Kotkan FK-rata

In Kotka, a port on Finland's south coast, Kotkan FK (for Formula & Karting) runs an outdoor asphalt karting track of around a thousand and sixty metres. It is a club that makes karting the heart of its activity, billed as the country's biggest motorsport for young people, and opens the track to leisure and competition alike. You drive on a real sporting layout, run by volunteers, in a club atmosphere.

The track suits both first tries and regular training, and hosts races and championships through the season. As often in Finnish clubs, opening times follow the events calendar and the weather, and the track can close now and then for major events, so it is best to check before setting off. Access keeps the affordable, approachable feel of association-run venues.

Kotka spreads across a cluster of islands at the mouth of the Kymijoki river, in the Kymenlaakso region. The town is known for its maritime parks, such as the Sapokka water garden, and for its Maretarium aquarium, which shows off the fish of Finnish waters. Between sea and river, it is a pleasant corner of the south coast, easy to pair with a karting outing for a full day. About two hours from Helsinki by motorway, Kotka lends itself to a day combining the track and a walk along the seafront, especially in summer when the town comes alive.