Motorspace - Karting Tampere

In Pirkkala, fifteen minutes from Tampere, Motorspace runs a floodlit outdoor karting track of around seven hundred metres. Its distinctive feature: it operates all year, including on ice in winter, which makes it the only track of its kind in the Pirkanmaa region. You drive SODI petrol karts of around ten horsepower, able to reach eighty kilometres an hour, with settings adjusted to the state of the track, dry, wet or icy.

The place presents itself as a full sporting event centre rather than a track alone: there is a sauna, meeting rooms, barbecue areas, a catering service, paintball, shooting and racing simulators. It is a venue built for group outings, birthdays and corporate seminars, where karting stays the central attraction. Access is without a licence or experience, with a briefing and gear provided.

Pirkkala is a municipality next to Tampere, a short distance from the airport. Tampere, set between two big lakes, is one of Finland's liveliest cities, a former industrial town turned cultural hub prized for its museums and waterfronts. Between a session on the ice in winter and an outdoor race in summer, Motorspace lets you vary the experience through the seasons, a stone's throw from the city. The floodlit track lets you drive in the evening, including in the gloom of the Finnish winter, which stretches the season well beyond the warm months. With its many side activities, the place suits groups looking to string several attractions together in a single visit.