Afternoon Adrenaline At Ibiza Karting

Ibiza’s clubbing culture is not the only spectacular attraction of the island, its non-partying alternatives are pretty unbelievable too, and we are truly spoilt for choice. The stunning Ibizan landscapes promote the most scenic walks and hikes, allowing islanders to stumble across secret locations and spectacular view points. Its luminous crystal blue ocean welcomes boats and yachts alike to its seas, where day-trippers can delve straight in to the five star iconic beaches that surround its shores. The purest tranquility awaits in Ibiza’s jaw-dropping spa’s, that instantly nurture and relax the soul from life’s stresses and those Ibiza hangovers we all know so well. Today was all about karting, an activity unconventional to the stereotypical day in Ibiza, and we couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel.

Ibiza Karting is based in the popular location of San Antonio, and offers a memorable experience for families, groups of friends and couples who thrive on adrenaline or simply wish to try their hand at something different. Go-karters have access to various types of races to sample, and each race lasts a duration of eight minutes. An example option is the ‘competitive race’, perfect for larger groups who individually enjoy the essence of competing. It involves a total of three races, the first two of which all drivers partake in, and the final race for the better scoring half of the group only. Individual performance in all race options is recorded by a machine system that notes the timing of each completed lap in the eight-minute time frame. Currently the reigning track record for a lap is 25.82 seconds – could we beat it we asked…

A standout offering at Ibiza Karting is the impressive range of car options available, even us amateurs were overwhelmed. Cristina and her staff kindly explained the qualities of each type of vehicle as we made our choices for the Essential Ibiza team race. There were five, yes FIVE types of cars on the go karting menu. The first model is ‘the standard’ consisting of a 200 CC engine, and the second is the ‘super car’ boasting an impressive 270 CC engine – both models are fit for adults and older children. Next up is the ‘new racing’ car, a speedy beast with a striking 390 CC engine and suitable for adults only- no surprise there. They also offer a double seated model for pairs wishing to experience the drive together, and this one is named ‘b twin’. Not only this, but Ibiza Karting even possess a model catered specifically for children, called the ‘super kid’, restricted to five to twelve year olds – there’s simply nobody unable to join in on the ride.

The go karts present themselves in various colours, namely black, red and blue, each representing the model of the car. It was now time to test the engines ourselves, and with our helmets on and seat belts firmly strapped, we slowly entered the track in convoy. The cars were surprisingly comfortable with their spaciously wide frames and padded seating. As we all lapped the tracks at our own pace, some braver than others, it wasn’t long until we began to flaunt our growing confidence as we swerved round corners and deeply accelerated down the straight lines of the track. As our race finished, we all struggled to hide the huge grins on our faces as the adrenaline still rushed through our veins. All on such a high, we headed over to Ibiza Karting’s indoor restaurant to shelter from the scorching heat, as we chuckled at our individual performance times. Unfortunately we did not break the current record.

Within each race there are always three winners – first, second, third – providing that there is the sufficient amount of people taking part. Kids are rewarded with gold, silver or bronze medals to take home, signifying their achievement and a fun piece of memorabilia to keep. Adults are presented with trophies to signify their win and the first place achievement also receiving a bottle of champagne to spray from the winning podium. No one leaves empty handed at Ibiza Karting, as all participants receive a lollipop whether they win or not! Ibiza Karting also cater for birthdays and groups of 15+, and there is no need to book in advance for any sized group. You can simply turn up and wait for your slot in their outdoor restaurant and bar, where a selection of food and beverages are served, also overlooking all the action on the track. We all left with a promise to return for another fix of go karting, a tremendously enjoyable and interactive experience, and a form of escapism from the peak summer madness that’s taken over the island.