Rockingham Motor Speedway

Last updated

Rockingham Motor Speedway [1]
Rockingham Motor Speedway.svg
The "oval" speedway (2001–2018)
Rockingham Motor Speedway - Road course.svg
International Super Sports Car Circuit (2001–2018)
Location Rockingham, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
BST (April–October, UTC+1)
Coordinates 52°30′54″N0°39′27″W / 52.51500°N 0.65750°W / 52.51500; -0.65750
Broke ground1999
Opened15 January 2001;23 years ago (2001-01-15)
Closed24 November 2018;5 years ago (2018-11-24)
Major eventsFormer:
CART
Rockingham 500 (2001–2002)
BTCC (2003, 2007–2018)
British GT (2001–2003, 2006–2018)
BRDC British F3 (2015–2018)
British F3 (2002–2003, 2007–2014)
BSB (2001–2003)
ASCAR (2001–2008)
EuroBOSS (2001)
Oval Circuit (2001–2018) [2]
Length1.479 miles (2.380 km)
Turns4
Banking3.5 – 7.9º
Race lap record0:25.217 (211.144 mph (339.803 km/h)) ( Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Vasser, Lola B02/00, 2002, CART)
International Super Sports Car Long Circuit (2001–2018) [3]
Surface Tarmac
Length2.050 miles (3.299 km)
Turns13
Banking7.0º (turn 1)
Race lap record1:18.627 ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Harvey, Dallara F312, 2012, F3)
International Super Sports Car Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length1.940 miles (3.122 km)
Turns12
Race lap record1:12.620 ( Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Asmer, Dallara F307, 2007, F3)
International Long Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length2.560 miles (4.120 km)
Turns16
Race lap record1:32.880 ( Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Worswick, Jordan 194, 2001, F1)
International Short Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length2.436 miles (3.920 km)
Turns14
Race lap record1:29.183 ( Flag of Brazil.svg Nelson Piquet Jr., Dallara F303, 2002, F3)
Superbike Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length1.740 miles (2.800 km)
Turns13
Race lap record1:09.893 ( Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2003, BSB)
National Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length1.700 miles (2.736 km)
Turns9
Lake Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length0.670 miles (1.078 km)
Turns5
Handling Circuit (2001–2018)
Surface Tarmac
Length0.970 miles (1.561 km)
Turns4

Rockingham Motor Speedway is a former racing motorsport venue in Rockingham, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom, near the town of Corby. It hosted professional and club races, as well as testing, track days, driver training, exhibitions and conferences. It claimed to be Europe's fastest racing circuit, [4] and was the first banked oval constructed in Britain since the closure of Brooklands in 1939. [5]

Contents

The venue entered administration in 2017 and hosted its final motor race in November 2018. [6] In 2021, the facility was purchased by Constellation Automotive for £80million. [7]

History

Construction of Rockingham started late in 1999, with the opening meeting planned for May 2001. [8]

Rockingham Motor Speedway was constructed on a British Steel works brown field site as a banked oval with the intention of bringing the American oval racing across the Atlantic for the first time. The opportunity was taken to use the infield for further circuits. [9] [8]

After almost ten years of planning and 23 months of construction work, Rockingham opened for business on Monday 15 January 2001. It was formally opened by the Queen on 26 May 2001. [9]

After the sale of the venue, Rockingham held a "super send-off" to mark its final day as a racing circuit on 24 November 2018. [6] The circuit was sold to Rockingham Automotive Limited, who used the facility for vehicle storage and logistics. [10] In mid-2021, Constellation Automotive who own brands such as Cinch, and We Buy Any Car purchased the site. [11]

Since then, Constellation Automotive's online car sales brand, Cinch, has used the circuit to film YouTube content, [12] including car reviews and lap time challenges, titled on its channel as 'Fast Laps'. Cinch Motoring Editor, Sam Sheehan, has driven cars ranging from the Hyundai i20N hot hatch to a road-legal track car produced by Spartan Motor Company.

Sheehan used the Spartan to set an overall lap record for Rockingham's National Circuit on 26 May 2023, beating the previous fastest time of 1:14.20, set by a Palmer Jaguar JP1 prototype, by five-hundredths of a second. [13]

The circuit

Aerial of Rockingham Motor Speedway Rockingham Motor Speedway aerial.jpg
Aerial of Rockingham Motor Speedway

Rockingham had 13 configurations of track, which could be used for anything from touring cars to motorcycles to rally cars. The circuit was overlooked by the 6280 seat Rockingham Building, a steel-framed, glass-fronted grandstand building containing suites, offices, bars and kitchens, and by four grandstands. Together, the building and grandstands offered a total seating capacity of 52,000. The inner pit and paddock complex was accessed from the Rockingham Building via two pedestrian tunnels and there was a further spectator viewing area on top of the pit garages. [1]

The oval circuit

The 1.479 mi (2.380 km) American-style banked oval circuit was 60 ft (18.3 m) wide and had a maximum bank angle of seven degrees and comprised four very distinct corners. Rockingham's oval was unique in the UK and one of only two speedways in Europe (the other being Lausitzring). The oval circuit could also be converted to a road course layout for events by positioning temporary chicanes and curves both on the main area and apron of the circuit.

In early September 2001, the Champ cars came to Germany and England for the first time, to contest oval racing at the German 500 (kilometer, not miles) and the Rockingham 500, rounds of the 2001 CART season (Championship Auto Racing Teams) FedEx Championship Series. After the 11 September terrorist attacks and subsequent closing of airspaces, but with most equipment and personnel already being in continental Europe, the first ever German 500 was held under difficult circumstances. Unreliable weather and a bad crash of Alex Zanardi did not help, either.

The British round at the weekend of Sep 20–22 was in jeopardy, too. However, the logistics were worked out, with many of the teams stripping off their sponsors' logos ("livery") as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks. The race distance was also shortened to 300 km. Victory was snatched on the exit of Turn Four of the last lap by Gil de Ferran driving the Marlboro Team Penske Honda–powered Reynard 01I at a race average speed of 153.41 mph (246.89 km/h) from Kenny Bräck at the wheel of the Team Rahal Lola-Ford Cosworth B1/00, and the Newman-Haas Racing Lola-Toyota B1/00 driven by Cristiano da Matta. The fastest lap, and therefore outright lap record, was set by Patrick Carpentier in 25.551secs (210.59 mph (338.91 km/h)) in the Player's Forsythe Racing Reynard-Cosworth. Carpentier became for first Canadian to ever hold the outright lap record at an English circuit. [8]

The US-based series returned in September 2002. This was the last time Champ Cars raced at this facility. The race ran over the full distance of 500 km, Scotland's Dario Franchitti took the chequered flag in his Team KOOL Green Lola-Honda, beating Cristiano da Matta by just 0.986 of a second . [14]

The International Super Sportscar Circuit (ISSC)

The ISSC was 1.940 mi (3.122 km) long and between 36 and 60 ft (11 and 18.3 m) wide, with a maximum bank angle of seven degrees at turn one. Rockingham's International Super Sportscar Circuit was used by the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, as well as for most other car race events. The circuit combined long straights, sweeping high-speed bends (including the infamous Turn 1 and Gracelands) with a lower speed, highly technical infield layout. Average lap speeds around the circuit ranged from 1m 24s in the BTCC to 1m 12s in British F3.

Wet handling facility

The site had a wet handling area with a kick plate which was used to simulate a variety of driving conditions including ice, rain and slippery wet leaves. These different road conditions were simulated at much slower speeds than in normal driving and in a fully controlled environment. The area was designed to give drivers a greater understanding of the latest ABS, traction control and crash mitigating technologies, and the way that they affect vehicle control.

Layout configurations

Lap records

Rockingham is Europe's fastest banked oval racing circuit, with the unofficial lap record for the 1.479 mi (2.380 km) oval set at 24.719 seconds by Tony Kanaan in his Lola B01/00 Champ Car on 22 September 2001 – an average speed of 215.397 mph (346.648 km/h). Rockingham was the first purpose-built banked oval in the UK since Brooklands in 1907. It has an all-seating capacity of 52,000 and has both an oval and a racing circuit. [9] The fastest official race lap records at Rockingham Motor Speedway are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Oval: 2.380 km (2001–2018)
Champ Car 0:25.217 [9] [15] Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Vasser Lola B02/00 2002 Sure for Men Rockingham 500
Stock car racing 0:34.475 [16] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2003 6th Rockingham ASCAR round
Pickup truck racing 0:40.391 [17] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Smith PickupSport Pickup 2.0 16v 2009 Rockingham Pickup Truck Racing round
International Super Sports Car Circuit: 3.122 km (2001–2018)
Formula Three 1:12.620 [18] [19] Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Asmer Dallara F307 2007 Rockingham British F3 round
GT3 1:17.769 [20] Flag of Denmark.svg Marco Sorensen Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 2018 Rockingham British GT round
Formula 4 1:18.898 [21] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris Mygale M14-F4 2015 Rockingham MSA Formula round
Formula BMW 1:20.978 [22] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Henry Surtees Mygale FB02 2007 Rockingham Formula BMW UK round
Formula Ford 1:21.633 [23] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Callum MacLeod Mygale SJ07 2007 Rockingham British Formula Ford round
GT2 1:22.872 [24] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Luke Hines Panoz Esperante GTLM 2006 Rockingham British GT round
NGTC 1:23.193 [25] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic Type R (FK2) 2015 Rockingham BTCC round
GT4 1:23.642 [20] Flag of Denmark.svg Patrik Matthiesen Ginetta G55 GT4 2018 Rockingham British GT round
Super 2000 1:24.588 [26] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jason Plato Chevrolet Cruze 2011 Rockingham BTCC round
BTC Touring 1:24.698 [27] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Onslow-Cole BTC-T Vauxhall Vectra 2008 Rockingham BTCC round
SEAT León Supercopa 1:48.334 [28] Flag of Ireland.svg Gavin Smith SEAT León Cupra R 2003 Rockingham SEAT Cupra Championship round
International Super Sports Car Long Circuit: 3.299 km (2001–2018)
Formula Three 1:18.627 [29] [30] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Harvey Dallara F312 2012 Rockingham British F3 round
LMP675 1:23.803 [31] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Millard Rapier SR2 2013 Rockingham Britcar Endurance GT round
GT3 1:25.145 [32] [33] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Keen Porsche 911 (997) GT3-R 2012 Rockingham British GT round
GT4 1:31.164 [32] [34] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Philip Glew Lotus Evora GT4 2012 Rockingham British GT round
International Short Road Course: 3.920 km (2001–2018)
Formula Three 1:29.183 [35] Flag of Brazil.svg Nelson Piquet Jr. Dallara F303 2003 Rockingham British F3 round
GT1 1:37.918 [36] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Blower Ultima GTR 2003 Rockingham British GT round
Formula BMW 1:38.790 [37] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matthew Howson Mygale FB02 2005 Rockingham Formula BMW UK round
Formula Ford 1:39.217 [38] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Gaymor Van Diemen RF03 2003 Rockingham British Formula Ford round
BTC Touring 1:43.592 [39] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Morrison BTC-T Honda Civic Type-R 2003 Rockingham BTCC round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:44.345 [36] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Patrick Pearce Porsche 911 (996) GT3 Cup 2003 Rockingham British GT round
International Long Road Course: 4.120 km (2001–2018)
Formula One 1:32.880 [40] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Worswick Jordan 194 2001 Rockingham EuroBOSS round
Formula Three 1:33.817 [41] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robbie Kerr Dallara F302 2002 Rockingham British F3 round
GT1 (GTS) 1:41.536 [42] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian McKellar Saleen S7-R 2002 Rockingham British GT round
GT2 1:43.211 [42] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Sugden Porsche 911 (996) GT3-R 2002 Rockingham British GT round
Superbike Course: 2.800 km (2001–2018)
BSB 1:09.893 [43] Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama Suzuki GSX-R1000 2003 Rockingham BSB round

Major racing results

CART Championship

Gil de Ferran on his way to victory in the 2001 Rockingham 500 Gil De Ferran Penske 2001.jpg
Gil de Ferran on his way to victory in the 2001 Rockingham 500
YearRaceDriverConstructor
2001 Rockingham 500 + Flag of Brazil.svg Gil de Ferran Reynard 01I
2002 Sure For Men Rockingham 500 Flag of Scotland.svg Dario Franchitti Lola B02/00

+ Race shortened due to lack of practice. [14] [44]

British Formula Three season

YearRaceDriverCar
2002 Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 17 Flag of Japan.svg Shinya Hosokawa Dallara-Mugen-Honda F302
Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 18 Flag of England.svg Robbie Kerr Dallara-Mugen-Honda F302
2003 Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 15 Flag of Brazil.svg Nelson Piquet Jr. Dallara-Mugen-Honda F303
Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 16 Flag of England.svg Jamie Green Dallara-Mugen-Honda F303
2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 Championship, Rd 21 Flag of Estonia.svg Marko Asmer Dallara-Mercedes F307
Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 Championship, Rd 22 Flag of Germany.svg Maro Engel Dallara-Mugen-Honda F307
2008 British F3 Championship, Rd 7 Flag of Finland.svg Atte Mustonen Dallara-Mercedes F308
British F3 Championship, Rd 8 Flag of Sweden.svg Sebastian Hohenthal Dallara-Mercedes F308
2009 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 5 Flag of England.svg Nick Tandy Mygale-Mercedes M-08 F3
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 6 Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson Dallara-Mercedes F309
2010 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 13 Flag of France.svg Jean-Éric Vergne Dallara-Volkswagen F310
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 14 Flag of England.svg Daniel McKenzie Dallara-Mercedes F310
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 15 Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Nasr Dallara-Volkswagen F308
2011 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 22 Flag of Brazil.svg Pietro Fantin Dallara-Volkswagen F308
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Scott Pye Dallara-Mercedes F308
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 24 Flag of Denmark.svg Kevin Magnussen Dallara-Volkswagen F308
2012 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 9 Flag of Malaysia.svg Jazeman Jaafar Dallara-Volkswagen F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 10 Flag of England.svg Harry Tincknell Dallara-Volkswagen F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 11 Flag of England.svg Jack Harvey Dallara-Volkswagen F312
2014 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 1 Race 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam MacLeod Dallara-Mercedes F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 1 Race 2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam MacLeod Dallara-Mercedes F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 1 Race 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Rao Dallara-Mercedes F312
2016 BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thomas Randle Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ricky Collard Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
2017 BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Enaam Ahmed Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.5 Flag of the United States.svg Cameron Das Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Hingeley Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016

British Touring Car Championship

YearRaceDriverCar
2003 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 9 Flag of England.svg Matt Neal Honda Civic Type-R
Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 10 Flag of France.svg Yvan Muller Vauxhall Astra Coupé
2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 4 Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 5 Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 6 Flag of England.svg Jason Plato SEAT León
2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 4 Flag of Scotland.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 5 Flag of England.svg Mat Jackson BMW 320si
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 6 Flag of England.svg Matt Neal Vauxhall Vectra
2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 25 Flag of England.svg Stephen Jelley BMW 320si
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 26 Flag of England.svg Jason Plato Chevrolet Lacetti
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 27 Flag of England.svg Stephen Jelley BMW 320si
2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 4 Flag of England.svg Matt Neal Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 5 Flag of England.svg Jason Plato Chevrolet Cruze
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 6 Flag of England.svg Matt Neal Honda Civic
2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Flag of England.svg Jason Plato Chevrolet Cruze LT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Flag of Scotland.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of England.svg James Nash Vauxhall Vectra
2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Flag of England.svg Jason Plato MG6 GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Flag of Scotland.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of Scotland.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Flag of England.svg Andrew Jordan Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Flag of England.svg Rob Austin Audi A4
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of England.svg Andrew Jordan Honda Civic
2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Ulster Banner.svg Colin Turkington BMW 125i M Sport
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Ulster Banner.svg Colin Turkington BMW 125i M Sport
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of England.svg Rob Austin Audi A4
2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Flag of England.svg Mat Jackson Ford Focus ST
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Flag of Scotland.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic Type R
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of England.svg Jason Plato Volkswagen CC
2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Flag of Scotland.svg Gordon Shedden Honda Civic Type R
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Flag of England.svg Sam Tordoff BMW 125i M Sport
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of Ireland.svg Árón Smith Volkswagen CC
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Flag of England.svg James Cole Subaru Levorg GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Flag of England.svg Ashley Sutton Subaru Levorg GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Flag of England.svg Andrew Jordan BMW 125i M Sport
2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 19 Flag of England.svg Adam Morgan Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 20 Flag of England.svg Ashley Sutton Subaru Levorg GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 21 Ulster Banner.svg Chris Smiley Honda Civic Type R

[45] [46]

British Superbike Championship

YearRaceRiderManufacturer
2001 2001 British Superbike Championship Rd.23 Flag of England.svg Sean Emmett 996cc Ducati 996
2001 British Superbike Championship Rd.24 Flag of England.svg Michael Rutter 750cc Kawasaki ZX-7RR
20022002 British Superbike Championship Rd.13 Flag of England.svg Michael Rutter 996cc Ducati 996 RS
2002 British Superbike Championship Rd.14 Flag of England.svg Michael Rutter 996cc Ducati 996 RS
20032003 British Superbike Championship Rd.13 + Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama 999cc Suzuki GSX-R1000
2003 British Superbike Championship Rd.14 Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama 999cc Suzuki GSX-R1000

+ Qualification cancelled due to dangerous track conditions, grid decided by championship positions.

[47] [48] [49]

Other events

The Rockingham Stages

On 12 December 2004, the first Stage Rally, the Rockingham Stages, was held at the venue. This was jointly promoted by Middlesex County Automobile Club and Thame Motorsport Club. The two day event rapidly grew to be one of the favourite events on the British stage rally calendar. For several years it was a round of the MSN (Motor Sports News) Circuit Rally Championship. The 2018 Rockingham Stages was the last competitive motorsport event to be held at the Speedway.

YearOverall Winnerco-driverCar
2004John StoneLee Carter MG Metro 6R4
2004John StoneLee Carter MG Metro 6R4
2005Steve SimpsonMark Booth Hyundai Accent WRC
2006Steve SimpsonSimon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2007Steve SimpsonSimon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2008Steve SimpsonSimon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2009Steve SimpsonSimon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2010Tony RaceyPaul Heath Subaru Impreza
2011Pete RaynerAron Rayner Ford Escort Mk.II
2012Paul KingAlicia Miles Ford Escort RS
2013Paul KingFiona Scarrett Ford Escort RS
2014David TinnMarc Fowler Proton Satria Neo Millington
2015David TinnGiles Dykes Proton Satria Neo Millington
2016Rhys YatesTom Woodburn Ford Fiesta R5
2017William HillRichard Crozier Ford Fiesta R5
2018Paul KingAlicia Miles Ford Escort RS

[50]

Oval racing

From 2001 to the end of 2007, Rockingham organised and funded American-style Stockcar racing on the oval. Originally known as ASCAR, the series changed name to "Days of Thunder", and then to SCSA (Stock Car Speed Association), before re-branding to the MAC Tools V8 Trophy for its final season in 2007. All cars were UK variants of the American "ASA National-Tour" Howe Racing chassis, running with either Ford, Chevrolet or Pontiac bodies. A change of circuit ownership for 2006 saw the end of promotion and funding for the series, and low grids in 2007 led the organising club (BRSCC) to amalgamate it with a road course series, and eventually to the demise of both championships before the end of 2008.

Other activities

The circuit was operational 357 days a year and the majority of events that took place at the venue were not motorsport competitions. Events ranged from manufacturer product launches to dealer training, track days and testing, and corporate and experience days.

The City Auction Group holds an auction weekly at the circuit.

The Learning Grid Rockingham Festival in the first week of July promotes science and engineering to school pupils.

The venue had a sizeable showground area which has hosted the following shows:

Media appearances

Television

Magazines and newspapers

The Telegraph and Fiat held a track day at Rockingham in 2012 and published a number of articles featuring the circuit.[ citation needed ]Autosport's Caterham SP300R video review was made on the ISSC [ citation needed ], and Car Magazine did a track test on the Nissan GT-R vs Porsche 911 Turbo in 2012 and a McLaren supercar group test in 2010 [ citation needed ]. Car Dealer magazine reviewed the BMW M5 at Rockingham and compared it with a Mercedes E63 AMG, a Lexus ISF, a Porsche Panamera and an Infiniti M35h [ citation needed ]. The circuit also features on the Pistonheads website with videos showing the Caterham SP300 R and the new Astra VXR. Chris Harris on Cars showcased the BAC Mono [ citation needed ].

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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-mile (19 km) north-east of the town of Thetford and 19-mile (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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knockhill</span> Race track in Fife, Scotland

Knockhill Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Fife, Scotland. It opened in September 1974 and is Scotland's national motorsport centre. The circuit is located in the countryside about 6-mile (9.7 km) north of Dunfermline. It is the only FIA approved circuit in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Allison</span> British racing driver (born 1983)

Matt Allison is a British racing driver. He is most well known for winning the 2006 British GT Championship and for racing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). He progressed through the ranks of British Karting, winning two championships and two runner-up trophies before moving to Formula Ford in the 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Jelley</span> British racing driver (born 1982)

Stephen David Jelley is a British racing driver currently competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB with Team Parker Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MotorSport Vision</span> Motorsport organisations

MotorSport Vision (MSV) is a motorsport organisation and an operator of six UK venues. MSV has a portfolio ranging from major two and four-wheel championships to organising the PalmerSport corporate driving event.

Hunter Abbott is a British racing driver and businessman. He has raced sportscars, GT cars and Touring Cars. He was 2017 Blancpain GT Series Asia Champion and won the RAC Trophy after victory in the 2021 Silverstone 500 race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Collard</span> British racing driver (born 1996)

Ricky Collard is a British racing driver currently competing in the British GT Championship. He is the son of former BTCC driver Rob Collard and the grandson of Hot Rod racer Mick Collard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockingham 500</span> Motor race held in Corby, England

The Rockingham 500 was an annual Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) motor race held in 2001 and 2002 at the Rockingham Motor Speedway oval track in Corby, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom. The race was the first major motor race in the United Kingdom to be held on an oval track with Champ cars. It was created in the hope of competing with the Formula One British Grand Prix, but CART had difficulty publicising the event.

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Rockingham Panorama.jpg
A panorama of Rockingham