View source for Castle Combe Circuit

{{Short description|British racing circuit in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2014}}

{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name          = Castle Combe Circuit 
| Location      = [[Castle Combe]], [[Wiltshire]] 
| Time          = [[Western European Time|WET]] ([[UTC+0]])<br/>[[Western European Summer Time|WEST]] (April–October, [[UTC+1]]) 
| Coordinates   = {{coord|51|29|23|N|2|12|45|W|type:landmark_scale:10000_region:GB|display=it}}
| Image         = Castle Combe Circuit track map.svg 
| Image_caption = Full Circuit with Chicanes (1998–present)
| Events        = '''Former:'''<br />[[FIM Endurance World Championship|FIM EWC]] (1965)<br />[[Sidecar World Championship]] (2006)<br />[[TCR UK Touring Car Championship|TCR UK]] (2018, 2021–2022)<br />[[British GT Championship|British GT]] (2001–2005)<br />[[British Formula 3 International Series|British F3]] (1951–1955, 1962, 1964–1965, 1970–1971, 1973, 2001–2005)<br />[[BOSS GP|BOSS Formula]] (1997)<br />[[European Formula 5000 Championship|European F5000]] (1970–1971)
| Opened        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1950|07}}
| Layout1       = Full Circuit with Chicanes (1998–present)
| Length_km     = 2.977 
| Length_mi     = 1.850
| Turns         = 12
| Record_time   = 0:58.596 
| Record_driver = Stefano Leaney 
| Record_car    = [[Dallara F317]]
| Record_year   = [[MotorSport Vision Formula Three Cup|2021]]
| Record_class  = [[Formula Three|F3]]
| Layout2       = Original Circuit (1950–1997)
| Length_km2    = 2.961 
| Length_mi2    = 1.840
| Turns2        = 8
| Record_time2  = 0:50.590
| Record_driver2= Nigel Greensall
| Record_car2   = [[Tyrrell 022]]
| Record_year2  = [[BOSS GP|1997]]
| Record_class2 = [[Formula One|F1]]
}}

'''Castle Combe Circuit''' is a [[motor racing]] circuit in [[Wiltshire]], England, approximately {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=on}} from [[Bristol]]. The circuit is based on the perimeter track of a former [[Class A airfield|World War II airfield]], and was opened for racing in 1950.

== History ==
The Castle Combe airfield opened in May 1941 on land of the Castle Combe estate, owned by the Gorst family, and operated as [[RAF Castle Combe]] for seven years before being decommissioned in 1948. During the war, the airfield was a training ground for pilots. From 1946 to 1948 the buildings served as a resettlement camp for Polish ex-service personnel.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1390950|title=Castle Combe Airfield|accessdate=2021-03-23}}</ref> The property was returned to the Gorst family in 1948; with the Bristol Motorcycle & Light Car Club, they organized the first race in July 1950. By 1955 the property was divided and sold. Between 1956 and 1961, the circuit was used for motorcycle racing. Some years later, the circuit was converted to motor racing.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.racingcircuits.info/europe/united-kingdom/castle-combe.html|title=Castle Combe|accessdate=2021-03-23}}</ref>

[[File:Castle Combe Circuit MMB 51 British F3.jpg|thumb|British Formula Three cars in 2003]]
Castle Combe has staged many different motorsport disciplines over the years. In 1997, [[Nigel Greensall]] established a lap record. His [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]] [[Tyrrell_022|022]] lapped the circuit at {{convert|130.93|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. However, this was the last year that the circuit would remain unaltered. An accident involving the death of a spectator forced the owners into installing two new chicanes in order to slow the cars down. The new layout was slightly longer at {{convert|1.850|mi|km|abbr=on}}, and was completed over the winter of 1998–1999.

[[Formula Three]] returned to Castle Combe in 2001. However, in 2005, the circuit was issued with a noise nuisance order. The [[British Formula 3 International Series|British Formula Three Championship]] and the British GT Championship were both louder than permitted, and so were prevented from returning.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

== Present ==
Races include a home-circuit championship with classes for saloon cars, sports cars and GTs, and [[Formula Ford]]. Racing clubs from around the UK include the track in the events for their championships, including the 750 Motor Club and [[BRSCC]].<ref>[http://www.750mc.co.uk/calendar.htm 750 Motor Club, race calendar 2015], Retrieved 11 October 2015</ref><ref>[http://www.brscc.co.uk/Events British Racing and Sports Car Club events 2015] Retrieved 12 October 2015</ref> Once a year, motorcycle racing takes place over two days during the summer. The weekend includes a sidecar championship and an historic race, as well as the more modern supersport races.

As well as holding trackdays for both cars and motorcycles, Castle Combe Circuit holds a large number of car shows. These shows follow a general motorsport theme and exhibit show stands, market stalls, stunt demonstrations, classic displays and on certain days the circuit is able to hold track sessions. Since 2001, [[Rallyday]], an annual demonstration event for rally cars, has also been held. Motoring shows ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' and ''[[Fifth Gear]]'' have used the circuit to race or test cars on.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The Under 17 Car Club have been using the track since 1976 to host events where members of the club learn to drive from the age of 11. The club transform the track into driving circuits with roundabouts and motorway sections. The club also hold their annual Magic Day at Combe to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The circuit hosts a [[Greenpower Education Trust|Greenpower]] event, one round in a series held at various racetrack-type venues.<ref>[http://www.greenpower.co.uk/events/ Greenpower races calendar, Castle Combe Heat 27 September 2015], Retrieved  2015-04-30</ref> When not in use for racing, the circuit is the venue for a regular [[car boot sale]] that has become one of the biggest in the South West.<ref>[https://eboots.co.uk/listing/castle-combe-car-boot/ Castle Combe Car Boot Sale] Retrieved 24 July 2023</ref> In May it also hosts an annual [[steam rally]].
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Castle Combe Racing Track Layout - geograph.org.uk - 42628.jpg|Track layout
File:Castle Combe wet race.jpg|Wet race in 2004
</gallery>

== Lap Records ==

[[Max Chilton]] held the overall unofficial track record with a lap of 0:54.559 with [[McMurtry Spéirling|McMurtry Spéirling PURE VP1]] in a private testing session in April 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fastest Lap Ever by Over 4 Seconds at ‘Home Circuit’: Castle Combe |url=https://mcmurtry.com/mcmurtry-set-fastest-lap-ever-by-over-4-seconds-at-home-circuit-castle-combe/ |publisher=McMurtry Automotive |date=29 April 2024 |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref> As of August 2022, the fastest official race lap records at Castle Combe Circuit are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"
!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event
|-
! colspan="5" | Full Circuit (with Chicanes): 2.977&nbsp;km (1998–present)
|-
| [[Formula Three]] || '''0:58.596'''<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2021 F3 Cup Race 9 - Classification |url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=MSVR/2021/212351rc2f3c.pdf |date=12 June 2021 |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Stefano Leaney]] || [[Dallara F317]] || [[MotorSport Vision Formula Three Cup|2021 Castle Combe MSV F3 Cup round]]
|-
| [[Formula Palmer Audi]] || '''1:03.747'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Formula Palmer Audi Castle Combe (Race 2) |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/2007_Formula_Palmer_Audi_Castle_Combe_(Race_2) |date=15 July 2007 |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref> || [[Jason Moore (racing driver)|Jason Moore]] || [[Formula Palmer Audi#Race cars|Formula Palmer Audi car]] || [[2007 Formula Palmer Audi season|2007 Castle Combe Formula Palmer Audi round]]
|-
| [[Group GT1#GTS "GT1" (2000–2009)|GT1 (GTS)]] || '''1:04.254'''<ref>{{cite web |title=British GT Championship Castle Combe 2002 |url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BF3GT/2002/22505bgt.pdf |date=23 June 2002 |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Steve Warnock]] || [[Lister Storm#Storm GT|Lister Storm GT]] || [[2002 British GT Championship|2002 Castle Combe British GT round]]  
|-
| [[Group GT3|GT3]] || '''1:04.355'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Combe GT Championship 2022 CCRC GT Championship Race 2 - Classification |url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=CCRC/2022/223568cgt.pdf |date=29 August 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Lucky Khera]] || [[Lamborghini Huracán GT3]] || [[2022 Castle Combe GT Championship|2022 Castle Combe GT round]] 
|-
| [[Silhouette racing car]] || '''1:04.959'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Combe GT Championship Castle Combe Circuit 7th May 2018 - Castle Combe GT Championship iaw Simonstone - Race 1 - Classification |url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=CCRC/2018/181968cgt.pdf |date=7 May 2018 |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Craig Dolby]] || [[Volvo S60#Motorsport|Volvo S60 6200]] || [[2018 Castle Combe GT Championship|2018 Castle Combe GT round]]
|-
| [[Le Mans Prototype#History|LMP675]] || '''1:05.021'''<ref name="castle_combe_britcar_2011">{{cite web |title=Britcar GT Championship Castle Combe 2011 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-2011-07-24.html |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Ian Heward]] || [[Rapier 6|Rapier 6 SR2]] || [[2011 Britcar GT Championship|2011 Castle Combe Britcar GT round]]
|-
| [[LM GTE#History|GT2]] || '''1:05.723'''<ref>{{cite web |title=British GT Championship Castle Combe 2005 |url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BF3GT/2005/52505bgt.pdf |date=26 June 2005 |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> || {{ill|Nathan Kinch|fr}} || [[Ferrari 360#360 GTC|Ferrari 360 Modena GTC]] || [[2005 British GT Championship|2005 Castle Combe British GT round]]
|-
| [[TCR Touring Car]] || '''1:07.066'''<ref>{{cite web |title=TCR UK 2022 » Castle Combe Round 11 Results |url=https://www.touringcars.net/database/race.php?id=4491 |date=6 August 2022 |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Chris Smiley]] || [[Honda Civic Type R TCR#FK8 (2017)|Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8)]] || [[2022 TCR UK Touring Car Championship|2022 Castle Combe TCR UK round]]
|-
! colspan="5" | Original Circuit: 2.961&nbsp;km (1950–1997)
|-
| [[Formula One]] || '''0:50.590'''<ref>{{cite web |title=NIGEL GREENSALL ANNOUNCED AS SPECIAL GUEST ON ‘COMBE CHAT’ LIVE SHOW |url=https://castlecombecircuit.co.uk/news/nigel-greensall-announced-as-special-guest-on-%27combe-chat%27-live-show |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Combe Circuit |url=https://bpmc.org.uk/petestowe/Lib/CastleCombeCircuit.pdf |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Combe – The first 60 years |url=https://www.nigelgreensall.com/castle-combe-the-first-60-years/ |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Nigel Greensall]] || [[Tyrrell 022]] || [[BOSS GP|1997 Castle Combe BOSS Formula Series round]]
|-
| [[Formula 5000]] || '''0:56.600'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1970 Castle Combe F5000 round |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1970-castle-combe-f5000/ |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Peter Gethin]]{{efn|name=Castle Combe 1970 F5000|Both drivers took the same lap time independently in the same race.}}<br>[[Howden Ganley]]{{efn|name=Castle Combe 1970 F5000|Both drivers took the same lap time independently in the same race.}} || [[McLaren M10B]]{{efn|name=Castle Combe 1970 F5000|Both drivers took the same lap time independently in the same race.}} || [[1970 Guards European Formula 5000 Championship|1970 Castle Combe F5000 round]]
|-
| [[Group 6 (racing)|Group 6]] || '''1:03.400'''<ref>{{cite web |title=MN GT Castle Combe 1973 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-1973-08-27-10747.html |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Jeremy Lord (racing driver)|Jeremy Lord]] || [[Lola T212]] || 1973 Castle Combe MN GT round
|-
| [[Group 7 (racing)|Group 7]] || '''1:03.800'''<ref>{{cite web |title=SKF GT Castle Combe 1970 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-1970-05-09-10352.html |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Alistair Cowin]] || [[McLaren M6A|McLaren M6B/12]] || 1970 Castle Combe SKF GT round
|-
| [[Group 4 (racing)|Group 4]] || '''1:04.400'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Combe [Special GT] 1968 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-1968-07-13-13459.html |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Ron Fry (racing driver)|Ron Fry]] || [[Ford GT40]] || 1968 Castle Combe Special GT race
|-
| [[Group 3 (racing)|Group 3]] || '''1:10.000'''<ref>{{cite web |title=BARC Castle Combe [Handicap A] 1965 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-1965-08-30-34290.html |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Ron Fry (racing driver)|Ron Fry]] || [[Ferrari 250 LM]] || 1965 BARC Castle Combe Handicap race
|-
| [[Clubman (racing car class)|Clubman]] || '''1:15.200'''<ref>{{cite web |title=SMC Castle Combe [Sports/Clubman] 1965 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-1965-08-21-33071.html |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Jeremy Lord (racing driver)|Jeremy Lord]] || [[Mallock U2]] || 1965 Castle Combe SMC [Sports/Clubman] race
|-
| [[Formula Two]] || '''1:16.200'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1953 Castle Combe F2 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1953-castle-combe-f2/ |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Bob Gerard]] || [[Cooper T23]] || [[1953 Joe Fry Memorial Trophy]]
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Castle Combe Circuit}}
* [http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk Castle Combe Circuit]
* [http://www.greenpower.co.uk/ Greenpower Education Trust]

{{British motor racing circuits}}
{{FIM EWC circuits}}
{{Sidecar World Championship circuits}}
{{BOSS GP circuits}}

[[Category:Motorsport venues in England]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Castle Combe|Circuit, Castle Combe]]