Snetterton Circuit

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Template:Short description Template:Refimprove Template:Use British English Template:Motorsport venue

Snetterton Circuit is a motor racing course in Norfolk, England, originally opened in 1953. Owned by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation since 2004, it is situated on the A11 road Template:Convert north-east of the town of Thetford and Template:Convert south-west of the city of Norwich. The circuit is named after the nearby village of Snetterton to the north-west of the circuit, although much of the circuit lies in the adjoining civil parish of Quidenham.[1]

The circuit hosts races from series including the British Touring Car Championship, British Formula Three Championship and British Superbike Championship. From 1980 to 1994, the track hosted the UK's first 24-hour race, the Willhire 24 Hour. From 2003 to 2013 the Citroën 2CV 24 Hour Race was held at Snetterton on the 200 Circuit. After a short stint racing at Anglesey the 2CV 24Hr race has again returned to Snetterton and is usually held around the August bank holiday weekend. [2]

Pre-racing history

File:Snettertonheath-5feb46.png
Photograph of WW2 Airfield

Snetterton was originally an RAF airfield, RAF Snetterton Heath, later used by the United States Army Air Force. The airfield opened in May 1943 and closed in November 1948.

Racing history

File:Snetterton Circuit versus RAF Snetterton.svg
The original Snetterton Circuit (shown in green) was laid out on the runways and taxiways of the former RAF Snetterton Heath air base (in light brown)

After its use as a USAF base, in 1948 Snetterton Heath was returned to the local landowner, Fred Riches. Oliver Sear and Dudley Coram of the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) approached Riches in early 1951 to suggest using the defunct airbase roadways as a circuit for club racing. Riches agreed, but, being a local churchwarden, only on condition that there was no racing between 10:45 am and noon on Sundays, and that all racing stopped before Evensong started, to avoid disturbing church services. The AMOC held the first open meeting on 27 October 1951, for what were dubbed "speed trials", but were actually a series of one lap sprint races. The first meeting was described by Motor Sport magazine as "an excellent event over an interesting new course." Fastest time of the day was set by Ken Wharton, driving ERA R11B, who averaged Template:Convert.[3][4]

The circuit was first used for motorcycle racing in 1953, organised by the Snetterton Combine, an association of clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk.[5]

The track was used by both Team Lotus (Formula One) and Norfolk Racing Co (Le Mans) to test their racing cars.

In the 1960s and early 1970s the circuit was Template:Convert in length. Sear corner was Template:Convert further from Riches corner and led onto the "Norwich Straight" clearly visible in satellite maps and currently used by a Sunday market. The straight ended in a hairpin bend leading to Home Straight, which joined the existing track at the Esses, and is now a main access road for the circuit. Russell bend was added in the 1960s and named after Jim Russell who ran a racing drivers school at the circuit. Initially added to improve safety by slowing vehicles as they approached the pits, Russell bend was the scene of many accidents and was later altered to its present configuration.

Snetterton 300 Circuit corner names (2011–present)

Corner Name Namesake
— Senna Straight Ayrton Senna
1 Riches Fred Riches
2 Montreal (2011–2016)
Wilson (2016–present)Template:Efn 		Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Justin Wilson
3 Palmer Jonathan Palmer
4 Agostini Giacomo Agostini
5 Hamilton Lewis Hamilton
6 Oggies Peter Ogden
7 Williams Frank Williams
— Bentley Straight Bentley
8 Brundle Martin Brundle
9 Nelson Lord Nelson
10 Bomb Hole Elevation change in the track surface
11 Coram Dudley Coram
12 Murrays Murray Walker

Layout history

Circuit developments

File:Snetterton 2010 annotated.svg
Snetterton layout in 2010, prior to redevelopment

Snetterton circuit was acquired by MotorSport Vision (MSV) along with Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, and Cadwell Park from The Interpublic Group of Companies subsidiary Octagon in January 2004.[6] Octagon previously acquired prior owner Brands Hatch Leisure plc in November 1999.[7]

In October 2005, Jonathan Palmer of MSV, the owners of Snetterton Circuit, announced that the circuit would undergo extensive rebuilding work, in order to lengthen the circuit and improve its facilities.

On 23 September 2010, MSV announced that construction of the new infield section and track improvements would be finished in time for the 2011 motorsport season.[8] The main development was the addition of a new one-mile infield section, after Sear Corner, which was replaced and renamed Montreal, in deference to it being modelled on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hairpin. The final chicane before Senna Straight was also removed and replaced by an extension to Coram curve coupled with a new, tight, left-hand corner named Murrays. In addition to the track work, the redevelopment also improved spectator viewing and increased safety.

Snetterton 300 Circuit

File:Snetterton 2011 300 annotated.svg
Snetterton 300 Circuit as of 2015. The Montreal Hairpin has since been renamed in honour of Justin Wilson.

The 300 Circuit is Template:Convert long, Snetterton's longest layout and the second longest racing track in the country.[8] The track incorporates much of the previous circuit with the infield section that was completed in 2011. The 300 track has been designed to bring international levels of racing to the circuit by gaining an FIA Grade 2 Licence. The layout also hosts major British motorsport championships. The British Formula 3 Championship and British GT Championship were the first of these to visit the new layout on 14 and 15 May 2011. The British Touring Car Championship with its ToCA support package also uses this layout, as does the British Superbike Championship.[9] In 2016, ahead of Justin Wilson's 38th birthday, the Montreal hairpin was renamed Wilson, in memory of the Yorkshire IndyCar driver killed at the 2015 Pocono 500.[10]

Snetterton 200

This layout is closest to the pre-2011 layout. The main differences between the original layout and the 200 layout are the re-profiled Justin Wilson, Coram, and Murray's corners, which have been designed to provide better opportunities for overtaking. This Template:Convert layout is mainly used for club and local racing.[8]

Snetterton 100

The 100 layout is made up solely of the new Template:Convert infield section and is mainly used for testing and as a race school.[8] Both the 100 layout and the 200 layout can be used simultaneously.

The first event which both events were used simultaneously was the BRSCC meeting held on the 29 and 30 May 2011. There was club racing on the outer circuit (VW Fun Cup, Saker Challenge, TVRs and Mighty Minis) and two rounds of the British Sprint Championship on the inner circuit.

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

Prior to the introduction of the 300 circuit in 2011, the official lap record stood at 0:56.095 (Template:Cvt) set by Template:Ill, during a BRSCC meeting in August 2007. During the qualifying of this meeting, he set an unofficial lap record of 0:54.687 (Template:Cvt).[11]

The current 300 circuit lap record was set by Felipe Nasr from Brazil driving a Carlin prepared Dallara F308 in the 2nd race of the 2011 British F3 meeting. The lap was 1:39.933 at an average speed of Template:Cvt. As of June 2025, the fastest official race lap records at Snetterton Circuit are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event Circuit Map
Snetterton 300 Circuit (2011–present): 4.779 km
Formula Three 1:39.933[12] Felipe Nasr Dallara F308 2011 Snetterton British F3 round File:Snetterton 2011 300 annotated.svg
GB3 1:41.280[13] Alex Dunne Tatuus MSV-022 2023 Snetterton GB3 round
GT3 1:46.116[14] Marvin Kirchhöfer McLaren 720S GT3 Evo 2023 Snetterton British GT round
Superbike 1:46.583[15] Bradley Ray Yamaha YZF-R1 2025 Snetterton BSB round
GB4 1:47.081[16] Cooper Webster Tatuus F4-T014 2023 Snetterton GB4 round
Formula 4 1:48.072[17] Noah Lisle Tatuus F4-T421 2023 Snetterton British F4 round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:50.748[18] Andrew Rackstraw Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2025 Snetterton Porsche Carrera Cup GB round
Supersport 1:50.837[19] Luke Stapleford Triumph Daytona 675 2025 Snetterton BSS round
Ferrari Challenge 1:52.739[20] Han Sikkens Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo 2022 Snetterton Ferrari Challenge UK round
NGTC 1:54.871[21] Ashley Sutton Ford Focus ST 2023 Snetterton BTCC round
Sportbike 1:55.959[22] Kas Beekmans Suzuki GSX-8R 2025 Snetterton British Sportbike round
TCR Touring Car 1:56.027[23] Joe Marshall Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021) 2024 Snetterton TCR UK round
GT4 1:56.159[14] Mike Simpson Ginetta G56 GT4 2023 Snetterton British GT round
BMW F900R Cup 1:59.336[24] Richard Cooper BMW F900R 2023 Snetterton BMW F900R Cup round
Moto3 2:02.011[25] Evan Belford Honda NSF250R 2023 Snetterton British Talent Cup round
Truck racing 2:23.367[26] Ryan Smith Mercedes Actros 12000 2021 Snetterton BTRC round
Snetterton 200 Circuit (2011–present): 3.219 km
Formula Three 1:06.572[27] Chris Dittmann Dallara F312 2017 Snetterton F3 Cup round File:Snetterton 2011 200 annotated.svg
TCR Touring Car 1:25.084[28] Chris Smiley Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 2022 Snetterton TCR UK round
Snetterton 100 Circuit (2011–present): 1.577 km
British Sprint Championship 1:16.210Template:Efn[29] Colin Calder Gould GR37 2011 Snetterton British Sprint Championship round File:Snetterton 2011 100 annotated.svg
Grand Prix Circuit (1997–2010): 3.141 km[30]
Formula One 0:56.095[11] Template:Ill Benetton B197 2007 Snetterton EuroBOSS Super Prix File:Snetterton 2010 annotated.svg
Formula Three 1:01.200[31] Adriano Buzaid Dallara F308 2010 Snetterton British F3 round
GT1 1:03.393[32] Tim Sugden McLaren F1 GTR 1999 Snetterton British GT round
Formula Palmer Audi 1:04.396[33] Felix Rosenqvist Formula Palmer Audi car 2009 2nd Snetterton Formula Palmer Audi round
Superbike 1:04.688[34] Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda CBR1000RR 2006 Snetterton BSB round
Supersport 1:07.587[35] Tom Sykes Suzuki GSX-R600 2006 Snetterton BSS round
GT2 1:08.563[36] Geoff Lister Porsche 911 (993) GT2 1998 Snetterton British GT round
Super Touring 1:09.011[37] David Leslie Nissan Primera GT 1999 Snetterton BTCC round
Formula BMW 1:09.849[38] Henry Surtees Mygale FB02 2007 Snetterton Formula BMW UK round
Super 2000 1:11.711[39] Darren Turner SEAT León TDI 2008 Snetterton BTCC round
BTC Touring 1:12.249[40] Matt Neal BTC-T Honda Integra Type R 2005 Snetterton BTCC round
Grand Prix Circuit (1990–1996): 3.137 km
Formula 3000 0:59.470[41] Luiz Garcia Jr. Reynard 95D 1996 2nd Snetterton British F2 round File:Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit track map.svg
Formula Three 1:06.550[42] Kelvin Burt Dallara F393 1993 Snetterton British F3 round
GT1 1:09.570[43] Ian Flux McLaren F1 GTR 1996 Snetterton British GT round
Group 4 1:11.660[44] Thorkild Thyrring De Tomaso Pantera 1995 1st Snetterton British GT round
Super Touring 1:13.130[45] Rickard Rydell Volvo 850 20V 1995 Snetterton BTCC round
Group A 1:14.020[46] Robb Gravett Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth 1990 Snetterton BTCC round
Group 5 1:15.080[47] John Greasley Porsche 935 K3 1993 Snetterton British GT round
GT2 1:24.470[48] John Morrison Porsche 911 (993) GT2 1995 2nd Snetterton British GT round
Grand Prix Circuit (1974–1989): 3.085 km
Formula 3000 0:55.370[49] Andrew Gilbert-Scott Reynard 88D 1989 Snetterton British F3000 round File:Snetterton 1977 annotated.svg
Formula One 0:56.530[50] Rupert Keegan Arrows A1 1979 Budweiser Trophy
Group C2 0:59.510[51] Tim Harvey Spice SE89C 1989 RAC Championship Car Races Snetterton
Formula 5000 1:00.000[52] Teddy Pilette Lola T400 1975 2nd Snetterton F5000 round
Group A 1:07.500[53] Robb Gravett Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth 1989 Snetterton BTCC round
Grand Prix Circuit (with Russell Bend Chicane added) (1965–1973): 4.361 km
Formula 5000 1:18.400[54] Brett Lunger Trojan T101 1973 1st Snetterton F5000 round File:Snetterton 1965 annotated.svg
Group 4 1:26.200[55] Brian Redman Lola T70 Mk.IIIB GT 1969 Guards Trophy Snetterton
Sports 2000 1:27.200[56] Guy Edwards Lola T290 1972 Anglia Television Trophy
Formula Two 1:28.200 Jackie StewartTemplate:Efn
Graham HillTemplate:Efn
Jochen RindtTemplate:Efn		 Matra MS5Template:Efn
Lotus 48Template:Efn
Brabham BT23Template:Efn		 1967 Guards 100
Group 6 1:35.200[57] Jeremy Lord Astra RNR1 1970 Snetterton MN GT round
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1951–1964): 4.361 km
Formula One 1:32.600[58] Jim Clark Lotus 18 1960 Lombank Trophy File:Snetterton 1963 annotated.svg
Group 4 1:35.600[59] Innes Ireland Lotus 19 1963 Snetterton Sports Car race
Formula Libre 1:38.200[60] Brian Naylor JBW-Maserati 1959 Snetterton Formula Libre race
Group 3 1:39.200[61] Roy Salvadori Ferrari 250 LM 1964 Scott-Brown Memorial Snetterton
Formula Two 1:51.000 Template:Ill Ferrari Tipo 500 1953 Aston Martin Owners Club Formula 2 Race

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:MSV Template:British motor racing circuits Template:BTCC Circuits Template:British Superbike Championship circuits Template:BOSS GP circuits Template:European Formula Two circuits Template:ETCC circuits

  1. ↑ Ordnance Survey (1999). OS Explorer Map 237 - Norwich. Template:ISBN.
  2. ↑ 24hr – Getting Involved Retrieved 15 June 2016
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  5. ↑ Britain's Top Circuits, race circuit guide, 1966 hard copy (free supplement with Motor Cycle), Accessed 2015-05-02
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d [1] Template:Webarchive
  9. ↑ [2] Template:Webarchive
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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