Challenge Accepted: North East racing team face endurance test for men’s mental health
Written by Kai Palmer on 15th July 2025
AMC Racing are combining their likeminded passion for karting with a desire to drive awareness of men’s mental health by competing in one of the UK’s top karting events in August.
“We’re raising money for Andy’s Man Club. We’re sporting their colours and logos to help spread the message that it’s okay to talk and to help break the stigma around mental health”, says Kyle Burns, one member of the North East motorsport team.
Credit: AMC Racing
Andy’s Man Club was established in 2016 and gives men aged 18 and over a space to talk about their mental health in a judgment-free, non-clinical environment and spread the word that “it’s okay to talk”.
The rest of AMC Racing consists of Macauley, Alan, James, Barry, and Connor, who are undertaking the British 24-Hour Karting Race next month at the Teesside Autodrome. The demanding contest runs every year, with teams from across the UK and Europe taking part.
Kyle has been karting since he was 17 and has raced in the 24-hour challenge six times.
Before karting, his main passion was playing football, until he injured his knee on the pitch, and was told he wouldn’t be able to play anymore: “I struggled mentally to overcome the news that I wouldn’t be able to play football again, but luckily I’ve found a brilliant racing family in my old but newly revitalised passion for motorsport racing. “
“It’s a mix of focus, fun, competition, excitement and realisation of the mammoth task ahead.”
In terms of what we can look forward to on the day, Kyle says: “You can expect to see a very busy paddock and busy viewing areas as there are over 90 teams on the track, each with 5-20 people. You’ll see catering tents, tyre changing bays, mechanical garages, the smell of burning petrol, and an array of go-karts. It’s a mix of focus, fun, competition, excitement and realisation of the mammoth task ahead.”
This isn’t the first year the team have taken on the impressive feat. Last year, under a different team, Kyle and his teammates achieved 900 laps of the 2.5km circuit and raised around £5,500 for Race Against Dementia, another cause close to Kyle’s heart as his grandad suffers with the disease.
Kyle’s Team Last Year (Credit: Kyle Burns)
By rediscovering the joy that football once brought him by taking up karting, Kyle and the AMC Racing team are channelling their love for the sport into championing support for the causes they believe in.
The team have already smashed their target of £2.025 and are on track to raise double that amount, and you can donate here to make that happen.
If you can’t make it to the Teesside Autodrome on the day, then you can still get involved by accessing the live stream on YouTube via TSK Media.
The AMC Racing team will be there from Tuesday that week to prepare their base camp, set up karts, and practice, but the endurance challenge officially starts at 12pm on Saturday 9th August and concludes 12pm the following day.
Full details for your diary:
Teesside Autodrome, Dormer Way, South Bank, TS6 6XH
Starts: 12pm Saturday 9th August
Ends: 12pm Sunday 10th August
