Speed up you school holiday fun with Phillip Island’s European Sodi Karts

School holidays are set to speed up a notch with Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit’s new European SODI RT8 karts, fully commissioned and ready for racing.

Since arriving at the circuit from France in mid August, the 27 new karts worth more than $230,000, have been given a total shake down and tested on the kart circuit. They’ve even been revved up for racing, with a shiny coat of red paint and Phillip Island circuit logos.

Karting at Phillip Island on the 760m karting circuit, a replica of Australia’s world famous Grand Prix race track, is super fun for anyone.

“You can be a novice, you can be a child, or you can be an adrenalin junkie,” said Fergus Cameron, circuit managing director. “We manage the experience to cater for everybody no matter what their skill is behind a wheel.”

With each session of ten minutes, karters take on the clock and one another. Once across the finish line, times are immediately posted to monitors and a lap chart is provided to all karters.

If you opt to, your time and photo will be immediately posted to your facebook or twitter feed, allowing you maximum boasting rights amongst your mates.

A maximum of 24 karts are on track at any one time, and if you bring a tribe of karters, you can race each other in a group battle.

“There’s no need to book in advance,” said Cameron. “It’s a very streamlined process and people just flow through for the ten minute sessions.”

On arrival, karters are given a thorough induction in safety and race-kraft, don a race helmet and are buckled into race seats. Competitors can even have their photo taken prior to their heat, and if they score a top three spot, they’ll cross the finish line to see their happy faces featured on the winner’s podium on the television monitors.

“We want to bring the action and adrenalin from the racetrack to our karting experience. People love trying to beat their times and seeing an immediate result fires everyone up for an even better performance next time,” said Cameron.

Fired by a 9hp GX270 Honda engine, the SODI karts feature all round rubber protection, a structurally engineered roll bar and seat belt.

Seats and pedals are adjustable making it easier to custom fit drivers. and allow for a reduced driver height so most 12 year olds will be able to kart.

For youngsters that are under 12 or don’t make the height restriction, the circuit has retained their tandem karts so they can kart with an adult.

Karting sessions are priced in ten minute blocks with one session at $35, two session x 10 minutes at $60; and three sessions for $80.

Open seven days a week, the Phillip Island Grand Prix go kart track on picturesque Phillip Island one and a half hours drive south-east of Melbourne, is adjoined to the circuit Visitor Centre and above the famous turn, Southern Loop.

For all details www.phillipislandgokarts.com.au