Please note that all the comments given here are my own
views and observations and I may change them at any time.
Brands Hatch
General phone: 01474 872331
Ticket reservations: 0870 60 60 611
Website:www.motorsportvision.co.uk
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Circuit plan is Copyright © 1995-2001 British Motor Racing
Circuits
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This circuit has been vying with Silverstone to hold the Grand
prix but unlike Silverstone the facilities are not so extensive.
The smaller Indy circuit is in some respects too small whereas
the longer Grand prix circuit has few facilities for spectators.
Brands Hatch is within easy reach of the M25/M20 Junction 3,
then onto the A20.
Hint here - if traveling from the Dartford Bridge then ignore
the first Brands Hatch sign and take the second one (½ a mile
further on).
On leaving the circuit there are normally queues so stay to
the end - you might as well.
There are two permanent eating/drinking places -Kentagon and
Hailwoods but there are a lot of other burger bars scattered
about.
For viewing the Paddock grandstand offers you a 98% view of
the Indy circuit. If you want your action a little closer try
Paddock Hill Bend or Druids (reprofiled in 2005). The old Dingle
Dell on the Grand Prix circuit is worth a look but be aware
that there are no tannoys around there (and no facilities).
For photography without a fence try standing between Druids
and Graham Hill Bend. If you get in the right position you can
miss the fence.
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One really bad feature of Brands is the closed centre paddock - you
will require a pass to get through either tunnel so wait until the
pit lane walk about.
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Castle Combe
General phone: 01249 782417
Fax: 01249 782392
Website: www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk
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2004 was my first visit to the circuit and it's
lovely. It is easy to find from the M4 with it being signposted
from J17 and J18. The car parks are close to the track with
loads of access points.
It's not the biggest of places taking about 40
minutes to walk all the way round and it has some really good
viewing areas especially at the Esses and Camp corner. The fencing
is low except for Quarry (and it is very necessary there due
to the short run off and the number of offs!)
There are loads of places to take photos from
but mostly they are from above except at beyond the Esses and
Bobbies.
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The paddock is long and thin and mostly grass. There
are no garages and the pit entry is very narrow (another good spot
for photos).
The cafe is very good and very cheap and the rest of the facilities
are clean.
Keep a look out for the many Jim Bamber cartoons.
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Croft
General phone: 01325 721815
Fax: 01325 721819
email: info@croftcircuit.co.uk
Website: www.croftcircuit.co.uk
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Situated close to Darlington and in North Yorkshire
filling a geographical hole between Knockhill and Donington
Park. The easiest way to the circuit is via the A1(M) to Darlington
taking the A66. Turn right at the roundabout towards North Allerton
and the track is five miles further on.
Hints.
The circuit won't open until 9am on the Sundays (if then). There
is one grandstand down at Clervaux or you can sit on the bank
overlooking the Complex.
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Be very careful - the banks are high and steep. One
disadvantage is the course owners have planted trees in the middle
(between Complex and Jim Clark's Esses) and this cuts down the view.
The far side of the circuit gets very few supporters (due to the walk)
and yet this is a good place to see cars coming off (especially in
the rain).
Best place for photos is at the hairpin or Clervaux
if you have a pass or on top of Complex bank. Try also in the centre
island but be careful - you could end up there all day with very few
facilities.
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Donington Park
General phone: 01332 810048
Ticket reservations: 01332 850955/0115 934 2024
email: enquiries@donington.co.uk
Website: www.donington-park.co.uk
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Circuit plan is Copyright ©1995-2001 British Motor Racing
Circuits
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This circuit is one of the top three circuits
in the country but unlike Silverstone, which is completely built
up, and Brands Hatch that is impersonal, Donington Park is friendly
and offers excellent viewing for the spectators. The Craner
Curves to McLean's series of gentle bends on an upward slope
allow spectators to see a good 1/2 of the circuit whereas the
Melbourne Hairpin (when used) and Redgate Bend give close up
views of the action.
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Hints.
Getting to Donington Park (near Derby and Leicester) is fairly easy
as it is signposted from M1/M42 and A50 and is next to the East Midlands
airport (in fact airplanes cause some of the spectacular spins due
to fuel being dropped on the track.).
On qualifying day, and if you are early on race day, park behind the
paddock.
If it is wet do not take your car on the sloping infield (I have watched
the tractors pull the cars out after one particularly wet weekend.)
If you are in the paddock, nip into the Pitstop cafe for a full English
breakfast or bacon roll. There is also a pub/restaurant at Redgate.
Donington has probably one of the largest and best
laid out paddocks with plenty of toilets. If the Grand Prix circuit
is in use then stand at the end of the Melbourne Hairpin and poke
the lens of your camera through the chain-link fencing (it's behind
the petrol garage in the paddock). It is probably the closest you
can get to a racing car anywhere in the country. Redgate is a spectacular
corner and there is always someone going into the gravel. If you like
to see a lot of the racing then sit on the bank between Redgate and
Starkey's Bridge. You can see from Redgate to Coppice from there.
If you have time there is always the Donington Grand Prix collection
in the museum
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Knockhill
General phone: 01383 723337
Fax: 01383 620167
email: enquiries@knockhill.co.uk
Website: www.knockhill.co.uk
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Circuit plan is Copyright ©1995-2001 British Motor Racing
Circuits
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The only top class circuit in Scotland and, as
such, is different from every other top circuit. At the moment
there are no pit garages and no close car parks but the upside
is there is no chain link (catch) fencing. This gives unparalleled
opportunities for photography and seeing the cars really close.
Hints.
The circuit is easy to get to, as it is signposted from the
M90, Edinburgh to Kinross road at junction 4 after the toll
Forth Road Bridge (currently 80p). It takes approx. 30 minutes
from Edinburgh Airport. On qualifying day you can park near
the paddock but on busy race days you have to park in one of
the fields and be bussed in (unless you have a VIP car pass).
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This is no problem as the buses run continuously all day but there
are queues as people leave the circuit. Be prepared to wait or walk
the 1 or 2 miles.
The paddock is large but there are no garages so it tends to get very
busy. There are facilities in the paddock but these are scarce elsewhere.
There are two restaurants/cafes and a large area for trade stands
down towards Duffers Dip.
The best places to see the action are at the Taylors Hairpin with
its steep slope on a very sharp bend or on the infield at Duffus Dip.
At that point you can see the action behind you as the cars take the
Chicane and Brabhams. Be aware that this is a popular place. The outside
of Duffus Dip has excellent views of the cars on two wheels over the
kerbs. There is also a hill in the centre of the track which gives
an all round view.
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Mondello Park
General phone: +353 45860 200
Fax: +353 45860 195
email: info@mondellopark.ie
Website: www.mondellopark.ie
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For a change this circuit is in Eire and about
40 minutes from Dublin. The circuit has been upgraded in the
last two years with the paddock being resurfaced and the garages
rebuilt.
Hints.
The circuit is really easy to get to, as it is signposted from
the N7 (Newbridge) from Dublin heading west. There is a very
narrow bridge but the Touring car trailers manage to get through
OK. There are 3 entrances on this road and some more further
on all with car parks.
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The circuit is very twisty with a sharp hairpin at the
end of the pit straight and it's here that the grandstand is situated.
Be aware that the Irish number their grandstand completely opposite
to Brands and co, as seat A1 is the highest row and nearest the corner.
If you don't sit then the view can be rather restricted
as there is only a narrow strip around the fencing and you are only
allowed around half the track. The next best place is to walk from
the grandstand backwards round the track until you end up in the centre
island. From here you can see cars coming at various angles - great
for photographs.
The paddock is accessed by the pedestrian bridge near
the grandstand and it requires a ticket or pass. The view from the
paddock is very restricted but the upside is the Paddock Bar!
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General Phone: 01829760301
Website:www.motorsportvision.co.uk
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The Oulton Park circuit is in the North west between
Crewe and Chester. The circuit is quite pictoresque with a lake
(nearly visited by Alain Menu in 2000) and good viewing around
the circuit.
Hints: The touring cars usually use the Island
circuit which is the shorter of the two using the dogs leg.
On the exit of this is the Knickerbrook Chicane which gives
some marvellous action as the cars funnel into it.
There are 2 main areas for viewing- inside the
centre of the circuit and on the outside of Knickerbrook. The
only problem with the outside of the circuit is the distance
from the pits as you need to walk past the chicane and up the
hill to the bridge. A better place is on the inside but overlooking
the chicane. With the right position you can see the cars coming
down from Old Hall, around Cascades, Island, Knickerbrook and
up the hill.
The main problem with Oulton Park and photography
is the distance from the action. Lodge corner on either side
of the track goes a long way to counteract this.
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Rockingham
General Phone: 08700 134 044
Email: marketing@rockingham.co.uk
Website: www.rockingham.co.uk
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This is a totally different experience of motor
racing with multiple track configurations including the oval
but Gts would use part of the oval and part of the infield.
Hints: The Pit roof can give a very different
view but it will probably be best during qualifying. You can
see right into the inner pit lane and can see with some detail
the teams changing tyres. The pits are accessed via two tunnels
under the track which are at either end of the main grandstand.
The main grandstand is covered but the other 2
are not. All three will give you a complete view of the track
but from a distance.
Everything else about Rockigham has been designed
with the fan in mind.
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Silverstone
General phone: 01327 857271
Ticket reservations: 01327 857273
Email address: info@silverstone-circuit.co.uk
Website: www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk/
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Circuit plan is Copyright ©1995-2001 British Motor Racing
Circuits
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This circuit is the home of the British Grand Prix and because
of this there are loads of stands and other permanent facilities.
The down side of being so built up is that there are restricted
views and it is very impersonal. Also be prepared for a lot
of walking.
Silverstone Circuit is located on the A43 between
Towcester and Brackley. It is signposted from the M1 junction
15A and the M40 junction 10. Silverstone village has had a bypass
built in the last year so there are less delays in getting in
or out of the circuits. Currently the car parks are being resurfaced.
The paddock can be reached by a bridge and by
a tunnel at the end of the pit straight which makes it quite
a walk from Stowe. Occasionally peepholes are open on the bridge,
which give a birds eye view of the pit lane.
In the paddock is the Paddock diner and bar but there are loads
of burger vans at the larger meetings.
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Viewing is predominantly through high fencing and some distance from
the track. There are lots of stands but most are closed except for
the GP. Some that are open have their seats removed (Luffield).
One of the best views is from Woodcote grandstands
where you can see all the action from Bridge to Copse including the
pits. (If you sit in Woodcote look for the plastic owls that are used
to keep the pigeons out - unsuccessfully) Another good spot is on
the infield at Maggotts and Becketts. The tannoy system is excellent.
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Snetterton
General phone: 01953 887303
Website:http:www.motorsportvision.co.uk
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This is a disused US bomber airfield as you can
tell from the corner called Bomb Hole. It is very flat with
two fast straights; Senna (start/finish) and Revett and one
very slow chicane at Russell.
Hints.
Finding Snetterton is very easy as it is situated on the side
of the A11 between Cambridge and Norwich. Traffic can be a little
delayed on exiting the track but this should be improved by
the duelling of the A11 in progress at the moment. The circuit
and Sunday market has been given its own roundabout.
It is fairly normal to park inside the track on qualifying day
or even if you are early on race day, otherwise an adjacent
field is used.
Tyrell's cafe in the paddock gives excellent value for money
and has some interesting memorabilia above the bar.
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British Motor Racing Circuits. Copyright © 1995-2002
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The paddock is on two levels and is made up of smaller
areas but it does get a little cramped.There are new toilet blocks
by Russells and near race control. The trackside cannot be accessed
all the way round due to the fields being in use and where there isn't
wheat there is holes and rubble. Mostly you can get very close to
the cars especially at Russel's which is a very popular spot to watch
from. For shear speed stand by the bridge and watch the braking into
The Esses. Between Riches and Sears is also popular but there aren't
any facilites so far from the paddock.
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Spa-Francorchamps
Address : Circuit de Spa Francorchamps
Route du Circuit, 55
B-4970 Francorchamps
Tél : 087/27.51.38. Fax :087/27.52.96.
Website www.spa-francorchamps.be
(available in English)
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I had my first visit Spa experience in 2003 and an experience
it is. The whole circuit is breath taking from the bottom
of Eau Rouge to La Source hairpin. You can watch some action
from infield (there is a tunnel) and while there experience
the frites and mayo! You can walk from the infield to the
bustop and further down or you can go to the bottom of the
paddock and exit at Eau Rouge. If you are going to walk the
circuit then remember to give yourself plenty of time and
there are no facilities away from the paddock except at Stavelot
where there is a cafe!!
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The map shows the Grand Prix start finish but saloons
etc start the other side of La Source.
What the picture fails to show you is that the circuit
is not flat - far from it. Eau Rouge is a steep hill and soon after
the tight left and right the track goes uphill.
Eau Rouge is the key for the entire lap. If taken fast enough, the
opportunity exists to out-drag an opponent along the Kemmel straight
into the Les Combes chicane. A tight hairpin, Malemedy and nearly
flat left hander, Rivage, lead the drivers into the fast Pouhon double
apex left hander. A brief straight, and the drivers follow the road
right into the fast Les Fagnes chicane. No time to relax, as there
is only another short straight before the next corner, the tough right
hand Stavelot. The third gear corner leads onto the main straight,
so drivers slide their car wide in a desperate attempt to get their
speed up. The straight is, in fact, a series of left hand, flat-out
kinks - the toughest being the particularly tight Blanchimont. A pair
of fast chicanes - the Bus stop sequence - slow the cars down slightly
before they return to the straight prior to the hairpin at a Source
and start another lap of this most challenging of circuits.
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Thruxton
General phone: 01264 882200
Website:www.barc.net/thruxton.html
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This is the fastest track in the UK with long sweeping bends
and the notorious Church corner. The spectators are restricted
to one half of the track but with the banking and grandstands
most of the track can be seen. There is two main areas of interest
- the club chicane at the start of the start/finish straight
and the Campbel/Cobb/Seagrave complex.
Watch out for planes landing between races as there is a small
airport in the middle of the circuit.
Hints.
Thruxton circuit is situated near Andover in Hampshire on the
A303. The main road is split with car labels being sent on straight
when travelling from Andover west - the hint here is don't follow
the label signs. The only thing the diversion gave you was 5
extra miles of travelling. Come off and enter the circuit near
the paddock. The parking has shrunk in 2002 what with building
works at the bottom of the hill but that didn't give any cause
for concern.
As for viewing - I always go for the Grandstand by the club
chicane (book very very early) but the banking does give good
viewing everywhere.
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The paddock is reached via a tunnel and for BTCC and
big meetings you will need to purchase a pass but it is worth it.
If you are watching th Truck racing then be aware that the tunnel
is closed when they are on the track for safety reasons.
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