Kor-ak Karting

In Tokat, a historic town in the inland Black Sea region, Kor-ak Karting offers an open-air track open to all, with no licence or experience. The outdoor layout is driven in the open air once the warm weather arrives, and people gather as a family or with friends to string together timed laps. It is a welcome leisure venue in this mid-mountain town, where people look for an activity to let off steam between walks.

Karting is about the simple fun of racing: a briefing, a helmet, and everyone heads off to post their best time. 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 and prices by season before coming. People rarely leave after a single run, the urge to do better soon taking over.

Tokat is a town rich in history, crowned by its castle perched on a rocky spur and known for its Seljuk and Ottoman heritage. The Gök Medrese, a medrese with turquoise tilework turned into a museum, the restored old Ottoman houses and the historic Hıdırlık bridge tell of a prosperous past as a trading crossroads. The region is known for its saffron, its handprinted cloths and its hearty cuisine, from the famous Tokat kebab to local specialities. The town is reached by road from Sivas or Samsun, in a still unspoilt part of inland Anatolia.