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Rockingham Motor Speedway

• Circuit history
• Driver's View
• Circuit Information
• Accommodation
• Previous Winners

The Rockingham International Supersports layout used by the BTCC in '07 and '08.

Rockingham Motor Speedway is the UK's first purpose built motorsports venue since the Brooklands circuit was constructed in 1907. Other circuits in the UK, including the likes of Silverstone, Snetterton and Croft all evolved from old air bases whereas the likes of Brands Hatch and Donington Park were once dirt tracks which later became surfaced. Rockingham is also the UK's only all-seater motorsport stadium, with the circuit offering unrivalled views of the circuit from each of its grandstands. For these reasons it has quickly established itself as a favourite among the BTCC crowd.		Above: The wide pit lane allows the teams plenty of space to work.
Plans for Rockingham's construction originated in the early 90's and after 23 months of construction the circuit was officially opened by the Queen on May 26th 2001. The circuit is built on the location of an old steel works and became Northamptionshire's second circuit, alongside Silverstone when it opened. To date the circuit has hosted the American Champ Car World Series on tow occasions, in 2001 and 2002, with the official lap record for the "oval" circuit being a mere 24.719 seconds at over 215 mph. The BTCC record on the Supersports circuit is a more modest 1:25.173 set by Fabrizio Giovanardi in 2007.
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Aside from the Oval and International Supersports configurations, the circuit has the flexibility for many more. 14 versions of the track are avilable, providing great flexibility for championships. To date the BTCC has raced on two configurations, having ditched the slightly longer International version. The circuit boasts ample run off areas and whilst this maybe be true the track has also played host to some spectacular accidents, most notably being when the British Formula 3 Championship ran the configuration through the first chicane back in 2003. Upon hitting the kerbs at such high speeds the cars became susceptible to taking off, as Katherine Legge proved when her F3 car took the first corner chicane flat out. The car flew almost vertically through the air on its gearbox before crashing out.

Driver's View

Alan Morrison (ex-BTCC racer) - "For atmosphere, I've never raced anywhere like it. The roar and echo as the cars go along the straight is amazing. We aren't carrying enough speed into the banking for it to really be an issue, but it is still an exciting place to drive. The chicane at the end of the pit straight is basically flat but it's going to catch the attention. You are coming down off the banking there and if we reach it three-abreast it's going to be a question of who is the bravest? Rockingham's facilities are second to none."

Circuit Info

Rockingham Motor Speedway
Mitchell Road
Corby
Northamptonshire
NN17 5AF
Tel: 01536 500500
Web: www.rockingham.co.uk

BTCC Circuit Length: Approx 2.3 miles

Location: Rockingham is situated between the A1 and M1, just north of the A14. It can be reached from junctions 15 or 19 of the M1. Brown tourist signs direct motorists from the exits of major routes.