Cadwell Park
Cadwell Park is a motor racing circuit in Lincolnshire, England, 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Louth, owned and operated by MotorSport Vision, a business associated with former racing driver Jonathan Palmer.[1] Sited on former parkland across a steep-sided valley with dips and crests, the circuit features sharp changes in gradient, including one section called The Mountain where bikes can become airborne by up to several feet. Its mix of challenging corners has led to its nickname as the Mini-Nürburgring.[2][3]
 | |
| Location | Lincolnshire, England |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) BST (April–October, UTC+1) |
| Coordinates | 53°18′32″N 0°3′47″W |
| Owner | MotorSport Vision (January 2004–present) |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Major events | Current: BSB (1995–2019, 2021–present) Former: British F3 (1954–1955, 1962, 1965, 1970–1972, 1974–1975, 1977–1983) |
| Full Circuit (1961–present) | |
| Length | 3.502 km (2.175 miles) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:21.036 (Sam Moss, Anderson CSK, 2021, Superkart) |
| Motorcycle Full Circuit (2004–present) | |
| Length | 3.508 km (2.180 miles) |
| Turns | 19 |
| Race lap record | 1:25.858 (Bradley Ray, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2022, BSB) |
| Club Circuit (1961–present) | |
| Length | 2.375 km (1.476 miles) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 0:55.400 (Tony Lanfranchi, Elva Mk VII, 1963, Sports car) |
| Woodlands Circuit (1961–present) | |
| Length | 1.365 km (0.848 miles) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Full Circuit (1952–1960) | |
| Length | 2.012 km (1.250 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Original Circuit (1938–1950) | |
| Length | 1.207 km (0.750 miles) |
| Turns | 7 |
History
Located in the Lincolnshire Wolds, Cadwell Park was established in 1934 by Mr Mansfield Wilkinson of Louth. His sons originally used the land for racing their own motorbikes against each other.
Originally the gravel-drives of the country estate measured 0.75 mi (1.21 km), with tarmac and concrete being added in 1938, with widening and lengthening in 1953, and lengthened again in 1961 with the addition of the Donington Curve.[4]
In 1953 the track was lengthened to 1.250 mi (2.012 km), upon the invitation of the 500 cc motorcycle-engined Formula 3 to race in a traditional bike meeting. Around 30,000 spectators attended that particular race.
The track grew to the current 2.175 mi (3.500 km) layout in 1962 and hosted the British F3 series the next May. Some of the bends are named after family members e.g. Mansfield, Charlie and Chris.
One of the biggest developments in the circuit's history occurred in January 2004, when Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision company completed the purchase of Cadwell Park and the other Octagon venues (Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, and Snetterton).[5] Palmer immediately implemented a programme of improvements to the venue, designed to heighten customer experiences both for spectators and competitors.
Racing usage
Competitively, Cadwell Park is primarily used for motorcycle racing, with the British Superbike Championship round being the biggest event on the circuit's calendar, held during an August weekend each year.[6][7] In 2010, it hosted an additional BSB meeting on the weekend of 22/23 May.
Cadwell Park occasionally features in the British Superkart Championship calendar, having last done so in 2021. A new circuit lap record for any vehicle was set by driver Sam Moss in that year.
The circuit's track width is now generally considered too narrow for high level car races, although Club motorsport associations such as the BARC, HSCC and 750MC still hold meetings.
Current events
In addition to the August round of the British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park also hosts two major historic events with the Vintage Sports Car Club's annual festival and the Wolds Trophy covering the post-war period.
The Vintage Motorcycle Club is a regular visitor, with the popular Modified Live car show event also on the calendar. The Cadwell Park season typically ends with stage rallying and fireworks.
During the week the circuit offers general test days and track days for cars and motorcycles, and can also be hired out for private use.
Other usage
Several tests and feature clips for the motoring program Fifth Gear have been filmed here. They frequently feature racing driver Tiff Needell.
In April 2009, musician and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason flew into the circuit by helicopter to drive his £1.5 million Ferrari 512.[8]
In June 2015 the circuit was used as part of the course for pedal-cycling's British National Time Trial Championships.[9]
Some racing scenes for the 2013 film Rush were filmed at Cadwell Park.[10]
Top Gear used the circuit for a feature, aired in 2020, featuring former Formula One driver Damon Hill pitted against the regular Top Gear presenters, testing a Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari.[11]
Stock Car racing
During the 1960s and 1970s, BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars attracted big crowds to Cadwell. The gradient changes added excitement to the racing, as stock car drivers were accustomed to racing on flat 400-yard (370 m) oval tracks of shale or tarmac; and likewise their cars' suspensions and gearing were set up for short flat ovals.
View from Hall Bends, looking towards Coppice
Chris Curve
Hall Bends
Race lap records
As of August 2022, the fastest official race lap records at Cadwell Park are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit: 3.502 km (1961–present) | ||||
| Superkart | 1:21.036[12] | Sam Moss | Anderson CSK | 2021 Cadwell Park British Superkart round |
| Formula Three | 1:23.490[13] | Enrique Mansilla | Ralt RT3 | 1982 Cadwell Park British F3 round |
| Sports prototype | 1:39.000[14] | Tony Dean | Ferrari Dino 206 S | 1968 Cadwell Park Special GT 2.0 round |
| Formula Libre | 1:44.000[15] | Brian Hart | Lotus 22 | 1962 Cadwell Park Formula Libre race |
| Motorcycle Full Circuit: 3.508 km (2004–present) | ||||
| BSB | 1:25.858[16] | Bradley Ray | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 2022 Cadwell Park BSB round |
| Club Circuit: 2.375 km (1961–present) | ||||
| Sports car racing | 0:55.400[17] | Tony Lanfranchi | Elva Mk VII | 1963 Cadwell Park sports car race |
Track records
| Lap Records | ||
| Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Moss | Division One Superkart | 1:21.036[12] |
| Richard Mitcham | Jedi MK6 | 1:21.138 |
| Jeremy Timms | Dallara F301-Suzuki (Monoposto Mono1400) | 1:21.979[18] |
| Shaun Balfe | Radical SR8 | 1:22.50 |
| Tim Gray | Spire GT3 (750MC Bikesports) | 1:22.82 |
| Jimmy Broadbent | Praga R1 | 1.23.562[19] |
| Enrique Mansilla | Monoposto F3 | 1:23.572[20] |
| Robin Liddell | Radical Prosport | 1:25.49 |
| Bruce Winfield | Mitsubishi Evo IX(MG AUTO MOTORSPORT) | 1:25.636[21] |
| Lee Atkins | Radical SR4 | 1:29.04 |
| Russ Stephens | Radical Clubsport | 1:29.36 |
References
- Contact Us, Cadwell Park at MotorSport Vision Limited Retrieved 11 August 2015
- Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire Archived 3 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine - NG Road Racing
- Cadwell Park - British Superbikes official website Archived 23 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Britain's Top Circuits, race circuit guide, 1966 hard copy (free supplement with Motor Cycle), Accessed 2 May 2015
- "Palmer buys four British tracks". bbc.co.uk.
- "Rea is sixth on Cadwell Park grid". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 27 August 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- "Rea claims win at Cadwell Park". BBC. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- Pink Floyd's Nick Mason at Cadwell Park on Wednesday - Louth Leader
- Allen, Eddie (25 June 2015). "Dowsett, Simmonds and Davies take British time trial titles". British Cycling. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- "Rush scenes filmed at Cadwell Park - Louth Leader". www.louthleader.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017.
- Cadwell Park’s ‘Top Gear’ episode airs this weekend Louth Leader, 19 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021
- "2021 Motorsport UK British Superkart Championship Race 10 - Classification" (PDF). 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- "1982 Cadwell Park British F3". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- "Cadwell Park [Special GT2.0] 1968". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- "BRSCC Cadwell park [Formula Libre] 1962". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- "2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship - Round 7 Race 2 - Classification" (PDF). 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- "Cadwell Park 1963". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- "Monoposto Racing Club - Moto Mono 1400".
- "Engine Fires, High Speed Spins And Brake Failures...Time Attack At Cadwell Was Insane!!!".
- Monoposto Racing Club - Mono F3/
- "Cadwell Park Round2 Fastest Times Pro Classes – Time Attack® – It's not racing… It's Time Attack!!".
External links
