Rockingham Motor Speedway

Rockingham Motor Speedway is a former racing motorsport venue in the United Kingdom, that hosted corporate driving days, driver training, conferencing and exhibitions, vehicle manufacturing events, track days, testing, driving experiences and motor racing. It claims to be Europe's fastest racing circuit,[4] and was the first banked oval constructed in Britain since the closure of Brooklands in 1939.[5] The venue hosted its last day of racing in November 2018 after being sold by its owners and will be redeveloped to become a logistics hub for the car industry. [6]

This article is about a race track in England. For the former NASCAR track in Rockingham, North Carolina, see Rockingham Speedway.

Rockingham Motor Speedway [1]

The "oval" speedway

The road courses
LocationNorthamptonshire, England
Coordinates52°30′54″N 0°39′27″W
Opened2001
Closed2019
Major eventsCART
BTCC
British Superbikes
British F3
Pickup Truck Racing
British GT Championship
Oval Circuit
Length1.479 mi (2.38 km)
Turns4
Banking3.5 – 7.9º
Race lap record0:24.719 [2] ( Tony Kanaan, Lola–Ford, 2001, CART)
International Super Sports Car Long Circuit [3]
SurfaceTarmac
Length2.05 mi (3.299 km)
Turns13
Banking7.0º (turn 1)
International Super Sports Car Circuit
SurfaceTarmac
Length1.94 mi (3.12 km)
Turns12
Banking7.0º (turn 1)
National Circuit
SurfaceTarmac
Length1.70 mi (2.74 km)
Turns9
Lake Circuit
SurfaceTarmac
Length0.67 mi (1.08 km)
Turns5
Handling Circuit
SurfaceTarmac
Length0.97 mi (1.56 km)
Turns4
Rally Stage
SurfaceGravel
Length0.62 – 1.23 mi (1.00 – 1.98 km)
Turns15 (approx)

The Circuit
Aerial of Rockingham Motor Speedway

Rockingham had 13 configurations of track, which could be used for anything from touring cars to motorcycles to rally cars. The circuit was overlooked by the 6280 seat Rockingham Building, a steel-framed, glass-fronted grandstand building containing suites, offices, bars and kitchens, and by four grandstands. Together the building and grandstands offered a total seating capacity of 52,000. The inner pit and paddock complex was accessed from the Rockingham Building via two pedestrian tunnels and there was a further spectator viewing area on top of the pit garages.[1]

The Oval Circuit

The 1.48 mile American-style banked oval circuit was 18.3 metres (60.0 ft) wide and had a maximum bank angle of seven degrees and comprised four very distinct corners. Rockingham's oval was unique in the UK and one of only two speedways in Europe (the other is Lausitzring). The oval circuit could also be converted to a road course layout for events by positioning temporary chicanes and curves both on the main area and apron of the circuit.

Over the weekend of 20–22 September 2001, the Champ cars came to England for the first time to contest the Rockingham 500, a round of the CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) FedEx Championship Series. Since the event was just a week after the 11 September terrorist attacks and subsequent closing of US airspace, the event was in jeopardy. However, the logistics were worked out, with many of the teams stripping off their sponsors' logos ("livery") as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks. The race distance was also shortened to 300 km. Victory was snatched on the exit of Turn Four of the last lap by Gil de Ferran driving the Marlboro Team Penske Honda–powered Reynard 01i at a race average speed of 153.41 mph from Kenny Bräck at the wheel of the Team Rahal Lola-Ford Cosworth B1/00, and the Newman-Haas Racing Lola-Toyota B1/00 driven by Cristiano da Matta. The fastest lap, and therefore outright lap record was set by Patrick Carpentier in 25.551secs (210.59 mph) in the Player's Forsythe Racing Reynard-Cosworth. Carpentier became for first Canadian to ever hold the outright lap record at an English circuit.[7]

The US-based series returned in September 2002. This was the last time Champ Cars raced at this facility. The race ran over the full distance of 500 km, Scotland's Dario Franchitti took the chequered flag in his Team KOOL Green Lola-Honda, beating Cristiano da Matta by just 0.986 of a second .[8]

The International Super Sportscar Circuit (ISSC)

The ISSC was 1.94 miles long and between 18.3 and 11 metres wide, with a maximum bank angle of seven degrees at turn one. Rockingham's International Super Sportscar Circuit was used by the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as well as for most other car race events. The circuit combined long straights, sweeping high-speed bends (including the infamous Turn 1 and Gracelands) with a lower speed, highly technical infield layout. Average lap speeds around the circuit ranged from 1m 24s in the BTCC to 1m 12s in British F3.

Wet Handling Facility

The site had a wet handling area with a kick plate which was used to simulate a variety of driving conditions including ice, rain and slippery wet leaves. These different road conditions were simulated at much slower speeds than in normal driving and in a fully controlled environment. The area was designed to give drivers a greater understanding of the latest ABS, traction control and crash mitigating technologies, and the way that they affect vehicle control.

History

Construction of Rockingham started late in 1999, with the opening meeting planned for May 2001.[7]

Rockingham Motor Speedway was constructed on a British Steel works brown field site as a banked oval with the intention of bringing the American oval racing across the Atlantic for the first time. The opportunity was taken to use the infield for further circuits.[2][7]

After almost ten years of planning and 23 months of construction work, Rockingham opened for business on Monday 15 January 2001. It was formally opened by the Queen on 26 May 2001.[2]

The end of racing

After the sale of the venue, Rockingham held a "super send off" to mark its final day as a racing circuit on 24 November 2018.[6] Much of the site will become a logistics hub for automotive logistic companies.[6]

Records

Oval lap records

Rockingham is Europe's fastest banked oval racing circuit, with the lap record for the 1.47 miles (2.37 km) oval set at 24.719 seconds by Tony Kanaan in his Lola-Ford Champ Car on 22 September 2001 – an average speed of 215.397 miles per hour (346.648 km/h). Rockingham was the first purpose-built banked oval in the UK since Brooklands in 1907. It has an all-seating capacity of 52,000, and has both an oval and a racing circuit.[2]

Series Date Driver Car Time
Champ Car 22 September 2001 Tony Kanaan Lola-Ford B1/00 24.719sec (215.397 mph)

[2]

Road course lap records

International Super Sports Car Circuit

Lap records around the International Super Sports Car Circuit

Series Date Driver Car Time
British Formula Three 30 September 2007 Marko Asmer Dallara-Mercedes F307 1m 12:620 (96.17 mph)

[9]

International Super Sports Car Long Circuit

Lap records around the International Super Sports Car Long Circuit

Series Date Driver Car Time
British Formula Three 10 June 2012 Jack Harvey Dallara-Volkswagen F312 1m 18:627 (93.94 mph)

[10]

Major racing results

CART Championship
Gil de Ferran on his way to victory in the 2001 Rockingham 500
Year Race Driver Constructor
2001 Rockingham 500 + Gil de Ferran Reynard Motorsport Honda 01i
2002 Sure For Men Rockingham 500 Dario Franchitti Lola Cosworth B2/00

+ Race shortened due to lack of practice. [8][11]

British Formula Three season
Year Race Driver Car
2002 Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 17 Shinya Hosokawa Dallara-Mugen-Honda F302
Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 18 Robbie Kerr Dallara-Mugen-Honda F302
2003 Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 15 Nelson Piquet, Jr. Dallara-Mugen-Honda F303
Green Flag British F3 Championship, Rd 16 Jamie Green Dallara-Mugen-Honda F303
2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 Championship, Rd 21 Marko Asmer Dallara-Mercedes F307
Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 Championship, Rd 22 Maro Engel Dallara-Mugen-Honda F307
2008 British F3 Championship, Rd 7 Atte Mustonen Dallara-Mercedes F308
British F3 Championship, Rd 8 Sebastian Hohenthal Dallara-Mercedes F308
2009 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 5 Nick Tandy Mygale-Mercedes M-08 F3
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 6 Marcus Ericsson Dallara-Mercedes F309
2010 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 13 Jean-Éric Vergne Dallara-Volkswagen F310
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 14 Daniel McKenzie Dallara-Mercedes F310
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 15 Felipe Nasr Dallara-Volkswagen F308
2011 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 22 Pietro Fantin Dallara-Volkswagen F308
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 23 Scott Pye Dallara-Mercedes F308
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 24 Kevin Magnussen Dallara-Volkswagen F308
2012 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 9 Jazeman Jaafar Dallara-Volkswagen F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 10 Harry Tincknell Dallara-Volkswagen F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 11 Jack Harvey Dallara-Volkswagen F312
2014 Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 1 Race 1 Sam MacLeod Dallara-Mercedes F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 1 Race 2 Sam MacLeod Dallara-Mercedes F312
Cooper Tires British F3 Championship, Rd 1 Race 3 Matt Rao Dallara-Mercedes F312
2016 BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.7 Lando Norris Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.8 Thomas Randle Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.9 Ricky Collard Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
2017 BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.4 Enaam Ahmed Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.5 Cameron Das Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016
BRDC British F3 Championship Rd.6 Ben Hingeley Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016

British Touring Car Championship
Year Race Driver Car
2003 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 9 Matt Neal Honda Civic Type-R
Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 10 Yvan Muller Vauxhall Astra Coupé
2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 4 Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 5 Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 6 Jason Plato SEAT León
2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 4 Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 5 Mat Jackson BMW 320si
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 6 Matt Neal Vauxhall Vectra
2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 25 Stephen Jelley BMW 320si
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 26 Jason Plato Chevrolet Lacetti
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 27 Stephen Jelley BMW 320si
2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 4 Matt Neal Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 5 Jason Plato Chevrolet Cruze
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 6 Matt Neal Honda Civic
2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Jason Plato Chevrolet Cruze LT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 James Nash Vauxhall Vectra
2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Jason Plato MG6 GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Gordon Shedden Honda Civic
2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Andrew Jordan Honda Civic
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Rob Austin Audi A4
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Andrew Jordan Honda Civic
2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Colin Turkington BMW 125i M Sport
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Colin Turkington BMW 125i M Sport
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Rob Austin Audi A4
2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Mat Jackson Ford Focus ST
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Gordon Shedden Honda Civic Type R
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Jason Plato Volkswagen CC
2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 Gordon Shedden Honda Civic Type R
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Sam Tordoff BMW 125i M Sport
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Árón Smith Volkswagen CC
2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 22 James Cole Subaru Levorg GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 23 Ashley Sutton Subaru Levorg GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 24 Andrew Jordan BMW 125i M Sport
2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 19 Adam Morgan Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 20 Ashley Sutton Subaru Levorg GT
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Rd 21 Chris Smiley Honda Civic Type R

[12][13]

British Superbike Championship
Year Race Rider Manufacturer
2001 2001 British Superbike Championship Rd.23 Sean Emmett 996cc Ducati 996
2001 British Superbike Championship Rd.24 Michael Rutter 750cc Kawasaki ZX-7RR
2002 2002 British Superbike Championship Rd.13 Michael Rutter 996cc Ducati 996 RS
2002 British Superbike Championship Rd.14 Michael Rutter 996cc Ducati 996 RS
2003 2003 British Superbike Championship Rd.13 + Yukio Kagayama 999cc Suzuki GSX-R1000
2003 British Superbike Championship Rd.14 Yukio Kagayama 999cc Suzuki GSX-R1000

+ Qualification cancelled due to dangerous track conditions, grid decided by championship positions.

[14][15][16]

Other events

The Rockingham Stages

On 12 December 2004, the first Stage Rally, the Rockingham Stages, was held at the venue. This was jointly promoted by Middlesex County Automobile Club and Thame Motorsport Club.

Year Overall Winner co-driver Car
2004 John Stone Lee Carter MG Metro 6R4
2004 John Stone Lee Carter MG Metro 6R4
2005 Steve Simpson Mark Booth Hyundai Accent WRC
2006 Steve Simpson Simon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2007 Steve Simpson Simon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2008 Steve Simpson Simon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2009 Steve Simpson Simon Hunter Hyundai Accent WRC
2010 Tony Racey Paul Heath Subaru Impreza
2011 Pete Rayner Aron Rayner Ford Escort Mk.II
2012 Paul King Alicia Miles Ford Escort RS

[17]

Oval racing

From 2001 to the end of 2007, Rockingham organised and funded American-style Stockcar racing on the oval. Originally known as ASCAR, the series changed name to "Days of Thunder", and then to SCSA (Stock Car Speed Association), before re-branding to the MAC Tools V8 Trophy for its final season in 2007. All cars were UK variants of the American "ASA National-Tour" Howe Racing chassis, running with either Ford, Chevrolet or Pontiac bodies. A change of circuit ownership for 2006 saw the end of promotion and funding for the series, and low grids in 2007 led the organising club (BRSCC) to amalgamate it with a road course series, and eventually to the demise of both championships before the end of 2008.

Other activities

The circuit was operational 357 days a year and the majority of events that took place at the venue were not motorsport competitions. Events ranged from manufacturer product launches to dealer training, track days and testing, and corporate and experience days.

City Auction Group

The City Auction Group holds an auction weekly at the circuit.

Filming

Television

Magazines and newspapers

The Telegraph and Fiat Punto held a track day at Rockingham in 2012 and published a number of articles featuring the circuit. Autosport's Caterham SP300R video review was made on the ISSC , and Car Magazine did a track test on the Nissan GT-R vs Porsche 911 Turbo in 2012 and a McLaren supercar group test in 2010 . Car Dealer magazine reviewed the BMW M5 at Rockingham and compared it with a Mercedes E63 AMG, a Lexus ISF, a Porsche Panamera and an Infiniti M35h . The circuit also features on the Pistonheads website with videos showing the Caterham SP300 R and the new Astra VXR. Chris Harris on Cars showcased the BAC Mono .

Education

The Learning Grid Rockingham Festival in the first week of July promotes science and engineering to school pupils.

Shows and exhibitions

The venue has a sizeable showground area which has hosted the following shows:

  • The French Car Show
  • The Site Equipment Demonstration (SED) Show
  • Greenfleet
  • The LCV Show
  • Stobart Fest
  • Japfest 2
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References
  1. "International Super Sportscar Circuit". Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. "About Rockingham". Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  3. "Event Details - 15th/16th October - Rockingham". Timing Solutions.
  4. "Rockingham – Europe's fastest racing circuit". Rockingham Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. Fox, Norman (29 July 2000). "Herbert drive to put Rockingham on map". The Independent. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  6. "Rockingham Motor Speedway: Corby venue hosts final race". BBC News. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. Peter Swinger, "Motor Racing Circuits in England : Then & Now" (Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN 0 7110 3104 5, 2008)
  8. "2002 Sure for Men Rockingham 500K". ChampCarStats.com.
  9. "Circuits - Rockingham". British F3 International Series. Archived from the original on 23 February 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  10. "Harvey wins in style at Rockingham". Formula3.co. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015.
  11. "2001 Rockingham 500K". ChampCarStats.com.
  12. "Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
  13. "Results". BTCC.net.
  14. "Motorcycle Racing Online - British Superbike race winners 1987 to 1992". Motorcycle Racing Online.
  15. "British Superbikes". LineOne.net. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  16. "Archive for the 'Motorcycles' Category". Motorsport Winners. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  17. "Rockingham Stages". rockinghamstages.co.uk.
A panorama of Rockingham

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