Sunday 26th March 2017

Ginetta acquires Blyton Park

Lincolnshire test track purchased by Yorkshire sports car manufacturer - rule Britannia!

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Anyone who has watched a UK car video, or read a UK track test, in the past half a dozen years will have become familiar with Blyton Park. Indeed it features on one or two sprint series calendars too, which PH has attempted with mixed success...

They felt the tremors in Hull when this came down

Point being that Blyton has established itself as a handy little venue for testing, filming and snapping cars since 2011. Well, as long as you're willing to get to Gainsborough that is. Today it has been announced that Blyton Park has been purchased by Ginetta, the sports car company based just an hour or so north-west in Garforth.

The deal will see former owner Richard Usher remain to manage the day-to-day running of the circuit, with Ginetta's overall aim for Blyton to "protect the flexibility it offers to drivers, manufacturers and motorsport fans alike across the sport."

Indeed development work is already underway, with plans to add additional track configurations in the existing complex plus new competitor facilities. Any suggestions from those who have been to Blyton? For the moment Ginetta will continue to use the circuit for testing, plus customer and corporate events. In the coming months we're told to expect a set-up area to be put in, as well as the introduction of Ginetta cars on site available for hire.

"Which way to Gainsborough then?"

Ginetta's Commercial Director Nick Portlock said: "We plan to invest in improving the customer offering and experience at the circuit, as it's crucial for us to ensure it remains 'business as usual' with all manufacturers encouraged to continue to use the facility." Richard Usher added: "I am incredibly excited to begin the next chapter in Blyton Park's history and I am sure our customers are too." Sounds like a win-win all round!

In the immediate future we expect Blyton to continue functioning as per usual, which is good news as we're big fans of it! It's high time a Ginetta track test featured on PH too...

 

 

[Fire99]

Without looking too deeply into the details I'm impressed with how Ginetta has made steady expansion and growth.
They seem to have some pretty canny decision makers...

[addz86]

Sounds good, so longs as Javelin still do their track days there I'm happy.
Had many a good weekend bombing round Blyton

[Krikkit]

Good news - Ginetta sound like they want to keep it pretty much as-is in terms of events etc, and just start nudging away from the portacabins etc that they've got at the moment.

[V8 FOU]

I hope the circuit layout stays more or less as it is. Some improved facilites would be good.
Will the new owners still allow me to tow my caravan around the track behind the Bentley? (See Motorpunk)

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

As above, as long as it carries on running the events they have then good news! More facilities would be great, was there for the rally cross a few weeks ago and it can get quite bleak

[DMN]

Mixed feelings about this.

On one hand Blyton has the potential to be so much better, but on the other will Ginetta keep it more for themselves and higher paying users? Also are Ginetta over-stretching themselves? They've got a lot of big projects to fund right now.

[addz86]

I don't think the facilities are bad for the price, Cadwells not much more plush.
Javelin days are pretty cheap there and I'td be a shame if the prices shot up just to make it a bit fancier, track days are explensive enough when you start adding the days costs up.

[Phateuk]

Blyton has come on a fair way since my first track day there where there was just a portacabin for the briefing, outdoor toilets and a burger van

[jtopps]

I love Blyton Park, it's a great little track. I am also a big fan of Ginetta. If it remains as accessible and affordable for grass roots motorsports and trackdays as it currently is and gains some better facilities/extra layouts in the process then this is no bad thing.

[Sir_Dave]

Fire99 said:

Without looking too deeply into the details I'm impressed with how Ginetta has made steady expansion and growth. They seem to have some pretty canny decision makers...

For a company that in March 16 had turnover of £6m and a loss of -£3m, id say its mightily impressive Haven't done Blyton Park yet as its so far away (from the South East), but always seem to have a steady stream of trackdays available at it! Hopefully this will continue into the future.

Edited by Sir_Dave on Wednesday 22 March 12:35

[1781cc]

I'm doing a trackday there on the 8th of April - havent been before so quite looking forward to it. Everyone I know who has been loves it.

[V8 FOU]

Rich, do you have a pic of the caravan at the tracday? Please post if you have!

[diluculophile]

I'm a bit of a Ginetta fan, despite never having driven one.
Would definitely like to go to Blyton and try one out.

Also nice to see a Trophy being used in anger in the top pic...

[ceebmoj]

Woohoo, picture of my G40R in the article.

[DBRacingGod]

I used to race supermotos there - back when the next door business was a maggot farm.

[200Plus Club]

Agreed, Richard is a smashing guy. Let's hope Blyton remains accessible, cheap and fun as it is right now. He deserves something back for all his hard work and for all the enjoyment we've had there.