Racing Club News
Exciting Race Meetings in 2012
There is a real buzz at the circuit at the moment as, after what has been by our standards a disappointing race season, we are making plans for an absolutely packed season for we have our eyes firmly set on making 2012 a season to remember – for all the right reasons. Autosport magazine once said of Castle Combe Circuit that we provided the best national racing in the country and through the hard work of Castle Combe Racing Club over the last few months we believe that 2012 will again let us lay claim to this title.
At the time of writing all but one race meeting of 2012 are absolutely full up with exciting content.
For next season we will have a strong classic theme, but just to give you an overall taster of what’s in stall, here are some brief snippets.
Easter Monday, 9th April the Historic Racing Drivers Club will run races for touring cars, pre 65 touring cars, Jaguar XK’s and grand touring cars bringing back the spirit of the 60’s.
Monday 7th May, a re run of last May’s popular Motors TV meeting. It’s also a return of the Mini Se7ens and Miglias and the John Cooper Challenge for modern MINIS which we haven’t seen since 2010. All highlighting a packed race meeting which will start on the dot at 1pm with the last race of the day scheduled to start at 6pm fulfilling the needs of the satellite channel.
Monday 4th June is the revised Bank Holiday date fitting in with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee coronation year so we celebrate with another British icon.
Heading this meeting will be the Mighty Minis and the Super Mighty Minis with 2 races each headlining the day.
Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June is our first 2-day race meeting of the season and is almost two separate meetings over the same weekend. Saturday sees the return of the Lotus Club Cup and Elise Trophy whilst Sunday turns into a Japanese race day with some 400 competitors expected to compete in the Toyota MR2’s, Nippon Challenge and Mazda MX5’s and Mazda mk 3’s. Such is the number of races expected on this day that the lunchtime will be squeezed.
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July our second 2-day meeting of the year will be titled the Castle Combe Classic 50 as we have linked up with the nearby Classic and Sports Car Club to bring some evocative cars of the 60’s and 70’s including the amazing special saloons. If you have never seen a Cosworth powered VW Beetle the legendary Big Bertha Vauxhall or the fastest DAF in the world, then this is the meeting to come and enjoy them. Races for Jaguars, German produced cars, various derivatives of Caterhams in the Magnificent Sevens race will all be vying for that top spot.
Monday 27th August will feature 60 years since a Porsche first raced in the UK and fittingly here at Castle Combe Circuit. One of the highlight meetings of the year, it’s also a return of Ferraris, Morgan’s, the Porsche Club Championship and a new addition the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.
On the car side we then close with another new initiative a 2-day meeting over the weekend of Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th October, but again 2 completely different programmes. Saturday is all about historics with just about anything from pre war sports cars, historic Aston Martins and Jaguar XKs, Austin Healeys, Sunbeam Alpines and Tigers and a 50’s inter marque challenge over 30 minutes featuring a pit stop. Sunday will be our Grand Finals Day featuring the last rounds of the Castle Combe Championships.
Of course al car meetings will feature rounds of the Castle Combe Championships for Formula Ford 1600’s, Saloons and Sports & GTs.
On the motorcycle front, we were concerned that it might be difficult to better what we put on this year with Carl Fogarty, and the Ducati Superbike Team but, in fact we’ve gone one better as we will have 2 bike meetings. However, a delay in publishing the British Superbike Calendar has meant we are still finalising the dates, although these should be announced together with the event content later this month – so watch our website for latest developments.
W.Belcher