Knockhill Racing Circuit
Encyclopedia
Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife
is Scotland
's national Motorsport
centre. The circuit is located in the Fife countryside about 10 miles (16 km) north of Dunfermline
. The track, initially opened in 1974, is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long and 10 metres wide and was created by joining service roads to a nearby disused mineral railway, closed in 1951, which served Lethans Colliery.
Between 1974 and 1983 the circuit had a number of different owners which helped to steadily develop the circuit's facilities and attractions. Since the 1980s, however, Knockhill has been extensively developed to a point where it is able to host rounds of most of the major British car and motorbike championships. Today Knockhill offers a range of motorsport facilities in addition to the original circuit, including an offroad track, rally
stage and a go-kart
track.
The circuit hosts many different events throughout the year, including the British Superbike Championship
, Touring cars
, stock cars and various trackdays
for car and bike enthusiasts. There are also many events which are exclusive to the circuit, such as legend racing and the Scottish Formula Fords.
In common with most UK circuits, Knockhill also runs experience sessions. These sessions allow people without a racing licence a chance to drive a single-seater
car on the track, a rally-prepared
car on a gravel stage, or drive a 4×4 in true offroad conditions, a Formula One simulator inside a real Formula One car and also be able to drive a Ferrari around the track.
The newest attraction for teenagers at knockhill is TEEN DRIVE which allows teenagers the chance to learn about cars, road safety, how to change a wheel and a chance to get to drive a car themselves with support from a instructor.
Following the death
of David Leslie
in a plane crash, Knockhill is to rename a corner Leslie's Bend in his honour
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
is Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's national Motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
centre. The circuit is located in the Fife countryside about 10 miles (16 km) north of Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
. The track, initially opened in 1974, is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long and 10 metres wide and was created by joining service roads to a nearby disused mineral railway, closed in 1951, which served Lethans Colliery.
Between 1974 and 1983 the circuit had a number of different owners which helped to steadily develop the circuit's facilities and attractions. Since the 1980s, however, Knockhill has been extensively developed to a point where it is able to host rounds of most of the major British car and motorbike championships. Today Knockhill offers a range of motorsport facilities in addition to the original circuit, including an offroad track, rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
stage and a go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
track.
The circuit hosts many different events throughout the year, including the British Superbike Championship
British Superbike
The British Superbike Championship is the leading road racing superbike championship in the United Kingdom.The championship is managed and organised by MotorSport Vision. The Series and Race Director is Stuart Higgs. Event marshals are provided by the Racesafe Marshals Association.Two annual...
, Touring cars
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
, stock cars and various trackdays
Track day
A track day is an organised event in which members of the public are allowed to drive or ride around established motor racing circuits, or alternatively on closed or disused airfields...
for car and bike enthusiasts. There are also many events which are exclusive to the circuit, such as legend racing and the Scottish Formula Fords.
In common with most UK circuits, Knockhill also runs experience sessions. These sessions allow people without a racing licence a chance to drive a single-seater
Open wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
car on the track, a rally-prepared
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
car on a gravel stage, or drive a 4×4 in true offroad conditions, a Formula One simulator inside a real Formula One car and also be able to drive a Ferrari around the track.
The newest attraction for teenagers at knockhill is TEEN DRIVE which allows teenagers the chance to learn about cars, road safety, how to change a wheel and a chance to get to drive a car themselves with support from a instructor.
Following the death
2008 Farnborough plane crash
At 14:38 on 30 March 2008, a Cessna Citation 501 with five people on board crashed into a house at Farnborough in the London Borough of Bromley, shortly after take off from Biggin Hill. There were no survivors among the five people on board...
of David Leslie
David Leslie (racing driver)
David Leslie was a racing driver. He was most associated with the British Touring Car Championship, in which he was runner-up in 1999. He was particularly noted for his development skill, helping both Honda and Nissan become BTCC race winners...
in a plane crash, Knockhill is to rename a corner Leslie's Bend in his honour
External links
- Knockhill Race Circuit home page
- The Scottish Motor Racing Club - Organisers of MSAMotor Sports AssociationThe Motor Sports Association , is the official governing body of motorsport in the United Kingdom.-Responsibilities:...
regulated races at Knockhill - Kirkcaldy & District Motor Club Organisers of Scottish Championship Road Racing