Ingliston Racing Circuit
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Owner | Royal Highland Agricultural Society Of Scotland (RHASS) |
| Opened | 12 May 1965 |
| Closed | 16 September 1994 (officially) |
| Major events | Dunfermline Car Club Rally, Ingliston Revival, Scottish Motor Racing Club (SMRC) Events, Various car club heats, Scottish Car Show, British Cycling |
| Length | 1.03 mi (1.657 km) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Lap record | 43.50 D Duffield |
| Turns |
Arena Esses Caravan Southstand Hairpin Lefthander Clock |
Ingliston Racing Circuit is 1.03-mile motor racing circuit that was built at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston, Edinburgh. The circuit was created by widening and linking the network of access roads at the venue which had previously been used exclusively as an agricultural showground.
The first racing took place at Ingliston on 12 May 1965 and it fast became recognised as one of Scotland's top motorsport venues. The first race was almost 10 years before Knockhill in Fife opened in 1974 . Ingliston became infamous for its tight corners and plethora of obstacles such as trees and buildings close to the track and was therefore considered to be more hazardous than other similar facilities in the UK. There were extensive spectator facilities including a 5000-person grandstand which was built around the southern part of the track and thus named 'Arena'.
The venue saw many famous drivers compete at races including the late Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Stirling Moss and lately David Coulthard.
On 4 September 1968 the track re-opened benefiting from an extension to the northeast of 600 ft including a long straight leading to hairpin and back to left-hander where the new section rejoined the original circuit. This took the full circuit to a length of just over one mile, allowing for a more fulfilling experience for drivers and spectators alike and more racing as a result. Two circuits could be operated, the original or extended, both in a clockwise direction.
In the winter of 1989 Sir Jackie Stewart publicly announced his plans for a Scottish Motorsport centre. An investment of £80 million was proposed to create a motoring centre of excellence, to include research and development facilities, showrooms and garages around the perimeter of the circuit. The plans received public approval but full funding was shortcoming and a planning application never submitted to Edinburgh District Council.
During the downturn of the early 1990s the circuit started to fall behind modern standards. Increased competition from Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife and a lack of investment in modern safety facilities as well as increased pressure from the venue for other non-motoring related activity spelled the end of motorsport at Ingliston. The track was de-commissioned and infrastructure removed, paving the way for the venue to pursue its main ambition as a public showground.
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