
Formula 1 has agreed a 15-year partnership with Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur that will see the delivery of the world’s first-in stadium electric karting facility.
London’s longest indoor track will be installed below the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The high-tech, in stadium facility, which will be the only one of its kind in Europe, will open later this year with separate tracks for adults and juniors, both accredited by the National Karting Association – making it a potential future venue for national karting championship races.
Based below the stadium’s South Stand, the facility will also include interactive motorsport activities and food and beverage outlets.
Daniel Levy, chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, said:
Since building this stadium our ambition has always been to see how far we can push the boundaries in delivering world-class experiences that will attract people from around the world all year round. We have been able to bring the biggest names in sport and entertainment to London N17. We are extremely excited about what this long-term partnership with F1 will bring for our global, national, and local communities.
Together Formula 1 and Tottenham Hotspur will develop a new driver academy programme which aims to widen the motorsport talent pool and help identify the next generation of F1 drivers.
Formula 1 and the club will deliver educational activities for schools to engage local young people in motorsport and showcase career opportunities and pathways in areas such as engineering and software development.
A key focus of the partnership will be to create apprenticeship and career opportunities for local young people and bring greater diversity to the motorsport industry, particularly for women and underrepresented groups.
As part of the partnership, F1 will also collaborate with Tottenham Hotspur on sustainability initiatives that promote environmental responsibility.
Formula 1’s commitment to be net zero carbon by 2030, aligns closely with Tottenham Hotspur’s targets, as a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework’s ‘Race to Zero’, to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become net zero by 2040.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO, Formula 1, said:
As we continue to grow our sport, partnering with world renowned brands like Tottenham Hotspur allows us to take Formula 1 and motorsport to new and more diverse audiences. The karting experience will be a destination and place that families, friends, and aspiring drivers from all over the world will want to visit and enjoy, engaging new audiences and offering an accessible entry point to the world of motorsport.
Our two brands have a shared vision to create life-changing career opportunities, promote diversity and inclusion, such as through the recently announced F1 Academy, and driving environmental sustainability – our innovative partnership will bring all of this to life.
David Richards CBE, chairman of Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the UK, said:
I congratulate Tottenham Hotspur and Formula 1 on this innovative partnership. This new karting facility aligns perfectly with Motorsport UK’s mission to inspire and enable more people to participate in our sport in a safe, fair, fun, inclusive and progressive environment. I look forward to seeing even more people enjoy karting but particularly to see a greater level of diversity amongst the visitors.
@PanStadiaArena
PSAM editor John Sheehan caught up with Yves De Cocker, Managing Director of PitchTecConcept, who explains how his company bridges the gap between sports organisations and the technology used in the playing surface industry.
PSAM Presents... PitchTecConcept from Hemming Group Video on Vimeo.
The interview covers:
Yves 20+ years industry leading experience in the evolution of hybrid grass, trends he has noticed and some of the notable projects he has been involved with
The key reasons for Yves launching PitchTecConcept
Common mistakes often made with playing surface management
The steps he offers as a bridge between the industry and the end user
Advice to clubs looking to maximise their event calendars without compromising on the performance of their playing surface