Few countries have more race tracks per capita than the United Kingdom, and across the whole of the British Isles we are blessed with some amazing circuits upon which we can watch racing and even ride our own bikes
These circuits range from traditional parkland circuits, which are uniquely British, and fast and flat tracks like Silverstone and Snetterton, which were born out of disused airfields following the conclusion of World War 2.
With the racing and track day season in full swing, we thought, why not look at 10 of the best circuits, in no particular order…
Snetterton
This Norfolk circuit opened in 1953, with a simple layout using the runways and taxiways of the disused RAF Snetterton Heath, an air force base which was active between 1943 and 1948.
Current owners MotorSport Vision (MSV) acquired the circuit (along with Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park and Oulton Park) in 2004 and a big investment saw the latest ‘Snetterton 300’ layout introduced in 2011.
Still fast and relatively flat, its long straights make it a good place to really stretch the legs of your bike on a track day. It’s one of Britain’s longest tracks and has brilliant, modern facilities. It hosts a round of the British Superbike Championship (BSB), where the fastest bikes are clicking over 180mph down the back straight.
Cadwell Park
From one extreme to the other, Lincolnshire’s beloved Cadwell Park truly is a unique circuit that’s tight, twisty and undulating.
Established in 1934 around the grounds of a country home, Cadwell’s been dubbed the mini-Nurburgring and was even used for the filming of the movie Rush, which documented the battle for the 1976 Formula One season.
It’s narrow, with the latter half of the circuit being very twisty and difficult to overtake on. Fans love the Mountain section, where bikes get big air jumping over a motocross style jump, and the traditional August Bank Holiday BSB round is always a fan favourite.
Facilities are basic, adding to the olde world charm, but it’s a popular trackday choice thanks to its generous noise limits, challenging nature and relatively low costs.
Knockhill
Not dissimilar to Cadwell in some ways, Scotland’s premier circuit is another intense little rollercoaster.
Based just north of Edinburgh, in the Kingdom of Fife, it opened in 1974 and is popular for car and bike track days alike. Its early summer BSB round always attracts a big crowd and, at just 1.3-miles, it’s the shortest track used in the championship. The sub-50 second lap time gives fans plenty of value for money at a circuit which is renowned for its friendliness.
Thruxton
Another former airfield circuit, Hampshire’s Thruxton is the fastest race track on the BSB calendar, with average lap speeds in excess of 110mph.
It’s wide, bumpy and had no real straight sections. The long hanging corners means its brutal on tyres, making races an exercise in strategy and tyre conservation as much as outright speed.
It’s location on the outskirts of a village means that the circuit is very limited in how often it can be used. BSB and it’s four-wheeled equivalent, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) are the showcase events, and bike track days are few and far between, expensive and usually restricted to fully-silenced road bikes.
Oulton Park
Cheshire’s Oulton Park is another MSV circuit which has benefitted from serious investment in recent years.
It’s another traditional undulating circuit built around the grounds of a manor house, that’s quintessentially British. Hosting two BSB rounds, it’s a fan and rider favourite thanks to its flowing corners and fast sections where you can really squirt the power on.
Oulton is probably the best mix of traditional parkland circuit with good viewing and modern facilities. It’s no wonder it’s one of Britain’s most popular race tracks.
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch has hosted Formula One Grands Prix and some of the biggest and most memorable World Superbike rounds ever. Situated just outside the M25, in Kent, it held its first grass track races in 1932 and has grown to become one of the country’s biggest and best known motorsport venues.
While the biggest international races have outgrown the Brands Hatch infrastructure, its two BSB rounds (traditionally mid-summer and the season finale) are jewels in the championship’s crown and attract some of the biggest audiences of the year. It’s a really popular track day venue too.
The shorter Indy circuit presents the challenge of the daunting Paddock Hill Bend as part of a six turn, 1.2-mile layout, while the full Grand Prix circuit used in BSB is also opened for track days a handful of times each year and is well worth putting on the bucket list.
Donington Park
Home to the British round of the Superbike World Championship, Donington is one of the UK’s premier circuits.
An FIM Grade B circuit, it combines an undulating layout that’s typically British with plenty of run off and international paddock standards.
There are two layouts, with many preferring the shorter National circuit for its more flowing nature. The Grand Prix track is extended by using the Melbourne Loop, which adds some short straights and two tight hairpins that require hard braking, but whether you’re watching or riding, there’s plenty of variety to always keep this East Midlands circuit interesting. It also offers a lot of track days with no noise restrictions, making it popular with enthusiasts whose bikes are fitted with loud race pipes.
Anglesey
One of Britain’s hidden gems, Trac Môn Circuit Anglesey is Wales’ premier circuit and one well worth taking a visit to.
Another former decommissioned military facility, it only opened as a motorsport centre in 1997. The track is fast and very interesting to ride, while the location (nestled between the Irish Sea and the Snowdonia mountain range) is the most picturesque in the country. If you go, make sure you check out the track day photos!
It’s used a lot for filming TV shows and there are plenty of track days throughout the year. There’s not much high profile racing though, with difficult access and limited facilities restricting its use a little, but that shouldn’t stop you from paying a visit. It’s a great circuit in so many ways.
Bishopscourt
Northern Ireland has two racetracks located within 10 miles of each other in County Down. Kirkistown and Bishopscourt are both built on former RAF bases and have different characteristics. Kirkistown is fast and hosts a number of track days each year, but Bishopscourt gets our nod thanks to its technical sections and excellent track surface.
The annual Sunflower trophy attracts top riders and there’s regular talk of it joining the BSB calendar, something we would love to see.
Mondello Park
Located around 30 miles from Dublin, Mondello Park is Ireland’s only permanent motorsport facility.
It briefly hosted BSB, for five years between 2003 and 2007, and now regularly runs track days, classic events and training activities.
The weather can be volatile but the layout itself is very technical and provides a good workout for both rider and machine.
But we missed out…
In picking our top 10 circuits, we’ve certainly missed a few great tracks. Castle Combe, Croft and Mallory Park, for example, are excellent regional circuits which are great for giving your bike a work out, but what about these two iconic circuits? They’d be in for some and out for others, so here’s two bonus tracks you can’t deny have some real aura to them.
Silverstone
Britain’s only FIM Grade A circuit, the licence required to host MotoGP, isn’t the most beloved by many motorcyclists – but it’s undoubtedly a hell of a facility and a thrilling track day ride.
The home of the British Grand Prix is a fast former airfield circuit which has been completely transformed over the years, to be a world class facility.
The long layout means bikes only come around every two minutes, while the massive footprint, large runoff areas and miles of catch fencing put some race fans off. It lacks the intimacy of traditional parkland circuits, but the racing’s always good, and if you get a chance to ride Silverstone you are in for a real treat.
The circuit has cut back on the number of bike track days it offers each year, but there are still a handful available and, although they are expensive, they’re very well run and take in the full Grand Prix layout. We know it’s a love/hate place for bike fans, but don’t knock it until you try it.
Isle of Man Mountain Course
We weren’t really sure if this counts for inclusion into our ‘Top 10 race tracks’ as it’s not a permanent facility, but it’s so iconic we can’t go without a mention for the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.
Fundamentally they’re public roads, 37.73-miles of the most famous and notorious public roads in the world. Every summer they’re closed to allow the Isle of Man TT Races and Manx Grand Prix to take place on the hallowed asphalt.
Unless you’re a competitor, you won’t be able to experience the Mountain Course when it’s closed off to the public and truly ride it in anger, but you can ride it at your leisure (albeit sharing it with all the daily traffic that makes up island life). Watching the TT live should be a bucket list item for every race fan, and your jaw will drop watching the top riders navigating these everyday roads at an average of around 135mph. Staggering!
