A New Lease of Life for the Teperis Karting Track – Upgrades Pave the Way for Higher-Level Competitions

Work on the project began in April 2026 and was carried out by ACBR Ltd. The improvements included the construction of a dedicated post-race technical inspection area for karts, upgraded access to the service park, and enhancements to the pre-start procedure, enabling competitions to be organised at a higher standard and in compliance with the required regulations.

"Many people outside our municipality may not know that Smiltene is home to an excellent karting circuit and has a long-standing motorsport tradition. Unfortunately, over the years the track had deteriorated, and we were no longer able to host rounds of the Latvian Karting Championship. Thanks to ACBR Ltd. and our successful cooperation, the circuit has been given a new lease of life. This will allow us not only to host high-level competitions but also to attract visitors, contributing to the well-being of our local community while creating even more opportunities for people to enjoy this exciting motorsport. I hope this kind of involvement and cooperation from local businesses in supporting initiatives that matter to all of us will become a lasting tradition," says Ervins Labanovskis, Chairman of the Smiltene Municipality Council.

Kaspars Kalniņš, Chairman of the Management Board of ACBR Ltd., adds:

"It was unfortunate to see such a historic karting circuit unable to host competitions simply because of a few infrastructure shortcomings. As a construction company, carrying out these asphalt paving works was the least we could do to help bring racers back. Going forward, we will continue to assess what else is needed to help the circuit develop further and eventually host competitions at an even higher level here in Smiltene."

The circuit's manager, Vairis Tralla, Chairman of the Board of the Smiltene Technical Sports Club, explains:

"To ensure that the Teperis Karting Circuit can host a round of the Latvian Karting Championship as early as 2027, several key infrastructure improvements were required. These included resurfacing the asphalt in the parc fermé, where competitors leave the track after races, extending the pre-start area where drivers prepare for the start, and connecting these two sections. Thanks to the support of ACBR Ltd. and Smiltene Municipality, all of these improvements have now been successfully completed."

Looking ahead, Mr Tralla is optimistic about the circuit's future. He says he is delighted with the upgraded infrastructure and hopes to continue working with the municipality and local businesses on new development projects, including a long-held ambition to establish a karting school.

In the coming years, the Smiltene Karting Circuit has the potential to become a place where the next generation of racing talent is nurtured, top-level competitions are held, and the municipality's long-standing technical motorsport traditions continue to thrive—a place where the motorsport community comes together.

Author: Communications Department, Smiltene Municipality