DAYTONA MOTORSPORT HISTORY

Daytona was founded in 1990 with the opening of the company’s first indoor circuit at Wood Lane, London.
A second indoor circuit was opened in London in 1992. The company rapidly achieved recognition as the premier supplier of Leisure Karting in the UK.
In 1994, the circuits were joined to create the now legendary GP Circuit – the favourite circuit for racers, corporate event organisers and hollywood a-listers – such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock.
In 1996 the company opened Daytona International at Milton Keynes, a 1400 metre outdoor circuit – which is widely recognised as the UK’s leading outdoor racing venue.
All the circuits including the Sandown Park Kart club have been a stepping stone in the career of numerous successful and high profile drivers including Sam Bird currently racing in Formula 3 along with Viktor Jensen and Duncan Tappey who was a finalist in the 2007 McLaren Young Driver Award. Formula 1 greats have also raced here including Lewis Hamilton, Martin Brundle, David Coulthard and Damon Hill, 1996 Formula 1 World Champion.
Late in 1998 an approach by Brands Hatch Leisure Group who recognised the value of the Daytona brand led to an offer for outright purchase . One year after purchasing Daytona the Brands Hatch Leisure Group was itself purchased by Octagon, the sports marketing arm of US advertising group Interpublic. In 2003 the Interpublic Group board approached the Daytona founders to investigate the possibility of a buyback. A deal was quickly reached and the original management team was back in control and ownership by June 2003.
Since resuming control, the management team has built further upon Daytona’s reputation and invested significant sums in all three venues to maintain the company’s industry leading position.