In this post I share descriptions, together with my impressions and reviews (very subjective and valid as of the date of this publication) of 5 Moscow karting clubs and their tracks that I have personally visited recently.

1. Arena Play

One of the newest, modern (opened in 2015) and, in my opinion, well-equipped karting clubs in Moscow from the owners of Arena GP. There is a smart design of the premises, new excellent cars, almost new helmets and branded suits (only once I got a suit with a broken zipper), there are enough lockers (locked by an electronic bracelet), there is a changing area, a good view of the track through the glass (not all the turns can be seen from up close, but it’s great, nevertheless), a big cozy restaurant. During the weekend there is a flow of visitors from the Filion Shopping Center, but on weekday evenings it isn’t busy, so one can come and polish up the technique. The personnel is friendly, service is good.

Web-site: http://www.arena-play.ru/gokart/

Address: Moscow, Bagrationovsky proezd 5, 19th level of the parking of the Filion Shopping Center

Operating hours: 14:00-24:00

Price per ride (10-minute ride, adult kart):

Period	Work days 14:00-19:00	Work days 19:00-24:00	Weekend
Price (RUB)	695 (650*)	895 (850*)	995 (950*)

* with driver’s card (quick and free registration at the reception)

Cars: Rimo Evo 6 (adult, 9 h.p.), Rimo Mini (child, 5.5 h.p.). Cars are new, with protection of all hot parts and a protective rack behind the seat, convenient, with adjustment of pedals and the seat according to the height of the wheel.

Track configuration: Track length — 530 meters. The track is interesting and fast, includes many fast turns, S-turns and 4 classical 90-degree slopes, 2 profile turns as the track is located on 2 levels. There is a couple of slow chicanes and one long straight line. The track is very well illuminated. The scheme of the track on the website is slightly different from its actual configuration (the 6th and 7th turns are 90 degrees in real life). A track covering is a perfectly even concrete, with rather good adherence, when it is well-trodden and heated-up (when cold — it’s rather slippery), ventilation is good (air is not gas-polluted).

Scheme of the track (from the club web-site):

2. RRT Karting

It is not among the newest karting clubs. It is located inside the Third transport ring, near Savelovskaya, not far from another club (Arena GP). The design of the club is minimalistic, cars are not that new, but in working condition. Helmets are rather shabby, suits are not provided. There are about 15 lockers (locked by a key on a rubber bracelet), a good view of the whole track from above (the balcony goes sideways along the whole track), there is a restaurant. On weekdays, except evenings of Monday and Thursday which are club nights, the track isn’t busy, one can even be alone on the track. The reception personnel is tired (must be working hard), the guys on the track are more vivacious.

Web-site: http://www.rrtkart.ru/

Address: Moscow, Pravdy Street, 24-5

Operating hours: 12:00-02:00

Price per ride (15-minute ride, adult kart):

Period	Work days 12:00-18:00	Work days 18:00-02:00	Weekend
Price (RUB)	650	750	800

Cars: Dino (adult, 6,5 h.p.), Dino (child, 5,5 h.p.). Cars are ok, with protection of the main hot parts, without seat adjustment.

Track configuration: Track length is not available (feels like 450-500 meters). The track is very interesting (it is declared that it was created with the assistance of the Russian racer Daniil Move) and fast, includes a couple of interesting spirals, a lot of fast S-turns, almost no classical 90-degrees, the track is single-level. There are 2 chicanes and 2 straight lines. The track is quite well illuminated. The tack covering is even asphalt, very rubberized, remarkable adherence, ventilation is average. The scheme of the track on the website doesn’t correspond slightly with the actual configuration (the 6th and 11th turns are actually slightly different).

Scheme of the track (from the club web-site):

3. Le Mans Karting

One of the most inexpensive karting clubs, located in the west of Moscow, almost at MKAD. Design of the club is minimalistic, cars are not very new, but safe (belts and a rack behind) and in good order. Helmets are rather shabby, suits and even sneakers are proved. About 20-25 lockers (locked by a key), a limited view of the track from a balcony. The track is quite busy, but on weekdays in the evenings it is (if not too late) less busy. Reception personnel is ok, the guys on the track are fine, too.

Web-site: http://www.lemanskarting.ru/

Address: Moscow, Molodogvardeyskaya Street, 54-5

Operating hours: 14:00-24:00 (Fri-Sat until 02:00)

Price per ride (10-minute ride, adult kart):

Period	Work days 14:00-18:00	Work days after 18:00	Weekend
Price (RUB)	600	700	800

Cars: Rimo Evo 5 (adult, 8,6 h.p.), Rimo Mini (child, 6,5 h.p.). Cars are not new, but with protection of all hot parts, with seat belts and a protective rack behind the seat, convenient, with adjustment of pedals and seat along the height of the wheel.

Track configuration: Track length — 550 meters. The track is interesting (on the website it is specified that it was designed by professional racers, their names are not mentioned, however) and is one of the fastest, includes many fast turns, two S-turns, 3-4 chicanes, one long, many straight lines and fast arches. The track is single-level, there are no genuine 90-degree turns. The track isn’t badly illuminated. The track covering – even asphalt, well rubberized, good adherence, ventilation is average. The scheme of the track on the website corresponds to the real configuration.

Scheme of the track (from the club web-site):

4. Arena GP

A modern and well-equipped karting club (from the owners of Arena Play) located in one building with RRT Kart, but on the 4th floor and the entrance is on the other side. Good design of the club, good cars, regular helmets and suits with the logos of the company. There is a changing area, but lockers couldn’t be locked (when I was there), a good view from a cozy cafe at the top level. The track is rather busy especially towards the end of the week. The personnel is friendly, the service is good.

Web-site: http://arena-gp.ru/

Address: Moscow, Bumazhnyi proezd, 19-1, 4th floor

Operating hours: 14:00 (Sun from 12:00, Mon from 16:00) — 00:00 (Fri and Sat until 02:00)

Price per ride (10-minute ride, adult kart):

Period	Work days before 19:00	Work days after 19:00	Weekend
Price (RUB)	600	800	800

Cars: Rimo Evo 5 (adult, 9 h.p.), Rimo Mini (child). Cars are good, with protection of all hot parts, wheels and a protective rack behind the seat, convenient, with adjustment of pedals and seat along the height of the wheel.

Track configuration: Track length is 510 meters. On the website it is specified that the track is designed by a team of German engineers who have constructed Michael Schumacher and Ralf Schumacher’s karting halls, Kart palast, Yas Marina Abu Dhabi and more than 150 centres around the world. The track is single-level, interesting, but not very fast. The configuration includes almost a full range of fast and slow turns, difficult chicanes and 2-3 straight lines. Almost the whole track is very well illuminated. The scheme of the track on the website almost completely corresponds to its real configuration. The track covering – perfectly even concrete, with rather good adherence when it is well-trodden and heated-up (when cold it is rather slippery). Ventilation is good (no gas pollution).

Scheme of the track (from the club web-site):

5. Forza Karting

The most affordable karting club that I have visited is located in the east of Moscow, in the industrial zone at Volgogradsky prospect, directly before the Third transport ring. It have been opened about 10 years ago (if you count their first club in Nagatino). The club design is sober, cars are not the newest, but in good order. Helmets are a little shabby, suits and even sneakers (for girls) are provided, no balaclavas (disposable sanitary hats are offered instead). About 20 metal lockers (locked by a key), changing rooms, view of the track from the cafe above. The track is very busy, but on weekdays in the afternoon (if not too late) it is quite free. Reception personnel is ok, guys on the track are fine, too. Next door to the karting club is a ShonX Motorsport, a shop of racing equipment.

Web-site: http://www.forza-karting.ru/

Address: Moscow, Volgogradsky prospekt, 32-4

Operating hours: 17:00-02:00 (Mon), 14:00-02:00 (Tue-Fri), 12:00-02:00 (Sat-Sun)

Price per ride (10-minute ride, adult kart):

Period	Work days before 19:00	Work days after 19:00	Weekend
Price (RUB)	490	700 (800 on Fri)	800

Cars: Dino Leisure (adult, 9 h.p.), CRG (child, 4 h.p.). Cars are fine, with protection of all hot parts, with adjustment of pedals and the seat along the height of the wheel.

Track configuration: The track is 600 meters (the longest of all indoor clubs). The track is interesting, technical and very wide (practically at full length). The configuration of the track includes long straight segments (up to 90 m), high-speed and slow turns, a couple of 90-degrees, chicanes, 180-degree turns, a bridge and a tunnel (ride under the bridge). The track is well illuminated. The track covering is rubberized asphalt, there are small bumps and uneven areas (on which karts slightly jump up), adherence is fine, ventilation is average. The scheme of the track on the website does NOT correspond to the real configuration (perhaps, it’s the scheme of the last configuration, the right part in the drawing is different).

Scheme of the track (from the club web-site):

This post is also available in русский.