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Thruxton Circuit
Motorsport race track in England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Thruxton Circuit is a 2.356 mi (3.792 km) motor-racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, about 30 mi (48 km) north of Southampton.
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It has hosted motorsport events including the British Touring Car Championship, British GT Championship, British Formula One Championship, British Formula Three, and GB3 Championship. It is often referred to as the "Fastest Circuit in the UK" where drivers can reach speeds of over 190 mph (300 km/h) and has earned the reputation of being a true driver's track. To illustrate this, Damon Hill drove his Williams Formula One car around the circuit at an average speed of 147 mph (237 km/h) in 1993.
The site also houses the headquarters of the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC).[1]
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History
The site was originally constructed in 1942 as RAF Thruxton, a World War II airfield which was home to both the RAF and USAAF and was used for troop-carrying aircraft and gliders, including operations during the D-Day landings. Also, the paratroopers who took part in the successful Bruneval Raid (Operation Biting), in which German radar equipment was seized on the coast of France, took off from here.
The circuit, which follows the line of the airfield's perimeter road, was established in 1968. From 1950 to 1965, motorbike races had taken place on the runways and perimeter road.[2]
Thruxton Circuit was resurfaced in 2000, resulting in lap times dropping considerably compared to the previous year.
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Developments
Church Corner
In 2020, further safety developments were completed at Church Corner, one of the fastest sections of the Thruxton Circuit. The upgrades form part of an ongoing programme of safety improvements at the circuit, designed to maintain modern standards while preserving the character of the track.[3]
Noble/Goodwood Viewing Area
A new spectator viewing area has been constructed around Noble Corner, extending through towards Goodwood. The development provides additional public access and wider sightlines of one of the circuit’s fastest sequences, enhancing the overall spectator experience.[4]
Woodham Hill Bank
In 2025, Thruxton introduced a new spectator area known as the Woodham Hill Bank. Located on the approach to the Club chicane, the bank offers an elevated vantage point of the braking zone and final complex of the circuit.[5]
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Motorsport activities
Owing to planning restrictions, the circuit can only run 12 days of motorsport each year. Currently, three are devoted to motorbike racing, with a weekend dedicated to the British Superbike Championship, Britain's premier motorcycle racing category; with the third day being used for club racing.
The remaining days are devoted to car and truck racing with weekends being used for the TOCA British Touring Car Championship, the British Truck Racing Championship, the Thruxton Retro and the remaining days are allocated to other organising clubs, such as the 750 Motor Club or the Classic Sportscar Club. Owing to the relative infrequency of race meetings, Thruxton continues to be a popular part of the motorsport calendar.
Events
- Current
An up to date list of current events at Thruxton Circuit can be found on their website.
Notable current events and championships include:
- Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship
- Bennetts British Superbike Championship
- British Truck Racing Championship
- The Thruxton Retro
- Former
Notable former championships and events include:
- BOSS Formula (1996, 1998–2000)
- British Formula 3 International Series (1977–2008, 2010, 2014)
- British GT Championship (1994–1996, 2000–2005, 2007–2008)
- European Formula 5000 Championship (1970–1971, 1974–1975)
- European Formula Two Championship (1968–1984)
- FIM Endurance World Championship
- Thruxton 500 (1960–1964, 1969–1977)
- International Formula 3000 (1985)
- TCR UK Touring Car Championship (2024)
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Lap records
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The all-time outright unofficial track record is 0:57.6 seconds, set by Damon Hill in a Williams FW15C, during a demonstration run in 1993.[6] As of August 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Thruxton Circuit are listed as:
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Medical and safety services
Thruxton has a medical centre in line with Motor Sports Association standards.
The MSA circuit licence requires a minimum of two doctors and two rescue units for a race meeting. Most meetings are operated with three rescue units plus a medical car, along with ambulances and first aiders.
Points of Interest
During race weekends, a radio commentary service called Radio Thruxton operates in the FM band on 93.7 MHz. This has commentators at key points of the track as well as a pit reporter, who conducts interviews with the race winners.
Outside of motor racing, the circuit offers a range of driving experiences for members of the public to drive the circuit with instructors in a range of supercars and single seater racing cars.
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The "Thruxton" Heritage
As a result of its racing associations, the name "Thruxton" has been used for:
- Triumph Thruxton, a series of café racer motorcycles
- Velocette Thruxton, a sport motorcycle
- Thruxton handlebars, a type of motorcycle handlebar that is shaped to provide a clip-on-type handlebar position, but which clamps on top of the yoke rather than onto the fork stanchions. Thruxton handlebars are also known as "Ace 'bars" or "Clubman 'bars".
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Thruxton Centre
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The Thruxton Centre was opened in June 2018 by Nigel Mansell and Murray Walker. The £2million flagship building is the latest addition to the circuit, forming part of the track's modernisation project. The new building is a 1415m² facility with more than ten conference and function rooms as well as hospitality suites, a restaurant and bar, an exhibition space and catering facilities. A first floor terrace and balcony provides a view of the first-corner and across the venue.
The Thruxton Centre serves as the venue hub for corporate events, hospitality and meetings at Thruxton Circuit. It offers state-of-the-art facilities for conferences, exhibitions, and business functions, combined with first-class in-house catering.[37]
Some key features:
- Flexible suites and meeting rooms: The Centre has suites and spaces suitable for a variety of corporate uses.
- Paddock and circuit surroundings: Corporate guests benefit from being immersed in a motorsport environment, with views and access to the fastest circuit in the UK and its paddock areas.
- Catering & service: Events held at the Thruxton Centre are supported by professional, in-house catering, plus an experienced events team with over 30 years’ experience.
- Use cases: The corporate offering is used for team-building days, client entertainment, staff rewards, exhibition-style displays, and meetings.
Driving Experiences
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Aside from hosting major motor racing events, Thruxton Motorsport Centre offers driving experiences.
Participants can drive high-performance vehicles across various categories, including:
- Racing Cars: Take the wheel of a real single-seater racing car for a taste of professional motorsport.
- Supercars: Options include Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren 570S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi R8, Lotus Emira, and Ford Mustang—each offering thrilling performance on the fast, sweeping corners of Thruxton.
- Ultimate Supercar Driving Experience: The “Ultimate Supercar Driving Experience” allows participants to drive and ride in an array of seven high-end cars including the Ferrari 458 Spider, McLaren 570S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Ford Mustang, Formula Renault, among others.
- Supercar Duo & Trio Experiences:
- Supercar Duo: Drive both a Ferrari 458 Spider and McLaren 570S after circuit familiarisation in an Alpine A110S.
- Supercar Trio: Drive three supercars; the McLaren 570S, Ferrari 458 Spider, and Aston Martin V8 Vantage, following an Alpine A110S warm-up.
- Skill-Building Experiences:
- 4×4 Off‑Road Driving: Navigate rugged terrain in a Land Rover or Suzuki Jimny over a purpose-built off‑road course.
- Skid Pan: Participants refine car control techniques under low-grip conditions using front- and rear-wheel-drive models.
- Junior Driving: Tailored for younger participants over 12 years old, including junior skid-pan and 4x4 sessions with instructors supervising safety and technique.
- Passenger Rides:
- Two‑Seat Racing Car Ride: Sit behind a professional driver in an open‑wheel race car for two adrenaline-charged laps.
- Three‑Car Passenger Ride: A high-speed lap in three different vehicles for a varied thrill experience.
- Tiff Needell BMW M2 Ride: A highly distinctive experience, with former racing driver and TV personality Tiff Needell at the wheel of a BMW M2 performing controlled, sideways maneuvers.
These experiences are delivered with professional ARDS-qualified instructors, and participants can opt to receive 360° in-car videos as lasting souvenirs.
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Thruxton Kart Centre
Thruxton Kart Centre is one of the principal ancillary facilities at Thruxton Circuit, located adjacent to the main racing track. It is an outdoor karting circuit operated on the same site, and is open to both adults and juniors. The layout is described as fast and challenging, requiring a degree of stamina and commitment from drivers.
There are three different circuits available, at 1,100 metres (1,200 yds) long the full circuit has a selection of fast, slow and technical corners. The karts used are 13bhp Thunderkarts, which can reach speeds of 60mph.[38]
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Gift Experiences and Vouchers
Thruxton also offers driving and karting experiences in the form of gift vouchers. These vouchers allow recipients to choose when to redeem them, within a specified time-frame, and are promoted as suitable for a wide range of age groups and occasions.
All gift options are underpinned by Thruxton’s status as an FIA-licensed venue, which has been hosting motorsport for over 40 years.
See also
Notes
- Both drivers took the same lap time independently in different races.
References
External links
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