Try Karting in Muscat

It is thrilling to watch professional drivers cornering and overtaking at great speeds, but as adrenaline-pumping as it is to be a motorsport spectator, nothing is more exhilarating than doing it yourself.

Invented in the 1950s in America, one of first forms of motorsports available to the average person, was go-karting. Kart races involve driving a single-seater, small-four-stroke-engine-powered vehicle around a track. The karts can reach speeds of up to 100km per hour, and are sometimes seen as miniature Formula 1 vehicles. This is apt as karting is seen as a stepping stone into the world of professional motorsports. Even for those who don’t dream of making a career on the tracks, who simply crave some speed and excitement, karting is a fantastic leisure activity.

Here in Muscat, the Oman Automobile Association is a haven for motorsports enthusiasts, from professional racers working on practice rounds, to Red Bull drifting events and rallies, but what really draws the masses is the OAA’s 1.2km karting track. OAA founded in 1979 has brought several motorsports including Karting to Oman, and their tarmac, which accommodates long straights, hairpin bends, and speedy corners, is the perfect place for the sport.

Open to the public, before one is allowed to hit the track, new participants have to register a few personal details for an OAA profile, which will also keep a record of lap times, and attend a counselling session to learn the rules of the track, safety, and the ideal lines to drive on for the best lap times.

After the initial registration, racing hopefuls, weekend warriors, and adrenaline junkies are free to get behind the wheel any day of the week during the given timings and hit the track on a rented kart for OMR10 per quarter hour. Groups of ten can even treat themselves to a mini Grand Prix event for OMR250, which will include practise rounds, qualifying rounds, and final races in a sport that is loved by kids and adults alike. —[email protected]

Venue
Oman Automobile Association
+968 2451 0239
omanauto.org

Hours
Mon-Tue 6pm-12am
Thu 6pm-10pm,
Wed, Fri-Sun 4pm-12am

Price
Adults: OMR10 for 15mins
Kids: OMR5 for 8mins