Gencar Gokartpálya Békés

In Békés, in the south-east of the Hungarian Great Plain, Gencar runs an open-air karting track on the edge of town, out in the countryside. The outdoor layout is driven in the open air, in a region of wide horizons and farmland, and people gather as a family or with friends to string together timed laps. It is a welcome leisure venue in this quiet corner of the country.

Karting stays open to all, with no licence or experience: a briefing, a helmet, and you head off to find your best lap. The short format suits beginners as much as regulars working on their lines, and groups happily set up short heats to sort out the drivers. As the activity takes place outdoors, it is best to check opening times by season before coming. People rarely leave after a single run, the urge to shave off a few seconds soon taking over.

Békés is a town in south-eastern Hungary, crossed by the branches of the Körös river, in a region known for its canals and its plains. Close by, the town of Gyula and its medieval brick castle, one of the best preserved in the country, and its thermal baths draw many visitors. The region, near the Romanian border, lives at the rhythm of farming and spa tourism. Békés is reached by road from Budapest in about two and a half hours, or more quickly from Szeged and Debrecen.