Thruxton Circuit
Encyclopedia
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton
in Hampshire
, England
which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing.
Thruxton Circuit was originally constructed in 1940 as RAF Thruxton
: a World War II
airfield which was home to both the RAF and USAAF and was used during World War II for troop-carrying aircraft and gliders, including operations during the D-Day landings.
The circuit has been used to host motor racing events since 1950; with the circuit initially being used to host motorcycle races from 1950 and motor racing since 1952.
Owing to planning restrictions, the circuit can only run 12 days of motorsport each year. Currently, three are devoted to motorbike racing, with a weekend dedicated to the British Superbike Championship, Britain’s premier motorcycle racing category; with the third day being used for club racing. The remaining days are devoted to car racing with weekends being used for the TOCA
British Touring Car Championship
, the British Formula 3 and British GT package and the new for 2006 Dunlop
Great and British Festival, which features rounds of the British Truck Racing Championship, the International Truck Racing Challenge as well as the staples of the festival, including the Radical endurance races. Two separate one day meetings are run for amateur championships of the BARC
, one of which is entitled the ‘Thruxton Classic’, which features races for Classic Touring Cars
, Classic Formula Ford 1600
and Formula Ford 2000. The remaining day is allocated to other organising clubs, such as the 750 Motor Club and Historic Sports Car Club. Owing to the relative infrequency of race meetings, Thruxton continues to be a popular part of the motorsport calendar.
The MSA circuit licence requires a minimum of two doctors and two rescue units for a race meeting. Most meetings are operated with three rescue units plus a medical car, along with ambulances and first aiders.
Outside of motor racing, the circuit offers a driving school for aspiring racing drivers, plus featured as the venue for BBC3’s
series ‘Stars in Fast Cars
’.
1) "Motor Racing at Thruxton in the 1970s - Those Were The Days", published by Veloce Publishing Ltd.
2) "Motor Racing at Thruxton in the 1980s - Those Were The Days", published by Veloce Publishing Ltd.
for aspiring drivers.
Thruxton, Hampshire
Thruxton is just off the A303 road five miles west of Andover. It is a village with a Manor House, thatched cottages and village green...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing.
Thruxton Circuit was originally constructed in 1940 as RAF Thruxton
RAF Thruxton
RAF Station Thruxton is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately west of Andover; about southwest of London...
: a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
airfield which was home to both the RAF and USAAF and was used during World War II for troop-carrying aircraft and gliders, including operations during the D-Day landings.
The circuit has been used to host motor racing events since 1950; with the circuit initially being used to host motorcycle races from 1950 and motor racing since 1952.
Motorsport Activities
TOCA
ToCA are the organisers and administrators of the BTCC and the supporting series of the BTCC. The BTCC is the UK's biggest motor racing championship and one of the world's most highly respected motor racing series ....
British Touring Car Championship
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...
, the British Formula 3 and British GT package and the new for 2006 Dunlop
Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which bought the right to sell Dunlop-branded road tyres....
Great and British Festival, which features rounds of the British Truck Racing Championship, the International Truck Racing Challenge as well as the staples of the festival, including the Radical endurance races. Two separate one day meetings are run for amateur championships of the BARC
British Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
, one of which is entitled the ‘Thruxton Classic’, which features races for Classic Touring Cars
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, Classic Formula Ford 1600
Formula Ford 1600
Formula Ford 1600 is a number of championships which cater to 1600cc, Ford Kent powered Formula Ford racing cars. These are cars which were disbanded when the UK national Formula Ford category adopted the 1800cc Zetec engines in 1993...
and Formula Ford 2000. The remaining day is allocated to other organising clubs, such as the 750 Motor Club and Historic Sports Car Club. Owing to the relative infrequency of race meetings, Thruxton continues to be a popular part of the motorsport calendar.
Medical and Safety Services
Thruxton has a fully equipped medical centre in line with Motor Sports Association standards.The MSA circuit licence requires a minimum of two doctors and two rescue units for a race meeting. Most meetings are operated with three rescue units plus a medical car, along with ambulances and first aiders.
Points of interest
During race weekends, a radio commentary service entitled Radio Thruxton operates on the Medium Wave band on 1602 kHz. This has commentators at the key points of the track, namely, the aforementioned Chicane and Complex as well as a pit reporter, who conducts interviews with the race winners.Outside of motor racing, the circuit offers a driving school for aspiring racing drivers, plus featured as the venue for BBC3’s
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
series ‘Stars in Fast Cars
Stars in Fast Cars
Stars in Fast Cars was a humorous motoring-themed celebrity game show, in which celebrities competed at motoring challenges, including recreating movie stunts and racing modified armchairs...
’.
Books
Bruce Grant-Braham has written two histories of the circuit describing car racing in the 1970s and 1980s:1) "Motor Racing at Thruxton in the 1970s - Those Were The Days", published by Veloce Publishing Ltd.
2) "Motor Racing at Thruxton in the 1980s - Those Were The Days", published by Veloce Publishing Ltd.
Karting Circuit
Next to the main Thruxton circuit is Thruxton Karting CircuitThruxton Karting Circuit
Thruxton Karting Circuit is a kart racing circuit near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England. It is right next to the Thruxton Circuit. At 1,100 metres long, the full circuit has a variety of fast, slow and technical corners.-Motorsport Activities:...
for aspiring drivers.