Best Venue In The UK

[William E]

I really dont like silverstone and cant understand why the British GP is held there evry year!!!

Brands has great overtaking and the run down paddock hill round druids is brilliant.

And what about Rockingham Motor Speedway. Great vacilities. Always a great view point at the RMS and lots of different tracks!

[bramble]

Donington is a great track with a nice atmosphere, but Rockingham has the best facilities so it gets my vote.

[Jonathan McLeod]

Oulton Park

[kevin ritson]

Brands. OK, I'm biased as it's a 20 minute journey for me but I love the layout, topography, ambience of both the Indy circuit's crowd atmosphere and GP circuit's eerie isolation and the facilities (whilst always rather good for a UK circuit) are getting better all the time. I haven't been to every circuit in the country (nor, indeed, all of the BTCC ones) so I'd be interested to hear if any others have more than one decent shop.

Would love to visit Oulton, though, just for the layout. Will try and make it this year.

[Amanda]

Rockingham gets my vote for the great facilities.

It makes a good venue for a tarmac rally too! :D

[Alan]

Got to be Rockingham overall, great facilities.

Closely followed by Oulton Park, Brands and Knockhill.

[Peter]

It depends what kind of racing I want to see.

For British Touring Cars, Knockhill tends to produce the best racing by far. However, its facilities leave a great deal to be desired - not that I have been there to see it for myself, but that is what I have often read. Thruxton and Brands are probably the next best for racing. I guess Brands is the circuit I enjoy attending the most.

Silverstone, although not ideal for Touring Cars, is one of the best for single seater racing. The British Grand Prix is always one of the most exciting of the season, so how anyone can question why Silverstone still hosts the Grand Prix is beyond me. And yes, Silverstone is a much better venue for single seaters than Brands Hatch. Anyone who saw the Champ Cars in 2003 will understand my point. It is also difficult for single seater series such as Formula Renault to overtake on the Grand Prix circuit.

As this is a Touring Car forum, I voted Brands Hatch.

[William E]

Peter

I reckon but that Rockingham wud b a much better venue for the British Grand Prix.

It is alot better than the other Roval track in the F1 calender. (USA)

When the BTCC went there in 2003 it was one of the best weekends ive seen.

[bramble]

Is there a circuit combination long enough for a GP at Rockingham? I dont think the circuit is up to the safety standards for the FIA anyway, which is a shame.

[Peter]

Peter

I reckon but that Rockingham wud b a much better venue for the British Grand Prix.

It is alot better than the other Roval track in the F1 calender. (USA)

When the BTCC went there in 2003 it was one of the best weekends ive seen.

The layout of the Indianapolis infield Grand Prix track leaves a great deal to be desired. The sole overtaking place is turn 1. This is because it is at the end of the very long pit straight. Rockingham, however, is a very different oval, unique for its short straights and the infield is fairly similar to that of Indianapolis. The only difference between a Grand Prix at Rockingham and Indianapolis would be that Rockingham doesn't have any Formula 1 overtaking places.

The Silverstone Grand Prix circuit is one of the most challenging and greatest Formula One circuits in the world. It is adored by all drivers and it is usually the best races of the season. Not only would replacing Silverstone with Rockingham be a ludicrous idea, it is never going to happen! Rockingham is only listed as grade 2 for safety - suitable for series such as Champ Cars; but it must be grade 1 to be eligible for Formula 1. In addition, none of Rockingham's infield tracks meet the minimum circuit length for Formula 1.

Silverstone is for Formula 1.
Rockingham is best suited for Champ Cars, ASCAR and Touring Cars.

[William E]

Ok peter. Thanx for the info.

What is the minimum length for and F1 track??

What is wrong with the Rockingham safety??

[bramble]

I think the issue with Rockingham is to do with the run off areas isnt it? i.e. they arent big enough.

[tumbleweed]

i love brands hatch also with it being only 40mins or so away what a first couple of corners it has, i cant comment on rockingham as i've never been there yet :( i also like donnington

i would also like to see castle coombe used alot more although the pit area is'nt ideal its a good circuit

[Croft fan]

Ive only been to a few of the tracks, but Donington has to be one of my favorites, standing at the Old Hairpin watching a whole field of cars coming at you down the crainers is sometimge else.

Croft is well up there for me as its local, but also for speatators the first few corners have excelent viewing with pleanty of action, who can rememebr Paul O'Neil hitting the chicanne and his oil fire?, and the pits arent to bad either.

[ianc]

Is a tough call...

Donnington is great down at the old hairpin or craner curves, Silverstone is fantastic around Brooklands, and Oulton is great towards island hairpin......

I think Donnington just pips it for me, as they fly through starkey's with a fair old pace, usually tapping as they go :D

Ian

[SBF]

Short track, not the fastest but always full of action

Best part - only 30 minutes drive away

[tttlitterick]

Why isnt castle combe on the list it has the best atmosphere of any track its beautiful and produces great racing it just doesnt get enough recognition!

[LEE.TCC]

i love brands and its only a 20 min drive and the view is excelent,but i enjoy donington more,the atmosphear is great and the access to the pits is a bonus.plus its a great track :D

[Super-Cupra]

BRANDS... it has a great atmosphere and some amazing racing takes place there, you are always guaranteed great race starts from the moment the cars look to paddock to the point where the head down from druids, and more often than not the race just gets better from there (didnt wanna put in the fact its also walkin distance from me which means enjoyin a few drinks is not an issue)

[Clio Man]

Brands for me only just moved, but previously only 5 mins away, now in Hants but still go back regularly when possible.

[Marvin]

Why isnt castle combe on the list it has the best atmosphere of any track its beautiful and produces great racing it just doesnt get enough recognition!
I think it's because only circuits which host, or are capable of hosting, major national events are listed.

F1 cars have been to Rockingham for the Minardi festival a few years ago, didn't they have a two-seater race there? I know it's not proper racing, but it might give an idea of where they could get close.

[Claw]

Out of those 4 in the poll - Brands. Even thought i've never been there, it's a great place for a race.....and the GP track is even better!

But overall, Thruxton is my fav. It brings back some good memories of 2002, which was a very enjoyable, lazy day on the grass bank.

[McKay]

I reckon but that Rockingham wud b a much better venue for the British Grand Prix.

Are you being serious :confused: Rockinham is a dead scene - Silverstone may not have the views but it has the character. It was fantastic when i went there for the BTCC last year.

[JLD]

For facilities there is nothing to touch Rockingham. For spectating, well Rockingham again and for 'on-track' action.............Rockingham (although Brands is very close).

Can't wait for the BTCC to return to Rockingham, a much better circuit than some others that are being used (IMHO of course ).

[McKay]

Rockingham really isn't as great as everyone makes out. Sure it has some great views, but there isn't much to look at. It's not like Brands and Oulton and Knockhill where there are fantastic corners on hills with trees hanging over the track making them so picturesque. Rockingham is a soulless place with no atmosphere or "feeling" about it.

[bramble]

It's not like Brands and Oulton and Knockhill where there are fantastic corners on hills with trees hanging over the track making them so picturesque. Rockingham is a soulless place with no atmosphere or "feeling" about it.

I tend to go to a track to watch the racing not the scenery! ;) Ok there isnt much in the circuit itself, but a quick look further away over the fence and there is some cracking countryside.

[NoahsGirl]

I'm biased - for BTCC it has to be Knockhill. Yes the facilities are a little 3rd World, but I think that adds to the charm, especially when you bump into drivers ducking in and out of the toilets! A large majority of people I speak to in various forums rated Knockhill as being the best race weekend (allowing for the last race of last season and the Masters)

For F1, I've been to Silverstone and Hockenheim (before they ruined it) and I would have to go with Silvertsone - at least there is room to move outside, I would hate to have been clausterphobic at the crush after quali at Hockenheim!

[BTCC2]

It has to be Croft

[Supertourer]

Voted for Brands Hatch. I live in Kent, so it's my local track. It has great facilities, a natural ampitheatre so wherever you choose to sit or stand, you can see most of the (Indy) circuit, and there's always a great atmosphere.

[Reidy_fan]

I'm biased - for BTCC it has to be Knockhill. Yes the facilities are a little 3rd World,

Not compared to Donington they are not, in fact i would probably say Knockhill is on a par. Then again Donington needs money spent on it, get Starkeys Bridge safe and useable again, build a bit of covered terracing at the old hairpin for when it rains, better toilet facilities and a bit more signposting to the paddock tunnell wouldnt go amiss

[NoahsGirl]

I can't comment on Donington as I have never been there, but to hear it's on a par with KH for facilties surprises me!

[BTCC2]

Has to be Croft

[JSM]

Donington because it has quite good facilities but not the best, but what swings it for me is when they come speeding down the craner curves and the back straight

Donington's facilities suck! Sorry, but they do Laguna Sport, they're stuck in the 70's and are typical of what is very wrong with British motorpsort.

However, I do agree that the one redeeming feature Donington has is one of the best road course circuits in the country! Now put Rockingham's facilities and DP's track together and you have a winning combination.

[Les]

as a fan most circuits are 3rd grade - just some worse than others. What is annoying (to me anyway) is where the teams get pretty good facilities and the fans don't. ;)
Bit like Mondello - lovely paddock, garages, hospitality - outside the paddock there are portaloos (few and far between), dirt, mud and steep banks but it does get a bit better every year.

[Laguna Sport]

Donington is the best because it has a great atmosphere and you can see half of the track viewing from the Craner Curves

[Grim]

rockingham definately has the best facilities and the best view - it's the only track i know of where you can see all of the race from one spot.
just not sure if the racing is as good as other venues

silverstone i think, suffers becuase of F1 run offs, F1 fencing etc. you seem a long way from the track. but it makes for a good gp, on TV

brands indy circuit is my favorite, because they come round so quickly :D
bottom of padock hill or heading up towards the hair pin.

donny comes a close second

[maximus]

I love Donington and always will, so it just edges me for my favorite venue.

I love Silverstone as a track and how anyone thinks that Rockingham can even come close to its challenge and layout is a mystery to me.

I also like Cadwell as its such a pretty place and some corners (The Mountain) are jaw dropping to watch a car race on. Oulton park is also a cracking circuit (why isn't it on there?)

As for Rockingham it may have good facilities, but I don't like the place at all. It seemed a bit soul-less to me and lacked the atmosphere that other tracks I have visited have. (Sorry Rockingham fans!)

[JSM]

As for Rockingham it may have good facilities, but I don't like the place at all. It seemed a bit soul-less to me and lacked the atmosphere that other tracks I have visited have. (Sorry Rockingham fans!)

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion maximus :D I just happen to disagree with you.

But no problem, at least we agree that Donington is a great track!

John

[carnumber19]

from a viewers point of view definitely Brands, from a drivers point of view donnington just pips Brands, from a watch the big screen and testing point of view Silverstone (nice smooth track and lots of quick corners and straights to really push the revs to the limit, Rockingham i have been to but not raced at. Most of those who i know who have raced there said it felt empty and characterless, so the championship hasnt been back since.

verdict from a drivers eye Donnington
verdict from a spectators eye Brands
verdict from a race engineers eye Silverstone

;)

[chilton01]

I dont think any of them, i LOVE Snetterton, its got a mixture of fast and slow parts, i've been round there 3 times on the charity days, it was super! The track is just brilliant. Especilly when your on it.

Me and my brother were lucky enough to get driven round Donington Park by Phil Bennet in a Lotus Elise, don't get me wrong it was one of the best days of my life, but i think Snetterton was so much better.