A guide to the Mallory Park Circuit

Located in a natural amphitheatre, Mallory Park is the UK's second smallest circuit and is something of an institution. It's never been a really busy circuit, and it doesn't play host to huge race meetings, but it still is a great circuit to race bikes and cars.

The circuit is actually very fast despite having Shaw's hairpin, easily the tightest corner of any UK track. It also features the fastest corner in the UK and the fiddliest chicane. Linking the Lake Esses and Devils Elbow forms an oval circuit which is used for car racing in an anti-clockwise direction.

The track is wide enough for plenty of overtaking opportunity and features three right-handers, including a sweeping 180-degree bend and a hairpin, two left-handers, two esses and a chicane. The Full Circuit length is 1.35mi and the anti-clockwise Oval Circuit is a mere mile. The current Full lap record is a lightning 38.23 seconds, set in May 1997 by Johan Rajamaki.

Mallory Park offers spectators a great variety of exciting motor sport events every weekend during the racing season, such as: British Superbike Championships, championship car and bike racing and classic sports car racing. Open practice sessions for ACU license holders are held every Wednesday afternoon and sometimes attract surprisingly big names. You can also take your own car or bike out as well, on non-race days of course.

The bank here is the main vantage point enabling the spectator to see the start and finish of every race. There are catering units around the circuit offering hot and cold snacks, and there is a very good restaurant/café(Lakeside Diner), and bar, located in the paddock area. The paddock also has a shop with a range of souvenirs and official Mallory Park merchandise.