Castle Combe Circuit

Castle Combe Circuit is run by Castle Combe Circuit Ltd near Chippenham in Wiltshire, postcode SN14 7EY. The track follows the perimeter road of a Second World War airfield that served as RAF Castle Combe from 1941 to 1948; the first race was organised by the Bristol Motorcycle & Light Car Club in July 1950, and the operator dates its history from 1950. From 1950 to 1997 the circuit measured 2.961 kilometres with eight turns; since 1998 it has been 2.977 kilometres with twelve turns, after two chicanes were built in over the winter of 1998/1999 to reduce speeds following a spectator fatality. In 2005 the circuit received a noise nuisance order; the British Formula Three and British GT Championships were louder than permitted and were prevented from returning. The operator itself describes the track as 1.85 miles long with a mix of high and low-speed corners, offers bike track days and a Motorcycle Skills & Track Academy, takes bookings online and schedules its own noise test days. Our record holds asphalt, a fast character and 2977 metres - that is the current layout. An airfield circuit with long, fast sweepers punishes any mismatch in the way the bike sits: it feels vague at speed long before the grip runs out. Top of our cause list is: ride-height and sag balance is off - the bike feels vague at speed; set sag first. That is the starting point, not the result.