedway
Valley Fair Town Center, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Taytay, Rizal
Open from Monday to Sunday, from 12pm to 9pm
Located next to Palpitate Coffee, Drift Motor Speedway is a full-blown indoor go-kart track that hosts season races and courses in racing (from basic to advanced). Drift Motor Speedway Academy courses start at P3,000 for first-timers with an additional of P500 fee for adults. The basic-level course is inclusive of a two-hour training on the history and theory of go-kart racing, track familiarization, and driving. There’s even an evaluation and assessment at the end of the lesson.
Neon Rides
3/F Vista Mall Dasmariñas, Dasmariñas, Cavite
Open daily from 10am to 9pm
Like Driftito, PedWay Go Kart Rental also partnered with malls to provide go-kart attractions. Neon Rides, which is an indoor facility at Vista Mall Dasmariñas, features a room-sized circuit and pedal-powered karts for kids that are four years old and above. Rental is P100 for 15 minutes.
You can also find PedWay Go Kart Rental in Arcovia City, Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Pasig City from 3pm to 8pm daily. The rental is only P50.
City Kart Racing Pampanga
Alviera, Porac, Pampanga (beside Sandbox)
Open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm
City Kart Racing closed their Makati branch in August 2021, but you can still find them in Porac, Pampanga. They took over the Porac circuit in 2018 and have since served go-kart racers at their four-hectare facility. The racetrack is built to international competition standards and also features a separate motorbike circuit for the two-wheel racers. Rates per heat (at 12 minutes) range from P650 to P900 for the short track, and from P1,200 to P2,000 for the long track.
City Kart Racing Pampanga also hosts a one-day clinic program that includes lectures and hands-on activities. Cost is at P7,500, which is inclusive of coaching, kart rental, gas and oil, track fee, a mechanic’s services, and diploma. Classes are: Bambino (five to six years old), Caded (seven to 11 years old), Junior (12 to 15 years old), and Senior (16 years old and up).
NOTE: This article first appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made.
