The new Silverstone Stowe circuit

[graeme]

I see that Goldtrack have a trackday on the revised Stowe circuit in a couple of weeks, so it must be up and running - anyone know if there's any races being organised on it? I always loved the old layout; hopefully the extended circuit will be even better.

[BESSIE]

tesco car park

[graeme]

Originally Posted by BESSIE

tesco car park

So have you actually raced there, or are you (presumably) slagging it off without any knowledge of the place? There's a lot worse/less fun circuits in the country.

[chezza]

Is it the new stowe circuit tho? I didn't realise it would be done down there already! From what I've seen from the plans it looks quite good.

[graeme]

Yep, its the new layout - 1.2 miles

[DaveGT6]

Never raced there but the national circuit is mickey mouse enough - what does this one offer - serious question I am interested. really concerned to hear that International is being scuppered and we are losing bridge - best corner on non-GP configurations

[graeme]

I agree that the National circuit is dull; I much prefer Stowe to it, but maybe that's more to do with the type of races which were run there - always a great mix from classics to prototypes, with good driving standards and cheap entry fees. I'm not totally convinced I'd really fancy a one-make championship on the old layout. It was very tight (similar to old Anglesey perhaps) but with good passing opportunities - you could overtake from the outside of the hairpin, instance (maybe Herman Tilke does know something after all!). The new layout doesn't seem a lot different in character - double the length but double the number of corners.

With the loss of the International Circuit, I'm sure we will see running on Stowe in future (I'm guessing it'll be relatively cheap to hire, whereas the Int was very expensive and many organisers wouldn't go there - even the dull Nat is still damn expensive). I think I heard that the Southern Circuit will be brought into play as well (its licenced, but doesn't have a control tower, starting lights, etc). And Bridge isn't being totally lost - there will be two "GP" layouts, but Silverstone are charging a few thousand more again to use the Arena layout (and "non-promted" racing isn't allowed on the GP for some reason anyway).

[The STIG]

I thought the whole point of the new layout was that it kept the international layout intact?

[graeme]

The new layout doesn't actually impinge on the International circuit, it just seems that Silverstone have abadoned use of it - for the time being? - because the work on the new "Arena" GP circuit does affect it.

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by graeme

The new layout doesn't actually impinge on the International circuit, it just seems that Silverstone have abadoned use of it - for the time being? - because the work on the new "Arena" GP circuit does affect it.

Oh right, so it might return when Arena is completed then?

[roys1]

I dought if it will return as I believe the now south circuit is to be called the international circuit with the pits etc on the straight between club exit and abbey..
The international would not be able to be changed over as all the armco would be the wrong overlap..

[graeme]

The International can't have made much financial sense to Silverstone - when the National is used, the Southern is usually being used for "experience" days, making shed loads of cash. But if the International was being used, you couldn't run any other major layout. And it cost significantly less to rent than the GP circuit.

Originally Posted by roys1

The international would not be able to be changed over as all the armco would be the wrong overlap..

Interesting point - the Southern and International used the same straight running different way - I wonder which direction the overlap was set up for!?

[roys1]

Originally Posted by graeme

Interesting point - the Southern and International used the same straight running different way - I wonder which direction the overlap was set up for!?

I would have thought the overlap would have been set up for the msa licensed international circuit...?

[graeme]

Originally Posted by roys1

I would have thought the overlap would have been set up for the msa licensed international circuit...?

As opposed to the MSA licenced Southern circuit...!? (Okay, its never been used for racing but it is licenced). IIRC Knockhill and maybe Pembrey are/were licenced to run in either direction; wonder what they do?

[roys1]

mmmm .. Good call.. I suppose mallory had the same when the eurocars ran..
i didn't know the south was licenced though..