Brands Hatch (Indy)

Fawkham,
Longfield,
Kent DA3 8NG
T: 01474 872331

Length: 1.198 miles (1.929 km) (clockwise)

Run by Jonathan Palmer's MotorVision.
Web page

Track plan

Download a pdf of the plan

Aerial view & road map

Driving it *

A great track for spectating; good, if short and demanding, for racing, but not so good for testing (as sessions are constantly red-flagged as people throw themselves off the track).

Getting on to the track, the great Paddock Bend is immediately a blind crest over the brow and first time round generally surprises with the steepness of the gradient. Drifting to the outside and a low kerb with just a very small run-off before a very large gravel trap, takes you up the hill to a heavy brake for Druids. Round this tight hairpin it's back down the hill to Graham Hill bend, which is more awkward than it looks due to the incline and turn contributing to trail-braking whether you want to or not.

Along Cooper Straight to the left-right, Surtees, which is surprisingly quick. Then the important, but difficult, Clearways which makes it hard to get the power down quickly because of the shallow gradients on the exit. Once out though it's a simple blast to the start/finish line..

The start line is not flat so be prepared to hold the car with the hand brake on the lights.

Video laps

*For very detailed information on the approach to and exit from each corner at each track, see the Circuit Guides books

Getting there

Brands Hatch is situated on the A20 near West Kingsdown.

From the north come off the M25 at junction 3 (Swanley). From the south or west, either follow the M25 round to junction 3 or take the M26 and exit at the Wrotham turn-off and go north up the A20.

The Paddock entrance is on Scratchers Lane which is a turn-off from the A20 before getting to West Kingsdown.

Paddock

Most times we'll be in the outer Paddock, which is near Scrutineering and Signing-On. All tarmac, it gets very congested.

Signing-on is now in the office next to the Scrutineering bay.

Drivers' briefings are normally in the Control Tower in the main Paddock.

To get to the collecting area, drive through the tunnel into and through the main Paddock right to the end.

Changing facilities/showers

Not bad. A big, relatively new, block in the Paddock has showers, changing rooms and clean lavatories.

Motorhomes

A few electrical hook-up points on the perimeters, but you need to get there early to secure one. Parking next to the track gives you the option of a good view of Paddock and Druids, and means you'll be close to the restaurant too.

Accommodation - hotels/b&bs

There's a Thistle at the main entrance and an expensive hotel, Brands Hatch Place, near the Paddock entrance.

Not sure about B&Bs and chains though - anyone?.

Camping

Not good. All tarmac, unless you carry everything into the off-road course or go up to Druids. Good changing and washing facilities though.

Petrol

In the paddock at the top of the hill near the Paddock grandstand there is a petrol pump that has definitely been seen to be manned on occasion through the years - few can say when though...

Outside going north on the A20 there is a ? at the first roundabout. Going south there is a Texaco at the bottom of Wrotham Hill.

Pits

A long trek from the outer paddock (through the tunnel) and limited view of the track when you get there, because of the wire enclosure.

WAGs

One of the better tracks for WAGs. The steep hill up from the Paddock to the main grandstands area is a disadvantage, but it does mean you get a great view of the whole track when you make it. And there are some shops there too. True they only sell high priced memorabilia and race gear but they are shops ...

Spectating

To get close to the cars go to Druids (you can get to the inside by going over the bridge). To get a view of the whole track go to the Paddock grandstand.

The high fences make photography difficult, except at the inside of the track at Druids.

Eating/drinking at the track

A number of stands offering dubious pies abound. Otherwise there are two restaurants. Hailwoods at the bottom of the paddock, which serves the normal fry-ups and pies plus watery tea and coffee, and the Kentagon at the top (which I haven't eaten in for years).

In the main paddock there's a stall by the Control Tower which offers better coffees and some snacks.

But nowhere has a decent Espresso or Cappuccino on offer :-(

Going home

Can get crowded joining the A20 after a busy meeting. It's sometimes worth going south and joining the motorway one junction early if the northbound roads are jammed.

History

There has been a race track at Brands since 1926, when the land was first used for grass track bike racing. In those days, competitors ran anti-clockwise, but the direction of the circuit was switched in 1954.

The heritage of Brands is vast – all the famous drivers from the last 50 years or so have raced here. In 1985, Nigel Mansell scored his first Grand Prix victory here, also winning the final F1 race at Brands in 1986.

The circuit’s unique combination of dips, cambers, fearsome corners and hills means it is still one of the world's favourite racing circuits.

Cadwell Park

Louth,
Lincolnshire
LN11 9SE
T: 01507 343248

Full circuit length: 2.173 miles (3.4768 km) (clockwise)

Run by Jonathan Palmer's MotorVision.
Web page

Track plan

Download a pdf of the plan

Aerial view & road map

Driving it *

Originally a motocross track on a farm (hence Barn corner, where the Barn was the barrier...) this is a narrow and twisty track that rewards the technical driver.

From the collecting area you are let out into the woodlands section, which is narrow and cramped, then you go down round the hairpin and round Barn (now demolished) which takes you onto the start/finish straight. This is a straight blast up to Coppice, which is reputedly possible flat, but takes more nerve than I have. Then round Charlies 1 and 2 with a very long straight along the back of the circuit to Park. The entry to Park is a popular overtaking point under braking, and leads to the quick double apex Chris Curve followed by the tricky Gooseneck. Then a steep drop down to a brake-shredding left-hander, Mansfield, followed by a short blast along to the bootom straight to the left-hander before the Mountain. This is a short steep section which nearly always causes the back of the car to get airborne and the revs to rise alarmingly. Back down to earth you need to set up the car to get through the woodlands right-left-right-left complex (in the mornings on dry days you need to be aware that this part of the track may be wet as the dew drips from the trees). Back round Barn and on over the start line again.

Video laps

*For very detailed information on the approach to and exit from each corner at each track, see the Circuit Guides books

Getting there

Situated in Lincolnshire on the A153, 10 miles north of Horncastle and 5 miles south of Louth.

If you are approaching from the south, get on to the A153 from the A1. Coming from the north or west, use the A1, M1 or M62, then take the M180 to Brigg, then the A1084 to Caistor.

A long way from the motorway network, so allow plenty of time and a slow average speed for the last part of the journey. The roads are minor and hilly near the circuit and the entrance is easy to miss first time.

Paddock

A mixture of grass and tarmac roads, with only a relatively small area of hard standing. Plenty of space to spread out but the grass can be a problem when wet.

Collecting area is a cramped space below the scrutineering bay

Changing facilities/showers

Not bad. A small changing room and an efficient little shower block.

Motorhomes

No electrical hook-up points. But plenty of space to group together for the regular barbecue.

Accommodation - hotels/b&bs

Some in the surrounding area and some small hotels in Louth. But be warned about booking unseen - I still remember booking what seemed like a pleasant sounding pub that offered homely bedrooms and excellent food. In reality it was situated by traffic lights on a crossroads on a hill on an A road, so the night was punctuated by the sound of articulated lorries stopping and starting, and air brakes whistling on and off. But even that might have been bearable had we not walked in to find that they had organised a special Country & Western night that lasted well into the small hours... Yee bloody hah.

Camping

The best track for camping as it's situated in lovely countryside. Either in the outer paddock or, for total peace and quiet, just go a little further round the track and pick a deserted spot.

Take a bicycle for the annual bike ride round the track the evening before.

Petrol

None for miles so make sure you take sufficient.

Pits

Right at the bottom of a very steep hill. Not only that, but limited access as you have to cross the track to get down there (or back).

WAGs

Pretty countryside, but miles from anywhere. Take suncream and a lounger - you may be lucky.

Spectating

Most watch at the nearest points to the paddock. So either the woodlands area or the small grandstand just below the mountain.

Eating/drinking at the track

The Clubhouse is the only place on offer. Not bad.

Going home

Being miles from anywhere there's no difficulty in getting out of the circuit, but the narrow roads can get clogged on summer weekends with queues forming behind slow-moving caravans.

History

Set in the rolling Lincolnshire countryside, Cadwell Park was established in 1934. The length of the track, nicknamed the 'mini Nurburgring', almost doubled to 1.3 miles in 1953, when the ascendant 500cc motorcycle-engined Formula 3 class was invited to race in a traditional bike meeting. Reg Spreckley became the track's first car race winner in his Cooper - some 30,000 spectators were said to have been there.

The original track, with its fearsome and photogenic Mountain feature, grew to its current 2.25-mile layout in 1962 and hosted the British F3 series the following May.

Oulton Park

Little Budworth,
Tarporley,
Cheshire CW6 9BW
T: +44 (0)1829 760301
F: +44 (0)1829 760378

International: 2.692 miles (4.3072 km)
Island: 2.260 miles (3.616 km)
Fosters: 1.660 miles (2.656 km)
All run clockwise

Run by Jonathan Palmer's MotorVision.
Web page

Track plan

Download a pdf of the plan

Aerial view & road map

Driving it *

From the start line, there is a short blast to Old Hall, which is fast and needs to be apexed late to get a good run down to Cascades. On the International circuit this is a very fast long left-hander with a long run after, so important to get right. Island bend is supposed to be taken either flat, or with a lift, before a hard brake into the banked hairpin that is Shell Oils corner. Blasting out along a short straight to Foulstons chicane, which needs plenty of power on the exit as it's uphill. Over the brow down to Knickerbrook, which murders the brakes on entry and then the tyres as you power round the chicane and up and over Clay Hill. The double apex Druids corner is next, which again is important as it leads to the long run up to Lodge, which catches out many with its off-camber dip on the exit. The up and over Deer Leap (tricky in the wet) and past the start line on to Old Hall again.

Video laps

*For very detailed information on the approach to and exit from each corner at each track, see the Circuit Guides books. There is also a Mark Hales video which offers detailed instruction.

Getting there

Oulton Park is situated next to Little Budworth and best accessed from the A54 or the A49. Beware of the SatNav taking the shortest route - there are some very narrow country lanes around the estate.

From the north take junction 19 off the M6 and follow the A556 through Northwich towards Chester.

From the south leave the M6 at junction 18 and follow the A54.

Paddock

Large and all tarmac now. Normally plenty of space.

Signing-on

In the office in the Scrutineering bay.

Collecting area

At the opposite end of the paddock to the scrutineering bay and easily accessed.

Changing facilities/showers

Good. A big, relatively new, block has showers and changing rooms.

Motorhomes

Electrical hook-up points in the pit garages. Lots of space.

Garages

Normally available for testing, which is useful in an area renowned for the strength of its winds.

They also make a good barbecue venue, but are less good for camping in (the shuttered doors rattle).

Accommodation - hotels/b&bs

Several chains nearby - Premier Lodge, etc.

Camping

Good. Lots of grass and trees - but strong winds, so secure everything well.

Petrol

In the paddock.

Outside, going north, there is a Shell station just off the A54 at Winsford.

Pits

Good, easy access nowadays.

WAGs

Pleasant scenery for sight-seeing around the circuit, but miles from the shops and little to do at the track.

Spectating

Long circuit (approx 2 min lap times) so the cars get strung out with big gaps between. Some nice vantage points though with areas looking down on the track.

The inside of Lodge offers some good views of late braking and the effects of those trying an early turn-in on a dip with reverse camber.

Eating/drinking at the track

Modern surroundings but the same old rubbish food. I tried a jacket potato this time on the basis that not much could be done to mess it up but it scored high among my all-time worst gastronomic experiences. Quite disgusting.

Take your own.

Going home

Easy to get back to the motorway systems but, going south, you have to get past Birmingham which can be problematic on Friday or Sunday evenings.

History

This superb park was once the grounds of Oulton Hall, which burned down in 1926.The land was used throughout the war years as an army staging camp - General Patton was based here in the run-up to the Normandy landings, and his PT instructor, the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the World, Joe Louis, gave exhibition bouts in the valley at Deer Leap.

The Mid-Cheshire Car Club developed the track, building it into the natural contours of the picturesque land and, when a crowd of 40,000 attended a meeting there in 1953, its future as a race circuit was assured.

International racing followed and a tradition was started with the Gold Cup event, which in its heyday regularly attracted F1 teams and drivers. The Gold Cup quickly became known as a real test of man and machine. Stirling Moss won the Cup five times, the first in a Maserati 250F delivered that morning from the factory in '54, the last in '61 in the four-wheel drive Ferguson. It was the car's only victory.

When F1 cars were banned from racing outside Grand Prix in the '70s, the Gold Cup was awarded to the winner of the race deemed Oulton's highlight of the weekend. The proper event has now been reinstated by the HSCC, and has immediately become a high point of the historic racing season. Many past masters are regular visitors to the event, and the enormous variety of historic racing cars on show is unparalleled.

Snetterton

(Near Attleborough)
Norwich,
Norfolk NR16 2JU
T: 01953 887303

Length: 1.952 miles (3.1232 km) (run clockwise)

Run by Jonathan Palmer's MotorVision.
Web page

Track plan

Download a pdf of the plan

Aerial view & road map

Driving it *

One of the regular circuits on the club calendar, it's a popular place for testing - with touring cars and even some Le Mans cars being seen there from time to time.

Getting on to the track, Riches is the first corner after the start/finish straight and has a quick entry with a high speed drift towards a very large potato field on the exit. A very short straight follows before Sear, which is the classic slow in, quick out - it has a huge exit run-off, with loads of extra concrete run-off (possibly old runway), but if you overcook it then it takes an age to get back on the main track.

A run down one of the longest straights in the UK can mean 5th gear is necessary (if you have it), before a heavy brake into the Esses. An awkward second corner means it's hard to get the power down before you have to lift off again for the Bomb hole, where a short shift may be necessary.

Then it's a quick entry into the very long Coram where a balanced throttle is necessary before popping out into the straight before Russells chicane. A hard brake, with one eye on your mirrors as it's a favourite place for the last of the late brakers, and a slow entry and exit before trying to get the power down on the blast to the finish.

Video laps

*For very detailed information on the approach to and exit from each corner at each track, see the Circuit Guides books

Getting there

The circuit is 10 miles north-east of Thetford on the A11 from London to Norwich.

Coming from the north or west, use the M11/A11 and join the A11 after Newmarket.

From the south, leave the M11 at junction 9 and follow the A11 which is normally fine until you get to Barton Mills, where dual carriage way ends and single carriageway starts - and nearly always grinds to a halt at the Elveden cross-roads, where, in their infinite wisdom, the council erected traffic lights a few years ago which seem designed to cause huge queues and tailbacks in both directions at most hours of day and night.

Once through there though it's generally plain sailing and you get back on to dual carriageway shortly after, all the way to the (well signed) turn off.

Beware of the market at the entrance though which can cause hold-ups on Sunday mornings when the chavs throng in to buy cheap and dubious goods of all descriptions.

Paddock

In several distinct parts. The central paddock (all tarmac) behind the pits gets very crowded. Good if you have access to a garage, but easy to get blocked in otherwise. There is a small area (all tarmac) beside the scrutineering bay, which again gets crowded. There is another parking area up above the petrol station which is good for motorhomes and larger trailers - a mixture of grass and tarmac. Finally there is the grass parking area before the paddock entrance which is used by some - convenient for viewing at Russells chicane too.

Signing-On is by the Race Control tower and the Scrutineering Bay (the Archie Scott-Brown Centre) is at the far end of the Paddock.

The Collecting Area is below the paddock entrance.

Changing facilities/showers

Primitive. Two lavatory blocks in the paddock. A changing room and a shower, and that's it.

Motorhomes

No electrical hook-up points, so not much point in being jammed into the centre, unless you can gain access to a garage. Most go onto the grass before the paddock entrance or into the parking area above the petrol station.

Accommodation - hotels/b&bs

The local pub, The Angel Inn, has a good reputation for plain meals and OK rooms, but gets booked up quickly. Several B&Bs and small hotels in Attleborough and the surrounding area.

Camping

Good. Loads of grassy space and enough room to get away from the noise of the paddock if you wish. Primitive washing facilities though.

Petrol

In the paddock there is a petrol station that is open at times - hard to anticipate when though...

About 5 miles going towards Norwich on the A11 dual carriageway are a Shell station (northbound lane) and a BP station opposite on the southbound lane.

Pits

Easy access and good view of the track.

WAGs

Snetterton is on the site of a WW2 airfield and is well situated to take advantage of the winds - which prevail at all times. Often windy, sometimes wet, it can be an miserable place for team members.

Spectating

Not many good places to view. Most stand at the exit to Russells chicane, with a view of the cars coming round Coram, where desperate late braking manoeuvres can be seen regularly. Or on the pit wall where there's a real sense of speed as some cars hug the wall.

Eating/drinking at the track

Tyrells Restaurant is a reminder of what motorway food was like in the 70s. Uninspired hot meals accompanied by a hot drinks machine that dispenses frothy watery Nescafe and calls it Cappuccino in dingy surroundings. Not recommended.

Going home

The exit from the track to the A11 is generally trouble free with the new access roads, but if you are going south then you are guaranteed to hit jams tailing back from the Elvedon crossroads.

History

The first race meeting at Snetterton was arranged in 1951 by the Aston Martin Owner's Club. The track had been cobbled together from a network of runways, which formed the wartime base of the 96th US Air Force Bomber Group.

The circuit configuration has changed greatly since then, shortening a lap to just under two miles.

Most recently, a host of Le Mans 24 Hour cars have been developed at the Norfolk track, including Bentley’s first Le Mans car for 70 years, the EXP Speed Eight. The all-conquering Audi R8 and Williams BMW LMP were all spotted first at Snetterton.