Snetterton Circuit 300
Snetterton Circuit 300 Notes:
The Snetterton Circuit is a 2.96-mile (4.76-km) FIA Grade 2 racing facility paved on a former military airfield in Snetterton, England, at a 40 minutes road trip from Norwich and 2 hours away from London. It opened for motorsports in 1951, 3 years after the RAF Snetterton Heath airfield passed to civilian control. It is a part of the MotorSport Vision group, a British racetrack operator owned by former Formula 1 racer Jonathan Palmer. The climatic conditions in Snetterton are variable, with moderate rainfall year-round and pleasant temperatures for racing in any season, especially in summer.
The Snetterton Circuit has a 12-turn trajectory packed into a semi-rectangular lot of flat land. Its layout goes through long straights, super-tight corners, and several fast-paced sweepers like Bomb Hole, Coram, or Riches. Races start/finish in the southern straightaway, passing through Riches a 100 mph (160 km/h). The heaviest braking sector comes before Montreal, a quasi-hairpin turn taking the speed down to 30 mph (18 km/h). The stretch between turns three and seven offers a tough challenge for any racer, with pronounced corners frantically coming one after the other. High-performance vehicles go to top speed after passing Williams, soaring past the Bentley Straight at 140 mph (225 km/h). The remaining circuit offers overtaking opportunities on the long sweepers near the end and the front straight right before reaching the final line.
300 Notes:
Snetterton Circuit's 300 configuration delivers 4.778 kilometers through 12 turns representing the UK's second-longest racing track, located near Thetford in Norfolk where MotorSport Vision's 2004 acquisition enabled major redevelopment creating modern infield section modeled after Montreal's hairpin. This longest Snetterton layout combines fast straights (Bentley Straight, Senna Straight) with technical corners including the Montreal hairpin replacing original Sear Corner, and Murrays corner replacing Russell Chicane, creating balanced challenge testing both power and chassis agility. The 300 circuit's character derives from mixing high-speed flow sections with tight technical areas demanding setup compromise, while the circuit's former WWII airfield origins provide flat terrain contrasting UK's hillside venues like Cadwell Park and Oulton Park.
The 300 configuration emerged from major 2011 redevelopment adding one-mile infield section after Sear Corner, creating the current 2.99-mile layout. The Montreal hairpin's Canadian Grand Prix inspiration demonstrates modern circuit design borrowing famous corner characteristics from international venues. Norfolk's temperate maritime climate creates year-round operation though frequent rain affects grip levels significantly across the flat former airfield surface where water accumulation punishes early throttle application. British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship, and various national series utilize the 300 as Snetterton's premier configuration, while club racing and track day organizations serve eastern England motorsport community. The circuit's A11 road location between Thetford and Norwich provides good access for regional enthusiasts. The 300 particularly demonstrates MotorSport Vision's investment philosophy upgrading acquired circuits with modern infrastructure and layout improvements, where Snetterton's transformation from basic airfield circuit to contemporary facility with Montreal-inspired hairpin and varied corner types created eastern England's premier permanent racing venue offering UK's second-longest track distance for extended high-speed racing unavailable at shorter club circuits.
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