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Kart circuit used by F1 drivers set for demolition

Trevor BevinsLocal Democracy Reporting Service
PA Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris on the podium at the Barcelona Grand Prix on 14th June 2026. The winner, Hamilton, is in a red Ferrari racing suit covered in sponsorship logos. Norris, who came third, is in black for McLaren - also covered in sponsors.PA
Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are among the stars whose careers began at Clay Pigeon

A karting track where Formula 1 stars, including Lando Norris and Jensen Button, started their careers is to be turned into a holiday park.

Councillors approved plans demolish Clay Pigeon Raceway, near Dorchester, to make way for 226 chalets.

The redevelopment site, behind the George Albert Hotel on the A37, also includes a static caravan park and a disused clay pigeon shooting ground.

A Dorset Council planning committee heard pleas to reject the plans and keep the track but voted five to three, with one abstention, to approve the proposal.

Dan Parker, head of Karting Motorsport UK, told councillors: "The venue has played an important part in British karting for decades and has supported the development of competitors, officials and volunteers, clubs and all their families throughout the south west and far beyond."

He said there were only six or seven other venues in the country able to host the type of events held at Clay Pigeon.

Lando Norris looks back on the start of his career at Clay Pigeon Raceway

At the planning committee meeting on Tuesday, councillor Alex Brenton said the site was an isolated location for a holiday park and that she would support keeping the racetrack, however, the committee could only decide on the application.

She said: "It's a good thing to redevelop this site but, personally, I don't like it."

Councillor Rory Major said the committee had no reason to vote against the proposal.

"It's up to the site owner and they don't want to continue the race track use," he said.

Google Google Earth aerial image shows the development area, encomapassing the raceway, caravan park, various other structures and a large area of bare, chalky ground.Google
The redevelopment site includes the track, a static caravan site and a former shooting ground

The raceway, founded in the late 1950s, was built on a disused World War Two military hospital and, according to its website, has hosted nearly every major championship to tour Britain.

It was where Norris and Button began their motorsport careers and Lewis Hamilton also raced there during his early karting days.

The circuit continues to advertise racing events until the end of 2026.

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