PowerPlay Indoor Go-Karting Roars into Welshpool with Ambitious New Track
Welshpool is now home to adrenaline-fuelled racing excitement with the official opening of PowerPlay's new indoor electric go-karting venue this Thursday. The facility promises drivers the most ambitious track yet in the PowerPlay network, bringing high-speed entertainment to the industrial suburb.
The Proving Ground: A Rally-Inspired Racing Experience
Dubbed The Proving Ground, the Welshpool track represents several firsts for PowerPlay. It's their inaugural clockwise configuration, featuring nine challenging corners spread across 200 meters on two distinct levels. A particularly notable feature is the banked corner, which adds an extra dimension of difficulty and excitement for drivers.
PowerPlay founder and track designer Glenn Macneall, a professional racing co-driver with 25 years of experience and three-time Asia Pacific rally champion, personally tests every track. He revealed the Welshpool design was inspired by the fast and unforgiving rally stages of the United Kingdom.
"When I design a track, it's all about trying to emulate some of the corners that I experienced in my rallying life," Macneall explained. "UK rally stages are very fast and so this track is fast and flowing, it's a little bit technical, a little bit tricky. That's why we dubbed it 'The Proving Ground' because it's a little bit harder and a little bit more technical than the other tracks we have in Perth."
Unique Design Features and Strategic Location
The clockwise layout was dictated by the building's specific shape and location, creating another point of difference for the venue. "There are a lot more right-hand corners than left," Macneall noted with amusement.
Safety remains the paramount concern in track design, followed closely by maximizing enjoyment. The Welshpool venue boasts more second-level track than any other PowerPlay location in Perth, with three corners on the upper level compared to just two at their Malaga facility. The signature banked corner provides a completely different driving sensation as it tilts upward through the turn.
Macneall emphasized that each PowerPlay track aims to deliver a distinct driving experience. He believes the Welshpool Road location is strategically ideal, with tens of thousands of vehicles passing daily. "Go-kart venues have traditionally been stuck down the back of an industrial area and we very much want to make it easy for people to come, from 10-year-olds to the mums and dads that bring them, to adults," he said.
Modern Electric Go-Karts and Community Impact
The venue utilizes modern electric go-karts that provide instant power and acceleration without exhaust fumes. These advanced karts can drift, spin, and reach speeds up to 70km/h, though they don't achieve maximum velocity on the tracks. The electric propulsion system delivers immediate torque while eliminating the noise and smell typically associated with go-karting.
Beyond the racing experience, PowerPlay Welshpool features electronic amusement games and a mezzanine party zone for group events and celebrations. The opening has created 25 new jobs locally, adding to PowerPlay's national workforce of over 150 employees, including more than 100 in Western Australia.
Macneall expressed particular enthusiasm for the human element of the business. "The bit that I love the most is when I see people get out of the go-karts and take the helmet off, and everybody's acting like little kids," he shared. "Our team tested out the track the other day and they got out smiling, so I'm very confident this one's going to live up to expectations and people will love it."
PowerPlay's Growing National Presence
The Welshpool venue represents PowerPlay's fourth location in Western Australia and seventh nationally. Macneall launched the brand in Joondalup in 2020, followed by expansions to Bibra Lake in 2022 and Malaga in 2024. Over the past five years, more than 682,000 people have raced at PowerPlay's three existing Perth venues.
"We've been desperate to get in here," Macneall revealed about the Welshpool location. "The track and the karts have been here since before Christmas."
Bookings for the new venue at the corner of Welshpool Road and Pilbara Street are now available through the PowerPlay website. The opening marks another milestone in PowerPlay's mission to make adrenaline-fuelled racing accessible and enjoyable for drivers of all ages across Australia.
