“A Very Dangerous Place to Stand”: SAFETY Questions Yet to Be Addressed by Quadrant or Buckmore Park
Investigation into how people were allowed trackside with no protection in the 100 Years of Go-Karting video by Quadrant - A company co-founded by Lando Norris - near the site of a fatal accident
In 2006, I witnessed the fatal accident of EasyKart driver Adam Goately at Buckmore Park. Approaching the Symes Sweep section, he collided with another kart entering the pits and crashed fatally. This devastating accident occurred at a very fast section of the circuit where the pit entry, later described as being in an “unsatisfactory location” by the coroner, was located. This pit entry was rectified and improvements made. It’s a horrible case of wrong time, wrong place. The aftermath for Adam’s family is unimaginable, and the ripples of devastation extended far beyond. It is an event I’ve carried with me ever since.
With this in mind, watching Quadrant’s recent video, 100 Years of Go-Karting, brought back distressing memories. For reasons I cannot yet ascertain, individuals in the video consistently gathered next to the circuit between the exit of the Esses and Symes Sweep, while a kart circulated on track. This happens throughout the video.
Scenes showed people wheeling karts along the pit entry lane, cameramen positioned precariously close to the track side, along with groups of individuals with no protection as well, all within a couple dozen metres of the location where the fatal 2006 accident occurred.
Quadrant, for those who don’t know, was co-founded by Formula 1 driver Lando Norris and overseen by a group of Directors, of which Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, is one. While these are two hugely influential figures within motorsport, nothing suggests they were actively involved in the decision-making process of filming on the day.
Quadrant describes itself as “as the new generation entertainment brand, dedicated to putting smiles on faces around the globe. We achieve our mission through content creation, collaboration with influential creators, partnerships with exceptional athletes and curated apparel offerings.”
Popular YouTuber William Jonathan Lenney (WillNE) was announced as a co-owner in 2024 and acts as presenter and driver during the video along with Quadrant member/creator Max Fewtrell. The Head of Content is Matt Amys. On Linkedin, Serena Jade Di Filippo is listed as Production Manager.
A Response of Disbelief
My immediate reaction to the video was one of disbelief. Writing this article is not something I wanted to do, given the nature of what it brings up, but I feel a responsibility to raise awareness. Had I been present during the filming, I’d have intervened to remove every person from the trackside within moments of witnessing such behavior, believe that.
We indeed do not need to imagine the consequences of a kart striking a person. In 2023, Joe Turney was involved in a harrowing collision during the World Karting Championship final. The distress caused by the widely broadcast incident compelled the Turney family to highlight the emotional toll these images inflicted.
In another incident in 2020, Luca Corberi infamously hurled his kart’s nose cone at a competitor during a race at Lonato, standing trackside at the exit of a fast corner. The FIA described Corberi’s actions as endangering himself and other competitors, recognising the potential catastrophe beyond what happened.
Mechanical failures—such as Daniel Morad’s steering arm snapping as he crossed the line in 2010 during the DD2 Grand Final—further demonstrate how unpredictable the sport can be, even if not having a hand on the wheel as he celebrated was an additional factor. Had Morad’s failure directed him into the group of photographers on the other side of the track where he ended up, the outcome could have been devastating.
In this context, the presence of unprotected individuals standing trackside, particularly on a damp circuit drivers of varying karting experience, raises serious and urgent questions about safety. 100cc karts can, and often seize. Throttles can get stuck, and errors and mistakes happen. Anyone familiar with karts should understand this.
The Video
At 4:50, Quadrant’s Max Fewtrell explicitly states on camera, “I might step back a bit, this is a very dangerous place to stand.” He is an experienced karter, and this comment doesn’t appear to be said in jest. As he steps back we see the kart stand left unprotected against the barrier as William Lenney drives by in a ‘60s Tecno kart. This moment underscores the precarious positions occupied by both Max and several other unshielded individuals.
The video, designed to compare eras of karting, is further complicated by the damp track conditions. This leads to a mix of slick and wet tyre runs, creating significant challenges for the drivers. These conditions lead to multiple "snaps". During his first run in the ‘50s kart, William Lenney spins out, and at 2:26, when Max Fewtrell is driving, multiple individuals are visibly gathered at the edge of the track, very close to the racing line.
During the ‘80s kart run, Fewtrell cautions, “Stay out of the way of the warm-up process,” as Lenney approaches on slick tyres. He then notes a “huge snap from Will” as Lenney navigates Symes Sweep. Lenney himself remarks, “It feels like it wants to kill you at all times.” While such comments highlight the challenging nature of the karts, they become alarming in the context of individuals standing unprotected trackside.
On Fewtrell’s laps, he remarks as he crosses the line, “That snap, I ain’t having any of that,” and later, “That tries to kill you.” These observations, while illustrating the difficulty of handling the karts, gain gravity when juxtaposed with the congregation of people positioned trackside between the exit of the Esses and Symes Sweep, alongside a ‘70s kart that is parked there as well.
At 15:18, during the ‘‘90s kart’ hot lap, another concerning moment arises as Lenney and others stand unprotected just meters from the kart speeding past. Later at 20:24, Fewtrell acknowledges, “I’m getting out of the way,” again recognising the risks. Meanwhile, Lenney, driving a ‘10s kart, admits feeling increasingly “out of his depth.”
Perhaps most telling is Lenney’s performance in the ‘00s Top Kart, where he spins out twice. If ever there were a clear message to relocate to a different position, this was it. Yet, individuals remain trackside, alongside a kart and its stand, all within a couple dozen metres of the site of the 2006 fatality.
These are just a few of the many concerning moments captured in the video.
Looking for answers
So far my hunt for answers has yielded no meaningful results. A simple risk assessment or protocol could be released, in seconds. Did everyone present know about the 2006 fatality? What briefing was given about safety? Who stated this was a safe area to stand while karts lap at speed? Did everyone sign waivers? With now over 500,000 views, is this a good example of trackside behaviour to publish to the world? This has been one of the hardest quest for answers I’ve ever experienced in my 15+ years of writing about this sport.
Efforts to contact Matt Amys, Head of Content at Quadrant, for clarification on safety protocols and just how informed those present were of the 2006 fatality, have so far been unsuccessful. My comment on an X (formerly Twitter) post of his has been listed to me as “Hidden” on the 14th of December, but other than that no interaction.
Update: This post now appears to have been deleted.
William Lenney has been emailed, and like with Matt Amys, attempts to contact have remained unsuccessful.
Repeated attempts to contact Buckmore Park and get a response from Managing Director Phillip Ling via phone and an email have similarly yielded no meaningful response from him, despite multiple interactions with the team who answer calls.
Zak Brown responded to my inquiry via email, indicating he would forward my note to Quadrant. However, further updates have not been provided at time of writing by anyone else.
ADD Management’s Mark Berryman has not replied to a phone message, but his email states he is out-of-office at this time, so there’s no expectation of reply.
Motorsport UK acknowledged this doesn’t fall under the remit but would undertake to forward the concerns highlighted to the circuit.
All this leaves questions about safety protocols currently unanswered. How was this deemed safe and reasonable? If it was, then release of documentation or a statement would swiftly put the issue to bed. This is not a hard question to answer. I will publish anything from the individuals present on the day if they choose to respond.
Lando Norris
As an F1 driver with a young audience and his own branded kart, which appears in the video, Lando Norris carries significant influence as co-founder of Quadrant. In 2023, Norris criticised Just Stop Oil protesters at the British GP, calling it “a stupid thing to do to put your life in danger with cars driving around.” It is worth considering whether similar concerns raised in other contexts might apply here as well.
Motorsport is inherently dangerous. As competitors, we will often accept these risks in controlled environments. Errors and mis-judgements can of course happen, and should be owned up to. However, can we say what appears in this video is controlled or responsible, given the nature and size of the audience? I still await answers on this.
Yes, no one was hurt in this specific filming session, thankfully, but accidents often prompt the refrain, “Who could have seen this coming?” I fear the day when the answer is, “Anyone who read this article.”
You did a great job Alan, fatalities in motorsport often comes from "Darwin Awards" situations - and this seems one of them. Hope that will help for future events