Lydden Race Circuit
Encyclopedia
Lydden Hill Race Circuit (formerly known as Lydden Circuit) is the UK's shortest road racing circuit (many shorter oval tracks exist) at exactly one mile (= 1.609 km), based at Wootton
about half-way between Canterbury
and Dover
in Kent
. The track is mainly used for rallycross, drift, saloon and sports car racing as well as motorcycle racing. It may be only a mile long, but Lydden is a testing circuit, with many undulation changes.
.
On February 4, 1967 the sport of Rallycross
was born at Lydden, thought up by TV producer Robert Reed (for ITV
) and race organiser Bud Smith (750 Motor Club – Tunbridge Wells Centre) in cooperation with Chesson. Combining tarmac and non-tarmac elements, the inaugural race was won by Vic Elford
in a Porsche 911
. Between 1973 and 2009 Lydden Circuit saw a total of 24 rounds for the Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship
s and FIA European Championships for Rallycross Drivers, the first 23 (till 1996) all organised by the Thames Estuary Automobile Club (TEAC). To this day, Lydden, as the so-called "Home of Rallycross", still holds British Rallycross Championship racing, especially with its popular Easter Monday
meeting.
In 1989, after disagreements between venue owner Chesson and the RAC
MSA
about the safety precautions of the track, the circuit was bought by plant-hire entrepreneur and regular rallycross competitor Tom Bissett.
In 1991, McLaren bought the track and leased it to the British Motorcycle Racing Club (BMCRC) from 1993 on, thus allowing both cars and bikes to have full use of the track. BMCRC were based at Lydden until the end of 2007, and it formed their home track, playing host to the annual 'Lord of Lydden' and 'Sidecar burnup' races, together with a number of club motorcycle race meetings.
Another piece in the history of Lydden came in 2003, when McLaren had an application turned down for Lydden to become a private testing venue.
From 2008 on the new lease holder of the circuit will be, for at least five years, the Waste Recycling Consultant, MSA British Rallycross Champion (2002, 2005, 2009, 2010) and FIA European Rallycross Championship runner-up (1992) Pat Doran. Doran, an Englishman of Irish origin from Thorverton
in Devon
, is planning several improvements for the venue as well as an extension of the racing programme (for cars and bikes alike) and his oldest daughter Amy Doran has been appointed as director for day-to-day running of the circuit.
Wootton, Kent
Wootton is a village near Dover in Kent, England. Birthplace of Leonard Digges, inventor of the Telescope.It once had a Baptist chapel, linked to the Eythorne Baptist Church group....
about half-way between Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. The track is mainly used for rallycross, drift, saloon and sports car racing as well as motorcycle racing. It may be only a mile long, but Lydden is a testing circuit, with many undulation changes.
History
The track was founded by the late Bill Chesson († 1999) and the Astra Motor Club in 1955. They promoted stock-car racing and grass-track racing for motorcycles, and it wasn't until 1965 when asphalt was laid for the circuit, for hosting car racing up to Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
.
On February 4, 1967 the sport of Rallycross
Rallycross
Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
was born at Lydden, thought up by TV producer Robert Reed (for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
) and race organiser Bud Smith (750 Motor Club – Tunbridge Wells Centre) in cooperation with Chesson. Combining tarmac and non-tarmac elements, the inaugural race was won by Vic Elford
Vic Elford
Victor Henry Elford is a former sportscar racing, rallying and Formula One driver from England. He participated in 13 World Championship F1 Grands Prix, debuting on 7 July 1968...
in a Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
. Between 1973 and 2009 Lydden Circuit saw a total of 24 rounds for the Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship
Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship
The Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championship was the forerunner of the FIA European Rallycross Championships. It was organised in 1973 and 1974 by automobile clubs from Austria, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden and Finland under the supervision of the Thames Estuary Automobile Club ...
s and FIA European Championships for Rallycross Drivers, the first 23 (till 1996) all organised by the Thames Estuary Automobile Club (TEAC). To this day, Lydden, as the so-called "Home of Rallycross", still holds British Rallycross Championship racing, especially with its popular Easter Monday
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures...
meeting.
In 1989, after disagreements between venue owner Chesson and the RAC
Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club is a private club and is not to be confused with RAC plc, a motorists' organisation, which it formerly owned.It has two club houses, one in London at 89-91 Pall Mall, and the other in the countryside at Woodcote Park, Surrey, next to the City of London Freemen's School...
MSA
Motor Sports Association
The Motor Sports Association , is the official governing body of motorsport in the United Kingdom.-Responsibilities:...
about the safety precautions of the track, the circuit was bought by plant-hire entrepreneur and regular rallycross competitor Tom Bissett.
In 1991, McLaren bought the track and leased it to the British Motorcycle Racing Club (BMCRC) from 1993 on, thus allowing both cars and bikes to have full use of the track. BMCRC were based at Lydden until the end of 2007, and it formed their home track, playing host to the annual 'Lord of Lydden' and 'Sidecar burnup' races, together with a number of club motorcycle race meetings.
Another piece in the history of Lydden came in 2003, when McLaren had an application turned down for Lydden to become a private testing venue.
From 2008 on the new lease holder of the circuit will be, for at least five years, the Waste Recycling Consultant, MSA British Rallycross Champion (2002, 2005, 2009, 2010) and FIA European Rallycross Championship runner-up (1992) Pat Doran. Doran, an Englishman of Irish origin from Thorverton
Thorverton
Thorverton is a village in Devon, England, about a mile west of the River Exe and north of Exeter. It is almost centrally located between Exeter and the towns of Tiverton and Crediton and contains the hamlets of Yellowford and Raddon. It is surrounded by beautiful hill scenery. It has two churches...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, is planning several improvements for the venue as well as an extension of the racing programme (for cars and bikes alike) and his oldest daughter Amy Doran has been appointed as director for day-to-day running of the circuit.
Rallycross Track Record
- Martin SchancheMartin SchancheMartin Schanche , a.k.a. "Mister Rallycross", is a former Norwegian motorsport contestant. He started his racing career rather late, only in 1972 when he was already 27 years old. In 1975 he won a silver medal in the Norwegian Ice Racing Championships...
(Ford RS200 E2Ford RS200The Ford RS200 is a mid-engined, four-wheel drive sports car produced by Ford from 1984 to 1986. The road-going RS200 was based on Ford's Group B rally car and was designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations, which required 200 road legal versions be built...
) drove 3 ½ laps (1 lap = 1.400 km) in 2:28.8 Minutes during the 1990 FIA ERC round
- Sverre Isachsen (N), Ford Focus T16 4X4, drove 4 laps (1 lap = 1.300m) in 3.13.344 minutes during the 2009 FIA ERC Round
Major events
- FIA European Rallycross Championship www.rallycross.de (in English and German)
- British Rallycross Championship www.lyddenhill.co.uk
- MSA British Rallycross Championship www.RallycrossUK.com
- BHP Performance Show www.bhpperformanceshow.com
- Lydden Hill Motorcycle Show www.lyddenhill.co.uk
- British Grasstrack Masters
Local meetings
- South East Motor Sport Enthusiasts Club (SEMSEC)
- Tunbridge Wells Motor Club (TWMC)
- Rochester Motor Club (RMC)
- British Racing Sports Car Club (BRSCC)
- British Automobile Racing Club (BARC)
- Vintage Motorcycle Racing Club (VMCC)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Register Sprint Series (MLR)
- Car & Bike Trackdays