Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit

Snetterton Circuit

Snetterton 300 Circuit
Location	Snetterton, Norfolk, England
Time zone	GMT
Coordinates	52°27′59.47″N 0°56′53.66″E / 52.4665194°N 0.9482389°E / 52.4665194; 0.9482389Coordinates: 52°27′59.47″N 0°56′53.66″E / 52.4665194°N 0.9482389°E / 52.4665194; 0.9482389
Major events	British Touring Car Championship British Formula Three British GT Championship British Superbike Championship
Snetterton 300 Circuit
Length	2.969 mi (4.779 km)
Turns	13
Lap record	1:39.933 (Felipe Nasr, Dallara F308, 2011, British F3)
Snetterton 200 Circuit
Length	2.00 mi (3.22 km)
Turns	8
Lap record	1:10.135 (Richard Mitcham, Jedi Mk6-Suzuki, 2012, BRSCC Formula Jedi)
Snetterton 100 Circuit
Length	0.98 mi (1.58 km)
Turns	6
Lap record	1:16.21 (Colin Calder, Gould GR37-Judd EV 4.0, 2011, British Sprint Championship)
Snetterton Circuit (Prior 2011)
Length	1.952 mi (3.123 km)
Turns	7
Lap record	0:56.095 (Klaas Zwart, Ascari-Judd 4.0 V10, 2007, EuroBoss)

Snetterton Circuit is a motor racing course in Norfolk, England, originally opened in 1953. Owned by MotorSport Vision, it is situated on the A11 road 12 miles (19 km) north-east of the town of Thetford and 19 miles (31 km) south-west of the city of Norwich. The circuit is named after the nearby village of Snetterton to the north-west of the circuit, although much of the circuit lies in the adjoining civil parish of Quidenham.

The circuit hosts races from series including the British Touring Car Championship, British Formula Three Championship and British Superbike Championship. From 1980 to 1994, the track hosted the UK's first 24-hour race, the Willhire 24 Hour. From 2003 to 2013 the Citroen 2CV 24 Hour Race was held at Snetterton on the 200 Circuit.

Snetterton was originally an RAF airfield, RAF Snetterton Heath, later used by the United States Army Air Force. The airfield opened in May 1943 and closed in November 1948.

After its use as a USAF base, Snetterton was first used for motorcycle racing in 1953, organised by the Snetterton Combine, an association of clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The track was used by both Team Lotus (Formula One) and Norfolk Racing Co (Le Mans) to test their racing cars. In the 1960s and early 1970s the circuit was 2.7 miles in length. Sear corner was 80 m further from Riches corner and led onto the "Norwich Straight" clearly visible in satellite maps and currently used by a Sunday market. The straight ended in a hairpin bend leading to Home Straight which joined the existing track at the Esses but is now a main access road for the circuit. Russell bend was added in the 1960s and named after Jim Russell who ran a racing drivers school at the circuit. Initially added to improve safety by slowing vehicles as they approached the pits, Russell bend was the scene of many accidents and was later altered to its present configuration.