Snetterton Circuit facts for kids
Snetterton 300 Circuit
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| Location | Snetterton, Norfolk, England |
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| Coordinates | 52°27′59.47″N 0°56′53.66″E / 52.4665194°N 0.9482389°E |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Major events | British Touring Car Championship British Formula Three British GT Championship British Superbike Championship |
| Snetterton 300 Circuit | |
| Length | 2.969 mi (4.779 km) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:39.933 (Felipe Nasr, Dallara F308, 2011, British F3) |
| Snetterton 200 Circuit | |
| Length | 2.00 mi (3.22 km) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 1:06.572 (Chris Dittmann, Dallara F312 2000cc, 2017, F3 Cup) |
| Snetterton 100 Circuit | |
| Length | 0.98 mi (1.58 km) |
| Turns | 6 |
| Race lap record | 1:16.21 (Colin Calder, Gould GR37-Judd EV 4.0, 2011, British Sprint Championship) |
| Snetterton Circuit (Prior 2011) | |
| Length | 1.952 mi (3.123 km) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 0:56.095 (Klaas Zwart, Ascari-Judd 4.0 V10, 2007, EuroBoss) |
Snetterton Circuit is a motor racing course in Norfolk, England, originally opened in 1953. Owned by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation, it is situated on the A11 road 12 miles (19 km) north-east of the town of Thetford and 19 miles (31 km) south-west of the city of Norwich. The circuit is named after the nearby village of Snetterton to the north-west of the circuit, although much of the circuit lies in the adjoining civil parish of Quidenham.
The circuit hosts races from series including the British Touring Car Championship, British Formula Three Championship and British Superbike Championship. From 1980 to 1994, the track hosted the UK's first 24-hour race, the Willhire 24 Hour. From 2003 to 2013 the Citroen 2CV 24 Hour Race was held at Snetterton on the 200 Circuit.
Pre-racing history
Snetterton was originally an RAF airfield, RAF Snetterton Heath, later used by the United States Army Air Force. The airfield opened in May 1943 and closed in November 1948.
Racing history
After its use as a USAF base, Snetterton was first used for motorcycle racing in 1953, organised by the Snetterton Combine, an association of clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The track was used by both Team Lotus (Formula One) and Norfolk Racing Co (Le Mans) to test their racing cars. In the 1960s and early 1970s the circuit was 2.7 miles in length. Sear corner was 80 m further from Riches corner and led onto the "Norwich Straight" clearly visible in satellite maps and currently used by a Sunday market. The straight ended in a hairpin bend leading to Home Straight which joined the existing track at the Esses but is now a main access road for the circuit. Russell bend was added in the 1960s and named after Jim Russell who ran a racing drivers school at the circuit. Initially added to improve safety by slowing vehicles as they approached the pits, Russell bend was the scene of many accidents and was later altered to its present configuration.
Lap Records
Cars
The current 300 circuit lap record was set by Felipe Nasr from Brazil driving a Carlin prepared Dallara F308-Volkswagen in the 2nd race of the 2011 British F3 meeting. The lap was 1m 39.933s at an average speed of 106.95 mph.
Prior to the introduction of the 300 circuit in 2011, the lap record stood at 56.095 (125.27 mph) set by Klaas Zwart, during a BRSCC meeting in August 2007. During qualifying he set an unofficial lap record of 54.687 (128.50 mph).
Motorcycles
The 300 official solo motorcycle lap record is currently 1:47.714, a speed of 99.22 mph (159.68 km/h), set by Shane Byrne on a PBM Ducati Panigale during a British Superbike Championship race in July, 2016, beating the previous time of 1:47.881, set by Josh Brookes during a BSB race in June, 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Circuito de Snetterton para niños
