Teesside Autodrome

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Teesside Autodrome sits on reclaimed steelworks land at South Bank, on the edge of Middlesbrough. It started out as Langbaurgh Motorsport Park, a kart track that had a rallycross loop bolted on in 1992. That gravel section was later tarmacked, which is how the place ended up calling itself the world's longest kart circuit. These days the venue quotes the full circuit at 2.1km and pitches it as a test and shakedown track for teams in the North East.

It's not a big-name venue and it doesn't pretend to be. What it does well is evening track days that you can get to after work, drifting (it has hosted British Drift Championship rounds), karting from Wednesday to Sunday and driving experiences. The lap is tight, flat and busy, so it suits small, light cars like Micras, MX-5s and Clios better than big-power machinery. It's a decent, low-pressure place for a first track day in the north, as long as you don't mind a bumpy surface.

A lap of Teesside Autodrome

Layout: Full Circuit, 2.100 km (1.30 miles)

Don't expect a list of famous corner names here. Regulars tend to describe the lap by its features, and the full circuit runs clockwise. From the start line you're straight into the first chicane, which sets the tone: it's narrow, it comes up quickly and it's the place to be tidy rather than brave. Get it right in second gear and you can short-shift to third for the quick left-hander that follows.

Next comes the hairpin, and it's a bumpy one. The surface here has patch repairs and ridges, so braking late is a good way to lock a front wheel and slide wide. Brake a touch earlier than feels natural, get the car turned and then use the short straights to get the speed back. Beyond that, the lap twists through a corkscrew section and a chicane-style S, a quick right-left that climbs slightly. Your car needs to be settled before you change direction or it'll wash out on the second part.

The straights at Teesside are short, and most of the time you're only ever one gear change away from the next braking zone. That's why traffic matters so much. On a busy evening you'll catch slower cars at the worst moments, so plan your passes for the straights and give faster cars a wave by when they're on your bumper.

The lap finishes with a long, fast 180-degree bend that brings you back onto the start straight, and this is where the lap time is. Carry too much speed in and you'll scrub the front tyres all the way round. Brake a little earlier, roll the speed in and commit to a single smooth arc so you can get on the power early for the run to the line. Regulars reckon getting this bend and the chicanes right is worth around a second a lap.

Track day tips

• The surface is bumpy, with patch repairs in places. Soften your suspension if it's adjustable and expect the car to move around under braking.
• Turn up early on an evening day if you want a decent pit lane spot. Cars start arriving well before the session.
• Tyres and brakes take a few laps to come in on cooler evenings. Ease into it, then bleed the hot pressures back down when you pit.
• The lap is short and the straights are brief, so it fills up fast. Let quicker cars through rather than holding them up through the chicanes.
• Lots of short, high-rev bursts can push older cars' cooling to the limit. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and do a cool-down lap.
• Facilities are fairly basic and the toilets can be stretched on busy days, so plan for that.

Getting there

The circuit is part of the South Tees Motor Sports Park on Dormer Way, off South Bank Road, at TS6 6XH. Use the A66 into Middlesbrough. It's handy for the A19 and is about 45 minutes from both Newcastle and York. The nearest railway station is Middlesbrough, a short taxi ride away. Teesside International Airport is the closest airport, with Newcastle Airport also within reach. There are plenty of hotels in and around Middlesbrough if you're travelling up for a day.