University of Gloucestershire Karting star Josh Chapman has revealed he is ‘pumped’ to compete at Castle Combe after his recent absence from the club caused ‘hurt’.
Chapman was unable to make round one of the UOG in-house championship at Herefordshire Raceway earlier in the year due to late family commitments. As one of the few touted to win the event, the 19-year-old was openly disappointed to miss out on an opportunity for silverware.
The 19-year-old made his last appearance for the club in a national competition at the British Universities Karting Championship at the famed Buckmore Park Circuit in October. In treacherous conditions, the interior design student set the 13th-fastest lap overall in the intermediate class. An impressive result on his first appearance in a two-stroke Club 100 Kart.
“I’m really excited for Castle Combe,” Chapman began. “It’s been a while since I’ve done karting, because unfortunately. I missed the karting at Hertfordshire Raceway, and as the competitive person I am, that did hurt a little bit. It was a little bit painful,” he admitted.
“I’m super, super pumped to get back into it, fuel that competitive spirit. I’ve never ever karted at Castle Combe before, so that will definitely be a good challenge.”
The Castle Combe circuit offers a completely different demand to that of Herefordshire Raceway. At just 350 metres long, the fast, challenging corners come without rest.
“I think learning a circuit is one of the funnest parts of karting,” Chapman continued. “Just the challenge of learning where the apexes are, especially in this winter, where the dry line might be, or where the grip is. And then you do your quali laps, and it’s great, because you’re just at the pinnacle of the kart, and you’re on the edge, and you’re counter-steering, and over-steering, and it’s just a lot of fun, and I love that.”
Chapman will take the wheel of a 200cc kart at Castle Combe Kart Circuit, situated just a stone’s throw away from the premier racing circuit in the West Country. Castle Combe has previously hosted illustrious events like the British Formula Three and British GT Championship.
In the motorsport off-season, the circuit mainly hosts track days and competitive karting events at it’s seperate facility at the final sector.
Our first race meeting of 2026 – Howard's Race Day – is less than two months away (6 April)! 🏁
— Castle Combe Circuit (@CastleCombeUK) February 8, 2026
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“I’m excited to just be absolutely wrestling the kart and be at one with it. So super excited to get back on the karting scene. Having taken a little break, I’m going to brush the dust off, get straight back to it, and hopefully win.”
BUKC stablemate and in-house rival Finn Houlihan will also be heading to Castle Combe as a rookie. “I’m looking forward to driving at Castle Combe in the next few weeks,” the former Esports talent stated.
“It should be quite an interesting challenge. It definitely seems like more of a unique type of circuit compared to some of the recent ones we’ve driven before. It should be really fun when we go there and get some laps in.”
The two favourites for victory will be looking forward to locking horns in Wiltshire on 28 February.
