Epua Karting Circuit

In Seinäjoki, in western Finland, the Routakallio track is run by the EPUA club (Etelä-Pohjanmaan Urheiluautoilijat), a motorsport association founded in 1965. It is an outdoor circuit, open from spring until late autumn, as soon as the weather allows. You drive in the friendly atmosphere of a local club rather than that of a commercial leisure centre, which gives the place an authentic feel that drivers across the region appreciate.

The track takes drivers at set times, usually on Wednesday evenings and at weekends in the afternoon, when volunteers are on hand to supervise. The club also keeps a few karts suited to children of roughly five to twelve for a guided first taste: you simply arrange a slot in advance with the track marshal. Prices are deliberately modest, with per-session entry and seasonal passes, all designed to introduce karting to as many people as possible.

Seinäjoki is the capital of South Ostrobothnia, a town known for its civic centre designed by the architect Alvar Aalto and for its big tango festival, the Tangomarkkinat, which livens up the summer. The region, made up of farmland plains and forests, lends itself well to an outdoor sporting outing. It is best to check the opening hours before setting off, as they depend on the club volunteers being available.