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New Liverpool venue let me live my Mario Kart dreams

My skills on the Nintendo Wii didn't quite translate

A popular racing spot for go-kart fans has reopened today after making a massive change, so I headed down to try the track for myself. After ice-skating last week, this was another terrifying bucket list opportunity to tick off.

TeamSport Go-Karting has opened its doors to racers again after a period of closure. The venue, located opposite Brunswick train station, has introduced electric karting as opposed to fuel-based karts, to create what they say is a more eco-friendly racing experience.

There are two courses you can race on. Along with the standard course, TeamSport have introduced a new style - the Combat Karts track, which provides a nostalgic nod to much-loved karts-based video games.

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[The track has plenty of twists and turns, along with a huge ramp]

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The track has plenty of twists and turns, along with a huge ramp

I cant drive, nor have I ever gone karting before, so this was a brand new adventure for me. The most experience I have with karting is playing Mario Kart on the Wii, so it was time for me to take my skills into real life.

When you go into the building, after registering, there is a waiting area with bowling and pool, as well as a bar area where customers can get a drink or food before they race, or even a pint to celebrate a victory.

The E-karting track is 475 metres long, with plenty of twists and turns, and you can get up to some pretty high speeds. Before any of that, though, you need to get suited up in a racing suit, balaclava, gloves and, of course, a helmet.

[All the karts are now electric to promote sustainability]

View 2 Images

All the karts are now electric to promote sustainability

Racers are given extensive safety training before theyre allowed to set foot on the track, and I found myself getting nervous. As previously mentioned, I have no experience in this area in the slightest, but the staff at TeamSport were quick to go through any questions I had and ensure I would be safe as I raced.

Before long, it was time to hit the track. We got into our karts, and the first thing we had to do was a slow lap of the course. I found that it took me a long time to get used to the controls but it was so much fun flying around the track. I struggled with the corners at first, but after a few laps, the nerves eased off and I was able to pick up speed.

Not that much speed though, because after 15 minutes of laps, I still managed to place last out of everyone on there. I suppose my days playing Mario couldnt transfer to real life, but my shocking defeat aside, I really enjoyed my first outing in an E-Kart.

Its so exciting to be out on the track whizzing around and that, coupled with the variety of the course, made for an amazing experience.

[Alice Walker]

Alice Walker

Alice Walker is the video producer for the Liverpool Echo. As part of the Curiously team, she mainly produces content for their social media pages such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. She is the face of the Echo's Best of Liverpool series and produces content for both News and What's On. Before her Curiously role, Alice focused on news for the Echo's video team. She is a senior reporter for digital content and often covers live news for the Echo on Facebook Live.

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