Thruxton Circuit Explained

Thruxton Motorsport Centre
Location:Hampshire, England
Fiagrade:3
Opened:1950
Time:GMT (UTC+0)
BST (April–October, UTC+1)
Events:Current:
BTCC (1979–present)
BSB (1996–2019, 2021–present)
Former:
FIM Endurance World Championship
Thruxton 500 (1960–1964, 1969–1977)
British F3 (1977–2008, 2010, 2014)
British GT (1994–1996, 2000–2005, 2007–2008)
BOSS Formula (1996, 1998–2000)
Formula 3000 (1985)
Formula Two (1968–1984)
Formula 5000 (1970–1971, 1974–1975)
Layout1:Main Circuit (1968–present)
Length Km:3.793
Length Mi:2.356
Turns:12
Record Time:1:01.960
Record Driver:Earl Goddard
Record Car:Reynard 95D
Record Year:2000
Record Class:F3000
Layout2:Main Circuit (1952–1964)
Length Km2:4.437
Length Mi2:2.757
Turns2:8
Record Time2:2:00.000
Record Driver2:Tony Rolt
Record Car2:Connaught Type A
Record Year2:1953
Record Class2:F2
Layout3:Original Circuit (1950–1952)
Length Km3:3.042
Length Mi3:1.890
Turns3:6

The Thruxton Circuit is a motor-racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, about 30 miles north of Southampton.

It has hosted motorsport events including the British Touring Car Championship, British GT Championship, British Formula One Championship, British Formula Three, and GB3 Championship. It is often referred to as the "Fastest Circuit in the UK" where drivers can reach speeds of over and has earned the reputation of being a true driver's track. To illustrate this, Damon Hill drove his Williams Formula One car around the circuit at an average speed of in 1993.

The site also houses the headquarters of the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC).[1]

History

The site was originally constructed in 1942 as RAF Thruxton, a World War II airfield which was home to both the RAF and USAAF and was used for troop-carrying aircraft and gliders, including operations during the D-Day landings. Also, the paratroopers who took part in the successful Bruneval Raid (Operation Biting), in which German radar equipment was seized on the coast of France, took off from here.

The circuit, which follows the line of the airfield's perimeter road, was established in 1968. From 1950 to 1965, motorbike races had taken place on the runways and perimeter road.[2]

Thruxton Circuit was resurfaced in 2000, resulting in lap times dropping considerably compared to the previous year.

Motorsport activities

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.thumb|right|250px|Reema Juffali in her F4 car at Thruxton in April 2019The 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 Championship package and the 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 titled 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.[3]

Lap records

The all-time outright unofficial track record is 0:57.6 seconds, set by Damon Hill in a Williams FW15C, during a demonstration run in 1993.[4] As of June 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Thruxton Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Main Circuit: 3.793 km (1968–present)
1:01.960 2000 Thruxton EuroBOSS round
1:06.752[5] 2010 Thruxton British F3 round
1:07.370[6] 1982 Thruxton F2 round
1:07.460[7] 1986 Thruxton Interserie round
1:09.430[8] 1979 2nd Thruxton British F1 round
1:10.785[9] 2002 Thruxton British GT round
1:10.848[10] 2022 1st Thruxton British F4 round
1:11.000[11] [12] 1974 2nd Thruxton F5000 round
1975 1st Thruxton F5000 round
1:12.823[13] Robert de Haan2023 Thruxton Porsche Carrera Cup GB round
1:13.272[14] 2000 Thruxton BTCC round
1:13.303[15] 2004 Thruxton British GT round
1:13.437[16] 2005 Thruxton British GT round
1:14.000[17] 1971 2nd Thruxton RAC BSC round
1:14.655[18] 2019 Thruxton BSB round
1:14.709[19] 2004 Thruxton Formula BMW UK round
1:15.753[20] 2024 Thruxton BTCC round
1:16.200[21] 1971 1st Thruxton RAC BSC round
1:17.303[22] 2002 Thruxton BTCC round
1:17.400[23]
1:17.880[24] 1984 Thruxton Thundersports round
1:20.640[25] 1989 1st Thruxton BTCC round
1:21.000[26] 1972 Thruxton MN GT round
Main Circuit: 4.437 km (1952–1964)
2:00.000[27] 1953 Bristol MC & LCC Race
2:05.200[28] 1953 Thruxton National Sports Car race

Medical and safety services

Thruxton has a 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 called Radio Thruxton operates in the FM band on 87.7 MHz. This has commentators at key points of the track 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. It has featured as the venue for BBC Three's 2005 series Stars in Fast Cars.

The "Thruxton" heritage

As a result of its racing associations, the name "Thruxton" has been used for:

Thruxton Hospitality Centre

The Thruxton Hospitality Centre was opened in June 2018 by Nigel Mansell and Murray Walker. The £2million flagship building is the latest addition to the circuit, forming part of the track's modernisation project. The new building is a 1415m² facility with more than ten conference and function rooms as well as hospitality suites, a restaurant and bar, an exhibition space and catering facilities. A first floor terrace and balcony provides a view of the first-corner and across the venue.

Driving experiences

Aside from hosting major motor racing events, Thruxton Motorsport Centre offers driving experiences. Next to the main circuit is the 1100abbr=onNaNabbr=on long Thruxton Karting Circuit.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Contacts. BARC. 18 November 2016.
  2. Web site: Circuit Facilities - History of Thruxton. Thruxton Motorsport Centre. 18 November 2016.
  3. Web site: Thruxton Village . www.thruxtonvillage.com/ . Thruxton Village Protection Society . 25 March 2022.
  4. Web site: Thruxton - Motor Sport Magazine . . 26 November 2022.
  5. Web site: 2010 Thruxton British F3 - Round 20 . . 8 August 2010 . 25 June 2022.
  6. Web site: 1982 Jochen Rindt Trophy . . 12 April 1982 . 25 June 2022.
  7. Web site: Interserie Thruxton 1986 . 31 March 1986 . 26 November 2022.
  8. Web site: 1979 Thruxton F1 . . 9 September 1979 . 25 June 2022.
  9. Web site: British GT Championship Round 10 Thruxton 14th & 15th September 2002 Best Sector Times - Race 7 . 15 September 2002 . 26 November 2022.
  10. Web site: 2022 ROKiT F4 British Championship Certified by FIA Round 9 - Classification . 29 May 2022 . 25 June 2022.
  11. Web site: 1974 Thruxton F5000 - Round 13 . . 18 August 1974 . 25 June 2022.
  12. Web site: 1975 Thruxton F5000 - Round 7 . . 26 May 1975 . 25 June 2022.
  13. Web site: Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain 2023 - Round 5 - Classification . 4 June 2023 . 5 June 2023.
  14. Web site: BTCC 2000 » Thruxton Round 6 Results . 1 May 2000 . 25 June 2022.
  15. Web site: British GT Championship Rounds 13 and 14 Thruxton Circuit 29th & 30th August 2004 Best Sector Times - Round 12 . 30 August 2004 . 26 November 2022.
  16. Web site: British GT Championship Rounds 9&10 Thruxton Circuit 28th & 29th May 2005 Best Sector Times - Race 8 . 29 May 2005 . 26 November 2022.
  17. Web site: RAC Sports Car Championship; Thruxton 1971 . 19 September 1971 . 26 November 2022.
  18. Web site: Bennetts British Superbikes - JG Speedfit Round 7 - 2nd-4th August - Thruxton - 2019 Race 12 - Classification . 4 August 2019 . 25 June 2022.
  19. Web site: BTCC - Round 1 - Thruxton - 2004 - Formula BMW UK Championship Provisional Result - Round 1 . 11 April 2004 . 27 July 2022.
  20. Web site: 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship - Round 12 - Classification . 9 June 2024 . 9 June 2024.
  21. Web site: RAC Sports Car Championship Thruxton 1971 . 12 April 1971 . 26 November 2022.
  22. Web site: BTCC 2002 » Thruxton Round 6 Results . 6 May 2002 . 25 June 2022.
  23. Web site: Embassy Trophy Thruxton 1969 . 7 April 1969 . 26 November 2022.
  24. Web site: Thundersports Thruxton 1984 . 8 July 1984 . 26 November 2022.
  25. Web site: BTCC 1989 » Thruxton Round 3 Results . 1 May 1989 . 25 June 2022.
  26. Web site: MN GT Thruxton 1972 . 28 May 1972 . 26 November 2022.
  27. Web site: 1953 Thruxton F2 . . 3 August 1953 . 25 June 2022.
  28. Web site: National Thruxton [S+1.5] 1953 ]. 3 August 1953 . 26 November 2022.