Karting track that launched careers of Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button is being demolished to make way for 226 holiday chalets

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:25, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 10:27, 3 July 2026 As Formula 1 champion Lando Norris prepares for this weekend's British Grand Prix, the karting track that launched his career has been handed a 'death sentence'. Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorset, a highly-regarded track where Norris, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton cut their teeth, is set to close at the end of the year. Councillors have approved plans to demolish it to make way for 226 holiday chalets, to the dismay of the motorsport community. The council was inundated with 164 objections from all over the country, including Motorsport UK and the Association of British Kart Clubs. Dan Parker, head of Karting Motorsport UK, told the committee the venue had played an important part in British karting for decades and would be sadly missed. He said there are only six or seven tracks in the whole country that can hold events similar to Clay Pigeon. Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula One World Champion, trained regularly at the venue during his early career. Lewis Hamilton won his first race on the 815-metre-long circuit and current World Champion Lando Norris began karting there aged seven. As Formula 1 champion Lando Norris prepares for this weekend's British Grand Prix, the karting track that launched his career has been handed a 'death sentence' A young Dodds is seen in his kart at the Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorset, which helped launch his career Karting trainer Rob Dodds with a young Lando Norris (right) and his brother Oliver (left) Racers, parents of young drivers, other circuit owners and key organisations involved in motorsports have all said the closure would be a huge loss and permanently damage the grassroots sport. It is one of just 33 officially licenced kart tracks in the UK, and the nearest alternative is 45 miles away. While councillors on the planning committee were concerned about the loss of the track and the size of the proposed holiday site, ultimately they voted 5-3 in favour of allowing the scheme. Mr Parker said: 'All of today's F1 drivers on the grid took part in karting at Clay Pigeon, not just once but a number of times during their training. 'If we lose a venue like Clay Pigeon, it's not realistic to assume it can be replicated elsewhere.' He urged councillors to think about the sporting impact and heritage of the venue. Competitive karter Oliver Hall had said in an objection letter the track was 'irreplaceable' and legendary for producing world-class talent.  He said 'any approval is a death sentence for the track'. The site, which is close to the A37 near Dorchester, has been a part of the British motorsport landscape since the late 1950s when it was created on a disused Second World War military hospital site. The planning agent for owners Southern Counties Leisure said the track makes only a small profit, offering no income to the landowner and is 'unviable' as a business. Southern Counties Leisure say as well as timber holiday lodges, their plans include landscaped grounds, a wildlife pond and hotel amenities. The company has argued the new leisure site would create about 138 jobs, boost the local tourism economy by £5.8m annually and reduce noise pollution across the protected landscape. They have indicated the scheme would be phased, with the kart track likely to be removed in the later stages - but that it would close by the end of the 2026 racing season regardless of the planning application. Cllr Les Fry said the site was ideal for kart racing being some distance away from any houses. Clay Pigeon Raceway was praised for having played an important part in British karting for decades - and would be sadly missed, Karting Motorsport UK told Dorset Council  An artist's impression of the proposals which will see the track demolished to make way for 226 holiday chalets He said: 'Little has been said about the loss of the racetrack. This is in a pretty good location, it's remote, the noise goes around there. 'These prospective drivers have got to start somewhere. If we take out all the baseline of learning to drive, how are they going to qualify, how are they going to learn their skills. We haven't seen the value of the racetrack.' Cllr Alex Brenton said the site was isolated for holiday use and said that, she too, would support keeping a racetrack there if a way could be found.  However, as the application did not relate to this, the committee had little choice other than to decide on the proposal. She said: 'It's a good thing to redevelop this site, but personally I don't like it.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. 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