Anglesey Circuit Explained

Anglesey Circuit (Trac Môn)
Location:Anglesey, United Kingdom
Coordinates:53.19°N -4.4977°W
Time:GMT (UTC+0)
BST (April–October, UTC+1)
Opened:1997
Events:Current:
Race of Remembrance (2014–present)
Layout1:International GP Circuit (2006–present)
Turns:11
Length Mi:2.100
Length Km:3.380
Record Time:1.21.287[1]
Record Driver:Sean Walkinshaw
Record Car:Dallara F302
Record Year:2012
Record Class:F3
Layout2:Coastal Circuit (2006–present)
Turns2:10
Length Mi2:1.550
Length Km2:2.494
Record Time2:1:01.741
Record Driver2:Sylvester Mullins
Record Car2:Gould GR37
Record Year2:2009
Layout3:National Circuit (2006–present)
Turns3:6
Length Mi3:1.200
Length Km3:1.931
Layout4:Club Circuit (2006–present)
Turns4:4
Length Mi4:0.800
Length Km4:1.287
Layout5:Original Circuit (1997–2005)
Turns5:11
Length Mi5:1.057
Length Km5:1.701
Record Time5:43.08
Record Driver5:Luke Kidsley
Record Car5:Jedi MK 6
Record Year5:2003

The Anglesey Circuit (Welsh: Trac Môn) is a motor racing circuit located in Ty Croes, Anglesey, Wales. It plays host to a variety of motorsport events including car racing, motorcycle racing, car sprints, stage rallies and drifting.

It opened as a fully licensed MSA and ACU championship racing circuit in 1997. The circuit was significantly redeveloped in 2006, and as of 2019 further plans for additional development have been in place.

History

Anglesey Circuit is located on a former British Army and RAF facility on the island of Anglesey, just off the North coast of Wales. The facilities were decommissioned in 1992, and it would be the Wirral 100 motor racing club that first identified the opportunity for racing at Anglesey. Early races were primarily motorcycles, however it developed into being part of the British Rallycross Championship. In 1997, the facilities were upgraded and the circuit developed, along with the installation of a small permanent pitlane. It would be at this stage the circuit gained its Motor Sports Association license.[2]

In 2006, the motorsports venue saw a major overhaul, with the majority of its 1.057miles circuit being scrapped in favour of a radical new development that includes four different track layouts: a 2.1miles International Circuit; 1.55miles Coastal Circuit, 1.2miles National Circuit and 0.8miles Club Circuit.[3] Racing motorcyclist Peter Williams described the circuit in 2006: "The journey there is breathtaking and the circuit itself is the most scenic in the UK".[4]

The late Welsh F1 driver, Tom Pryce, is remembered at the circuit through both having a straight named after him and since 2019 the running of the Tom Pryce Memorial Trophy at Anglesey.[5] [6] [7]

In 2019, plans were submitted to redesign the circuit, and add additional paddock, garaging and hospitality facilities at the venue.[8] [9]

Television

The TV motoring programme Fifth Gear regularly used the Anglesey circuit for the 'Shoot Out' segment of the show.[10] The track also features as Catie's track on the CBeebies series Catie's Amazing Machines.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Monoposto Lap Records - F3 Cup . 29 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Anglesey Circuit. racingcircuits.info. 12 September 2022.
  3. Web site: Motor Sports Venues. motorsportuk.org. 12 September 2022.
  4. "The Ty-Croes race circuit in Anglesey". Classic Bike, issue number 316, May 2006, p.3. Retrieved 10 December 2022
  5. Web site: Late Formula 1 driver Tom Pryce celebrated at Anglesey circuit. Autosport. 12 September 2022.
  6. Web site: HSCC to celebrate Tom Pryce at Anglesey. HSCC. 12 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Tom Pryce Formula 1 car showcased on Anglesey race track. Daily Post. 12 September 2022.
  8. Web site: Anglesey Council has received a planning application for substantial improvements to the Tŷ Croes-based circuit. northwaleschronicle.co.uk. 12 September 2022.
  9. Web site: FPL/2018/48. Anglesey Council. 12 September 2022.
  10. Web site: Anglesey Circuit Track Guide. motorsportcircuits.co.uk. 12 September 2022.
  11. Web site: caties-amazing-machines-featuring-british-f3-squad-hillspeed-makes-tv-premiere-on-monday. benhurstracing.com. 12 September 2022.