With freedom now very much on the horizon for motorsport lovers everywhere, it’s time to start filling your diary with trackday dates and motorbike meets.
To help you get off to a strong start, we’ve put together everything you need to know about where to go – and where you can get behind the wheel yourself – in our comprehensive UK Race Track Guide.
With an impressive 5.891km lap length, Silverstone race track has been the proud home of the British Grand Prix since 1987. Found in Northamptonshire, near the villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury, the famous circuit boasts 18 corners, almost all of which have their own weird and wonderful name, from Abbey to Brooklands and Hangar Straight.
With a rich historical past, the Silverstone race track came into being following its previous use as an airfield during the Second World War – its runways no longer needed by the Royal Air Force for its Wellington bomber aircraft. Nowadays, this motor racing power circuit sees drivers undertake 52 race laps over 306.332km, at a maximum speed of 329.5kph. Most recent track stats include an incredibly fast lap record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2019, as he clocked up a rip-roaring 1:27.369. Fancy trying your hand at taking his title?
If you consider yourself a motorhead, Brands Hatch needs no introduction. One of the world’s most iconic sporting venues, this historic race track still plays host to many action-fuelled championships, including the European DTM series for the world's fastest touring cars, the GT World Challenge Europe and the British Touring Car Championship.
So, where is Brands Hatch? It’s actually just a stone’s throw from London in the Kent countryside! Dating back to the days of grass track racing in 1926, countless legends have graced this iconic track on both two and four wheels, from Stirling Moss to Barry Sheene and Carl Fogarty. Brands Hatch offers two circuit layouts – the 1.928km Indy Circuit with six turns, located within a natural amphitheatre for unrivalled 360-degree views of the track and the 3.916km Grand Prix Circuit featuring nine turns, which has seen many a fearsome Formula 1 racing battle in its time.
With a unique combination of thrilling corners, hills and dips, Brands Hatch made history in 2013 when it became one of the world’s only circuits to have staged F1, Indycar and NASCAR events.
Ok, so this one’s not in the UK – but it’s worth a big mention. Revered across the world as one of the most beautiful but demanding race tracks, Nürburgring’s original circuit had two layouts – the Südschleife (the “South Loop”) and the Nordschleife (the “North Loop”) – which were opened in 1927 and designed to bring wealth into the area and improve unemployment levels. Located in Germany's Eifel mountains, the infamous Nordschleife route (a huge 22.810km length course with an unbelievable 154 corners) was used as a Formula 1 circuit for 22 seasons. Earning itself the nickname “The Green Hell” for its gruelling twists, turns and altitude changes, the original circuit was dropped by F1 in 1976 after Niki Lauda suffered a near-fatal crash in his Ferrari. Although the Nordschleife is no longer used for world competition, it is still a dream destination for car lovers and motorcyclist enthusiasts across the globe who want to try their hand at the route in non-racing vehicles.
In 1984, the much more manageable Grand Prix circuit opened and has since played host to classic wins such as Mark Webber’s maiden F1 victory in 2009 and the Alonso vs. Massa battle for honours in 2007. The modern circuit uses the start-finish stretch of the old Südschleife track, before the drivers then contend with a tight right corner at Turn 1 (Haug-Haken) and pick up the pace on a downhill plunge to the Dunlop-Kehre hairpin. Not quite the Nordschleife of before, but a thriller nonetheless! Think you can handle the heat?
Located in the Midlands, near the cities of Derby and Nottingham, Donington Park is the UK’s oldest motorsport circuit still in operation. First used in 1931, the route was closed during World War Two and used by the Ministry of Defence as an armoured vehicle depot, before being rebuilt by Tom Wheatcroft in 1971. With racing resuming from 1977, Donington quickly climbed the ranks to become one of Europe’s premier courses and was home to the MotoGP for 23 years! Whilst the circuit no longer hosts Formula One events, the 4.020km course with 12 turns has recently undergone huge investment and played host to major events such as the British Superbike Championship and the British GT.
Memorable moments at Donington include the 1993 European Grand Prix win for Ayrton Senna over Damon Hill, who progressed from fifth to first place during the opening lap. Plus, as well as being a renowned sporting venue, Donington also sees many other forms of entertainment take centre stage on its grounds, with the likes of AC/DC and Metallica having headlined rock festivals there!
Thruxton Circuit is the fastest course in the UK and one of the longest at just under 4km per lap. Like many other circuits mentioned here, Thruxton was originally an old airfield used in the Second World War, before initially opening as a racing track for bikes in 1950.
Now running 12 days of motorsport each year, Thruxton Circuit plays host to the likes of the British Superbike Championship, British Touring Car Championship and the British Formula 3. Despite being the UK’s fastest track, Thruxton’s course features 10 tricky turns, including the particularly testing Allard and Brooklands corners.
As if that wasn’t enough, more recent developments at Thruxton have included a state-of-the-art 4x4 off-roading facility that allows drivers to tackle gruelling terrains and steep inclines in a Land Rover Discovery.
Goodwood Motor Circuit officially opened its doors to the public in 1948 when amateur racer Freddie March and his wife, the 9th Duke and Duchess of Richmond, ripped around the course in a Bristol 400. This was a hugely anticipated and celebrated event as the British people had been without motorsport racing since World War Two had forced Brooklands to close in 1939.
A historic venue for both motor and motorcycle racing, the 3.809km Goodwood Circuit is located in the stunning surroundings of Chichester on the estate of Goodwood House. Having played to racing superstars such as Mike Hawthorn and Roger Penske in years gone by, in modern times, Goodwood is well-known for its glamorous events, including the annual Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed and was even used as a filming location in Downton Abbey!
Thanks to a massive redevelopment in 2011, Snetterton Circuit is one of the UK’s finest racing tracks, combining challenging corners with fast straights for both two and four-wheeled speed demons! With three circuits on offer – the 300 circuit, the 200 circuit and the 100 circuit – this race track is brilliant for spectators, amateur drivers and seasoned pro racers alike!
Designed by Jonathan Palmer, the 300 circuit hosts legs of the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship and British GT Championship, as well as lots of cool festivals and car shows. At 4.779km in length, the circuit has 12 turns, all named after racing legends, from Agostini to Murrays and Hamilton. As well as racing, Snetterton is also known as a testing track, being used as a trial ground for many new high-profile supercar models.
With stunning views aplenty, Oulton Park can be found in the rolling Cheshire countryside. Widely regarded as one of the toughest tracks in the UK, Oulton Park is just over 4.5km in length and characterised by rapidly changing gradients and several tight corners.
As well as hosting rounds of the British Superbike Championship and the British F3, the circuit's signature event is the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting, which draws crowds from all over the world to see some of the finest supercars from the past 70 years take to the track over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Put the pedal to the metal and browse all of our unforgettable track day experiences! Or, if you want to keep your high-octane options open, take a look at our full selection of adrenaline-fuelled driving experiences – it’s time to burn some rubber!
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