towards a second karting track in Dijon-Prenois? Management denies

In Côte-d'Or, several local associations have heard of the construction of a new karting track in Dijon-Prenois. If the management of the circuit instead moves towards an extension of the current route, some are afraid of seeing the project have a negative impact on the environment.

On Saturday, December 7, members of Sentinel of the Dijon mountain will go to the town hall of Prenois (Côte-d'Or) to distribute information leaflets, accompanied by a pair of earplugs. The reason? The environmental association is convinced that a new karting track will soon see the light of day on the town's circuit.

“We want to alert citizens who are directly concerned. Information regarding this development project is not known to the population.”

Jean-Noel Cabassi

Member of the Montagne Dijonnaise management collective

Contacted, the management of the Dijon-Prenois circuit denies the construction of a new track. Rather, it refers to the extension of the current karting circuit to be able to run vehicles using the technologies of tomorrow, particularly electric and hydrogen. “Concessions and others have contacted us for requests for trials and tests. An approved circuit was needed. With this extension, they will be able to come and do their tests whenever they want.”explain Yannick Morizot, president of the circuit.

READ ALSO: Towards an Electric Golden Age Grand Prix at the Dijon-Prenois circuit in the coming years?

No second karting track therefore on the Dijon-Prenois circuit. But a development of the already existing route. The circuit currently measures 1,250 kilometers, it will soon be 1.93 kilometers. “We modify the curves and straight lines to accommodate these vehicles.” A project which will extend over 1.4 hectares.

Second karting track or simple development, the project still greatly worries the Sentinelles de la montage dijonnaise association.“This leads to further deforestation of an area of 1.4 hectares, the artificialization of areas hitherto agricultural and forestry, the degradation
of our natural landscape.”

But the management of Dijon-Prenois wants to be reassuring and assures that no tree will be affected, and that no species will be endangered. “This is not urbanization. We have permission to pass the extension. We have carried out studies at all levels: water, fauna and flora. We had everyone's agreement with all the passage certificates. I did what was necessary so that we wouldn't have any problems.”explains Yannick Morizot, president of the circuit.

Beyond the environmental aspect, it is the noise pollution that worries Sentinelles of the Dijon mountain. “This will free up track number one even more. The noise level will not increase, but will be much more regular as there is more activity.”

We are surprised that such a project will still see the light of day in 2024.

Jean-Noël Cabassy

Member of the management collective of Sentinelles of the Dijon mountain

But according to the circuit management, a longer track and new types of vehicles should not make more noise. “There is nothing that will change, it will be within the traditional schedules. There is no sound impact on our environment. Either the karts are running, or these are the testing phases. Not both at the same time.”

Will these explanations suit the association? Nothing is less certain since in the long term, she wishes to see “motorized leisure sports activities in Prenois disappear.” But this clearly does not seem to be in the plans of the management of the Dijon-Prenois circuit, with the next extension of the karting track, work on which will begin in 2026.