Winter Racing is Back – The Winter Series 2026/27

For most motorsport championships, the arrival of winter signals the end of the season.

For us, it means it’s time to start another one.

The Teesside Motorsports Winter Series is back for 2026/27, taking owner-driver kart racing to four fantastic UK circuits through December, January and February.

This winter we’ll be heading to:

Rowrah – 5th-6th December

Teesside O Plate – 28th & 29th December

Whilton Mill – 30th-31st January

GYG – 20th-21st February

Four weekends. Four very different circuits. One championship.

And plenty of unpredictable British winter weather thrown in for good measure.

Why Race Through the Winter?

The Winter Series has been part of our owner-driver programme for years, originally created to give drivers somewhere to race competitively during the months when much of the normal karting calendar becomes considerably quieter.

It’s become much more than simply something to fill the gap between seasons.

Winter racing creates its own challenge.

The conditions can change from one session to the next. Cold track temperatures, changing grip levels, rain, wind and occasionally a little winter sunshine can all completely transform a race weekend.

A driver who is quick in perfect summer conditions isn’t necessarily going to have everything their own way in December.

Being able to adapt matters.

Set-up matters.

Consistency matters.

And sometimes simply keeping your head while everyone around you is dealing with changing conditions matters most of all.

That’s what makes the Winter Series such good racing.

Four Circuits – Four Different Challenges

One of the things we wanted from the Winter Series was variety.

Rather than racing every round at the same venue, we’re heading to four circuits that each provide a very different test.

Round 1 – Rowrah

We start our winter campaign at Rowrah on 5th–6th December.

Set in Cumbria, Rowrah is a circuit that demands commitment and precision and provides a fantastic place to begin the championship.

It will also be December in Cumbria.

We’re making absolutely no promises about the weather.

Whatever conditions greet us, the first weekend is where the championship begins and where everyone gets their first opportunity to put points on the board.

A strong opening round can set up an entire championship campaign – but with another three circuits still to come, nothing will be decided at Rowrah.

Round 2 – Teesside O Plate

Christmas might technically be over by the 28th December, but we’re certainly not spending the week sitting around eating leftovers.

The Winter Series comes home for the Teesside O Plate on 28th–29th December.

The O Plate has always been a great way to finish one year and head towards the next, bringing drivers back onto familiar Teesside tarmac for a proper post-Christmas race weekend.

For our regular Teesside competitors, this is home territory.

They know the circuit.

They know where the overtaking opportunities are.

They know where time can be found.

Of course, so does everyone else who’s raced here before.

Home advantage might help – but nobody gets an easy round.

Round 3 – Whilton Mill

The new year takes us to Whilton Mill on 30th -31st January for Round Three.

By this stage the championship picture will be starting to become much clearer.

Some drivers will be protecting strong positions.

Others will be looking to recover points.

And the calculators will inevitably start appearing as everyone works out exactly what they need from the final two rounds.

Whilton adds another completely different circuit to the championship and another opportunity for the order to change.

Round 4 – GYG

Then we head into Wales for the finale.

GYG – 20th-21st February.

After three rounds and three very different circuits, everything comes down to one final weekend.

GYG provides a spectacular setting for the championship decider and another circuit where drivers will have to work for every position.

By then we’ve raced through December and January and made it halfway through February.

There will have been good weekends, bad weekends, wet races, cold mornings, mechanical dramas, overtakes, mistakes and probably more than a few stories from the paddock.

Then we’ll finally find out who our 2026/27 Winter Series champions are.

A Full Race Weekend

The Winter Series isn’t just about turning up for a few races on Sunday.

Each round is designed as a proper race weekend.

Drivers will have four 10-minute practice sessions, giving everyone plenty of opportunity to learn the circuit, work on set-up and prepare for racing.

Saturday includes qualifying, before we return on Sunday for warm-up, two heats and the Final, with B Finals used where required.

Friday testing will also be available where offered by the individual circuits and should be booked directly with the relevant venue.

That gives drivers the opportunity to make a full weekend of each round – particularly useful for anyone visiting a circuit for the first time.

Racing for Everyone

One of the strengths of the Winter Series has always been the mix of competitors it attracts.

We have experienced drivers chasing championship titles alongside developing drivers looking to gain more race experience.

For younger drivers in particular, winter racing can be incredibly valuable.

Four weekends across four different circuits means learning new layouts, adapting to changing conditions and racing against different competitors.

There isn’t much opportunity to settle into a comfort zone.

And that’s exactly the point.

You have to keep learning.

You have to keep adapting.

You have to race.

Keep Your Number – Existing Members Get First Choice

Before registration opens to everyone, we’re giving our existing members the first opportunity to enter the 2026/27 championship and retain their current race numbers.

General registration officially opens on 1st September.

Until then, current members can register through their Alpha accounts and secure their existing numbers before entries are opened to all competitors.

Once general registration opens, remaining numbers and places will be available to everyone.

If you’re planning to race the full Winter Series, getting registered early is strongly recommended.

Motorsport Doesn’t Stop Because It’s Cold

At Teesside Motorsports, we’ve never really subscribed to the idea that racing has to stop for winter.

Our owner-driver programme has traditionally run throughout the year, with the Winter Series providing competitive racing during the months when opportunities elsewhere can be limited.

And judging by the popularity of the championship over the years, plenty of drivers agree with us.

So clean the kart.

Find the waterproofs.

Pack approximately fourteen different layers of clothing because nobody knows what the weather is going to do.

And get ready to go racing.

Rowrah. Teesside. Whilton Mill. GYG.

The Teesside Motorsports Winter Series 2026/27 is coming.

General registration opens 1st September 2026.

We’ll see you on the grid.