In June 2026, following infrastructure improvements carried out in the spring, the Smiltene karting track is ready to welcome experienced athletes, local residents, and active leisure enthusiasts from near and far.

The works began in April 2026 and were carried out by SIA “ACBR”. The project included the creation of an area for technical inspections of karts after races, improvements to access to the service park, and enhancements to the pre-start procedure, allowing competitions to be organised at a higher quality level and in line with the required standards.

“Perhaps many people outside the municipality do not know this, but Smiltene has an excellent karting track and long-standing motorsport traditions. Unfortunately, over time the track had become worn, and stages of the Latvian Championship were no longer held here. Thanks to SIA “ACBR” and our successful cooperation, the track area has gained a new lease of life. Not only will this allow us to host high-level competitions, it will also attract tourists, while at the same time making a meaningful contribution to the well-being of our local community and creating even more opportunities to take part in this exciting form of motorsport. I hope that this kind of involvement and cooperation from local entrepreneurs, investing in initiatives that are important to all of us, will become a valued tradition in the future as well,” emphasises Ervins Labanovskis, Chair of Smiltene Municipality Council.

Kaspars Kalniņš, Chair of the Management Board of SIA “ACBR”, says: “It was truly unfortunate that such a historic karting track was no longer hosting competitions simply because of a few infrastructure shortcomings. Therefore, these asphalt paving works were the least we, as builders, could do to help bring athletes back here. We will also continue to assess what else is needed for this track to develop further and to be able to host even higher-level races here in Smiltene, in our municipality!”

The track’s manager, Vairis Tralla, Chair of the Management Board of the technical sports club “Smiltene”, explains: “In order for a stage of the Latvian Karting Championship to take place at the Teperis karting track as early as 2027, several important infrastructure improvements had to be carried out: the asphalt surface in the closed park, where athletes leave the track after a race, had to be renewed; the pre-start area, where participants prepare for the start, had to be extended; and these two areas had to be connected. Thanks to the support of SIA “ACBR” and Smiltene Municipality, all of this work has been successfully completed.”

V. Tralla looks to the future with optimism, saying that he is very pleased with the improved infrastructure and hopes to implement new ideas and projects together with the municipality and the entrepreneur, such as fulfilling a long-cherished dream of establishing a karting school.

In the coming years, the Smiltene karting track could become a place where young motorsport talents grow, high-level competitions are held, and the municipality’s long-standing technical sports traditions are strengthened – a place where things come together!

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Written by: Linda Fronta, Communication Specialist at the Communication Department of Smiltene Municipality Council.