THE man behind the launch of a new go-karting venture at Grove, near Wantage, has been suddenly sacked.

Guy Meisl, 33, who helped set up the Kartex Grand Prix circuit at the Grove Technology Park just three months ago, said he was "utterly gobsmacked" at the turn of events.

He was operations manager at the indoor circuit in a converted aircraft hangar at the former wartime airfield, where 5,000 customers have tried their skills since the circuit opened before Christmas. Firms have entertained business clients at the centre, which has a grandstand balcony and heated conference centre, closed-circuit TV, computerised timing and marshalls.

Mr Meisl said he had a meeting with Kartex bosses, directors David Hedges and Raymond Tuckwell and company secretary Peter Willis, who said that in future he would not have responsibility for marketing or advertising the firm, but would just be required to expand its corporate client base.

"The following day, they rang to say they'd let me go," said Mr Meisl. "I was completely and utterly gobsmacked to find I'd been sacked, and there was no real explanation forthcoming. "I've not had any reasons for any dismissal, and it's all been very upsetting.

"I was employed to set up the business and run it and the venture got off the ground extremely well."

Company secretary Mr Willis denied Mr Meisl had been treated unfairly, and said there had been deep concern for several weeks among the directors over the way he was running the business.

"When we asked him to get the affairs in order he couldn't do it," said Mr Willis. "He had to go because he didn't do anything he was told.

"He's not the sort of person to work as part of a team. He's had warnings since he started and hasn't been treated unfairly."

Mr Meisl, who lives in Bicester, is now looking into other business ventures. He said he had since received letters of appreciation from business users of the karting centre, including the Thames Business Advice Centre, and Williams Grand Prix Engineering, based at Grove.

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