Investments Boost Rockingham’s Success

Since Corby Developments Limited acquired the majority shareholding in the Rockingham racing circuit in late 2005, it has implemented a £5 million development plan to give the circuit a major makeover. Billing itself as “Europe’s fastest motor racing circuit” – a claim based on the fact that in 2001 Tony Kanaan went round Rockingham’s 1.5 mile oval in 24.719 seconds in his Ford/Lola Champ car – the scope of the facilities now available at Rockingham has attracted a number of events. This year the circuit has already hosted the Avon-sponsored British GT, 2006 Pickup Truck Racing Championship, SCSA Third Round and the Rockingham VSR Championship.

Part of the circuit’s popularity, say the owners, is that 75 per cent of the UK’s population can reach it within two hours by road, plus the investment has seen improvements on and off the track, including conference and banqueting facilities for up to 500 people and new testing areas. This year Rockingham has attracted a record number of corporate customers and the facility’s financial performance is “ahead of all targets.”

Track improvements

As well as improving the spectator facilities and the corporate offering, Rockingham’s owners have made changes to the racetrack, notably with the addition of multiple in-field race circuit configurations.
One such change received praise from drivers in the Avon Tyres British GT event, held at the circuit in August. The first chicane was removed and the layout now features only one banked corner, leading to increased lap speeds and more opportunities for overtaking. With the chicane gone, drivers can push their cars to the limit, using the banked corner to increase their corner exit speeds.

Chris Niarchos, the driver currently leading the GT Championship, said that the new configuration “made a huge difference to the pace I could achieve in my Ferrari 430 GT2” and he added “I personally think it made the race more exciting.”

The £5 million investment so far is by no means the end of the story, according to Chairman Len O’Hagan, who says: “we’re committed to developing our venue further, in harmony with the local environment.” Rockingham was the first purpose-built racetrack in the UK since Brooklands in 1908 and was built on the site of a derelict British Steel factory. Planning for the 52,000-seater venue took almost a decade and construction took 23 months, with the first car lapping the banked oval in January 2001.