Outdoor
Karting category
10 active venues
5 museum listings
Outdoor Karting in Ireland
In Ireland, Outdoor Karting is the pinnacle of the sport. While indoor tracks are popular for their convenience, the outdoor circuits offer a true motorsport experience: wide asphalt tracks, high-speed corners, and the unpredictable challenge of the Irish weather. From the 1.5km "super track" in Galway to the CIK-approved circuit in Louth, Ireland boasts some of the longest and fastest rental karting facilities in Europe.
The Irish outdoor scene is defined by track length and engine power.
The "Super Tracks" (Pallas & Whiteriver): Ireland is home to exceptionally long circuits. Pallas Karting in Galway features a 1,500m track—often cited as one of the longest in Europe—where 13hp "Thunderkarts" reach speeds of 85-90 km/h. similarly, Whiteriver Park in Co. Louth offers a 1,200m CIK-FIA approved circuit, running a fleet of Italian BirelART N35 karts that prioritize handling and precision on a championship-grade surface.
Tech Specs & Handling: Unlike the standard 200cc karts found indoors, Irish outdoor tracks typically run Honda GX270 (9hp) or GX390 (13hp) engines.
- Kiltorcan Raceway (Kilkenny) is unique for running its fleet on LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas), offering cleaner emissions without sacrificing the 9hp performance.
- Whiteriver equips its fleet with Mitas slick tires, providing high grip levels that demand physical effort to steer.
10 kart tracks
Ordered by venue ranking
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Indoor & outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Indoor & outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
OutdoorAdventure Park at Kartworld
Watergrasshill, County Cork
OutdoorAthboy Karting Centre
Athboy, County Meath
OutdoorHalfway Karting
Burnfoot, County Donegal
OutdoorKiltorcan Raceway
Ballyhale, County Kilkenny
Indoor & outdoorLetterkenny Activity Centre
Letterkenny, County Donegal
OutdoorMidland Karting
Edgeworthstown, County Longford
OutdoorPallas Karting & Adventure Centre
Tynagh, County Galway
Indoor & outdoorPollard Karting
Castlepollard, County Westmeath
OutdoorRiver Valley Go-Karts
Ballyarthur ED, The Municipal District of Arklow, County Wicklow
OutdoorWhiteRiver Karting
Collon, County Louth
Map locations are approximate.
Outdoor Karting — FAQs
They are significantly faster than indoor karts. While standard indoor karts top out around 45 km/h, outdoor karts at tracks like Pallas Karting use 13hp engines to reach speeds of 85-90 km/h (55 mph). Standard 9hp karts at Whiteriver or Athboy reach approximately 60-70 km/h.
No. Outdoor karting in Ireland is an all-weather activity. Tracks will only close for extreme conditions like ice, snow, or lightning. You will be provided with a heavy-duty rain suit, but you should expect to get a little wet and experience "drift-like" conditions on the slick track.
For the full-speed adult karts (GX270/390), drivers typically need to be 13-14 years old and meet a height requirement (usually 5ft / 152cm). Younger children (from age 8-10) can race on shorter "Junior" or "Family" tracks at the same venues.
No. You do not need a road driving license to race on rental tracks. However, for owner-driver racing (competition karting), you would need to apply for a Motorsport Ireland license.
This refers to the safety and design standards set by the international governing body of karting. Whiteriver Park is CIK-approved, meaning its run-off areas, barriers, and track width meet the same safety standards as professional championship circuits in Europe.