Snetterton to get a new layout for 2011
Discussion
Only the Russell chicane goes, the new track still allows the current layout to be used if needed.
Plans to get international series there like DTM.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86893
Plans to get international series there like DTM.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86893
Autosport said:
Snetterton is to undergo a major revamp before the start of the 2011 season, with a new infield loop lengthening the Norfolk circuit and making it suitable for international racing.
The new 2.99-mile 'Snetterton 300' configuration sees a new hairpin replacing the present Sear corner, leading into an infield section that eventually returns to the back straight. Coram and Russell will also be totally reprofiled, and shorter '200' and '100' layouts will be available.
Jonathan Palmer, head of circuit owner MotorSport Vision, intends the changes to transform Snetterton into one of Britain's leading racetracks.
"With Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Cadwell Park we have three outstanding circuits with immense driver/rider appeal," said Palmer, who took personal charge of designing the new layouts.
"Snetterton has its own character and great features of long straights and superb high speed corners but overall has lagged behind the other MSV circuits in terms of driver/rider appeal and spectator entertainment.
"Now that will all change and many will regard Snetterton as being the best circuit in the country for these crucial elements.
"Circuit layout is something I am passionate about and I have enjoyed designing the new Snetterton circuits. It was important to combine the best features of old Snetterton with the elimination of its weaknesses and the addition of a major new section to expand it and make it a real competitors' and spectators' favourite.
"I wanted every corner to either be a really exciting driver/rider challenge, or produce a good overtaking opportunity."
The new circuit is being designed with an FIA Grade 2 licence in mind, which will allow Snetterton to host everything below Formula 1. Palmer said the Le Mans series, World GT1 and DTM were all targets.
"I'd like to see DTM there," he told this week's AUTOSPORT magazine. "I think it'd be fantastic as it would give them a chance to stretch their legs and it could provide overtaking."
The new 2.99-mile 'Snetterton 300' configuration sees a new hairpin replacing the present Sear corner, leading into an infield section that eventually returns to the back straight. Coram and Russell will also be totally reprofiled, and shorter '200' and '100' layouts will be available.
Jonathan Palmer, head of circuit owner MotorSport Vision, intends the changes to transform Snetterton into one of Britain's leading racetracks.
"With Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Cadwell Park we have three outstanding circuits with immense driver/rider appeal," said Palmer, who took personal charge of designing the new layouts.
"Snetterton has its own character and great features of long straights and superb high speed corners but overall has lagged behind the other MSV circuits in terms of driver/rider appeal and spectator entertainment.
"Now that will all change and many will regard Snetterton as being the best circuit in the country for these crucial elements.
"Circuit layout is something I am passionate about and I have enjoyed designing the new Snetterton circuits. It was important to combine the best features of old Snetterton with the elimination of its weaknesses and the addition of a major new section to expand it and make it a real competitors' and spectators' favourite.
"I wanted every corner to either be a really exciting driver/rider challenge, or produce a good overtaking opportunity."
The new circuit is being designed with an FIA Grade 2 licence in mind, which will allow Snetterton to host everything below Formula 1. Palmer said the Le Mans series, World GT1 and DTM were all targets.
"I'd like to see DTM there," he told this week's AUTOSPORT magazine. "I think it'd be fantastic as it would give them a chance to stretch their legs and it could provide overtaking."
There's a bit more detail about what's happening to the individual corners on the Snetterton website (I only happened to go there to see what was on this weekend) -
Turn 1 is the existing super fast Riches, one of the best corners on any track, and this remains unchanged.
Turn 2 is very different from the old Sear, a corner that produced little overtaking, was not particularly challenging and inevitably featured cars running onto scruffy exit concrete beyond the track. This is replaced with a tight hairpin modelled on one of the best overtaking points on F1 circuits - the Montreal hairpin. Cars and bikes can often close through Riches, and this will create a superb overtaking opportunity.
Turn 3 is designed to be an exhilarating driver/rider challenge and features the exact radius of Monzas Parabolica - a fantastic sweeping corner.
The straight from Turn 3 to Turn 4 runs right past what will be a new extensive garden terrace area at the back of Tyrrells restaurant, so just like at Le Mans you can enjoy a meal or drink right beside cars and bikes speeding by.
Turn 4 is the second big overtaking opportunity. Faster competitors should be able to close through Turn 3 and then outbrake into 4, which will have a big run off area straight ahead and feature wider track width, to help encourage lunges!
Turn 5 is a fast curve designed to require just a dab on the brakes or a lift, enabling faster competitors to close in preparation for Turn 6.
Turn 6 is a tight right hander providing the third overtaking opportunity, modelled on Rivazza from Imola.
Turn 8 follows the Turn 7 curve and is a medium fast corner leading on to the original main straight. Such corners provide the best opportunity to keep close to a competitor ahead leading on to a long straight. Another great Italian corner provides inspiration, and this is essentially Monza Lesmo 1.
Turns 9 and 10 are the existing Esses corners, with tidying up of the run off areas and surrounds. Popular competitor opinion was that this should remain as a unique traditional feature of Snetterton providing good overtaking opportunities.
Turn 11 - the Bomb Hole - continues unchanged, its mid corner depression always creating a challenge and now enjoying a huge new run off area outside.
Turn 12 is the existing fast sweeping Coram, one of the country's favourites, which will in effect become a bit tighter by continuing through a larger angle and for longer. If a car was just flat before, it wont be now.
Turn 13 replaces the old Russells chicane. For me the worst corner on the existing track, providing little overtaking opportunity, no driver challenge and needing various degrees of messy, car damaging kerb crashing to be quick. This is replaced by one tight left hand corner, braking for which will prove a real challenge with cars and bikes loaded up exiting Coram. Drivers and riders face a dilemma - keep left for a fast Coram exit and enter 13 tight and lose exit speed there, or compromise Coram exit speed to get to the right side to give a wide turn in to Turn 13 for optimal speed down the pits straight."
Not sure when all this is taking place though?
Turn 1 is the existing super fast Riches, one of the best corners on any track, and this remains unchanged.
Turn 2 is very different from the old Sear, a corner that produced little overtaking, was not particularly challenging and inevitably featured cars running onto scruffy exit concrete beyond the track. This is replaced with a tight hairpin modelled on one of the best overtaking points on F1 circuits - the Montreal hairpin. Cars and bikes can often close through Riches, and this will create a superb overtaking opportunity.
Turn 3 is designed to be an exhilarating driver/rider challenge and features the exact radius of Monzas Parabolica - a fantastic sweeping corner.
The straight from Turn 3 to Turn 4 runs right past what will be a new extensive garden terrace area at the back of Tyrrells restaurant, so just like at Le Mans you can enjoy a meal or drink right beside cars and bikes speeding by.
Turn 4 is the second big overtaking opportunity. Faster competitors should be able to close through Turn 3 and then outbrake into 4, which will have a big run off area straight ahead and feature wider track width, to help encourage lunges!
Turn 5 is a fast curve designed to require just a dab on the brakes or a lift, enabling faster competitors to close in preparation for Turn 6.
Turn 6 is a tight right hander providing the third overtaking opportunity, modelled on Rivazza from Imola.
Turn 8 follows the Turn 7 curve and is a medium fast corner leading on to the original main straight. Such corners provide the best opportunity to keep close to a competitor ahead leading on to a long straight. Another great Italian corner provides inspiration, and this is essentially Monza Lesmo 1.
Turns 9 and 10 are the existing Esses corners, with tidying up of the run off areas and surrounds. Popular competitor opinion was that this should remain as a unique traditional feature of Snetterton providing good overtaking opportunities.
Turn 11 - the Bomb Hole - continues unchanged, its mid corner depression always creating a challenge and now enjoying a huge new run off area outside.
Turn 12 is the existing fast sweeping Coram, one of the country's favourites, which will in effect become a bit tighter by continuing through a larger angle and for longer. If a car was just flat before, it wont be now.
Turn 13 replaces the old Russells chicane. For me the worst corner on the existing track, providing little overtaking opportunity, no driver challenge and needing various degrees of messy, car damaging kerb crashing to be quick. This is replaced by one tight left hand corner, braking for which will prove a real challenge with cars and bikes loaded up exiting Coram. Drivers and riders face a dilemma - keep left for a fast Coram exit and enter 13 tight and lose exit speed there, or compromise Coram exit speed to get to the right side to give a wide turn in to Turn 13 for optimal speed down the pits straight."
Not sure when all this is taking place though?
FourWheelDrift said:
Of course this is the layout I'd like to see restored 
It's all still there apart from the Norwich Hairpin which is now a roundabout, the Norwich Straight is almost all there and the main way into the circuit is down the old home straight.
Not exactly complex.. Why did this ol' layout die a death? It's all still there apart from the Norwich Hairpin which is now a roundabout, the Norwich Straight is almost all there and the main way into the circuit is down the old home straight.FourWheelDrift said:
Lack of run off at the Norwich Hairpin ....
As in there wasn't any, the corner was lined with raliway sleepers. Been round that circuit a few times, but only in road cars. Yes, I am that old The development has been talked about for a few years but now it seems to have a date on it. Like others have said the corners look great, hope it all works aout as planned.
Looks like a fantastic layout, keeping the old straights in tact but gaining some new challenging corners, and getting rid of the final chicane which has been the death of many cars over the years should hopefully lead to some excellent racing, and with the finance behind it won't be a complete flop like Donny.
Fire99 said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Of course this is the layout I'd like to see restored It's all still there apart from the Norwich Hairpin which is now a roundabout, the Norwich Straight is almost all there and the main way into the circuit is down the old home straight.
Not exactly complex.. Why did this ol' layout die a death? It's all still there apart from the Norwich Hairpin which is now a roundabout, the Norwich Straight is almost all there and the main way into the circuit is down the old home straight.I've also been told (please confirm whether it's true) that the A11 and circuit used to provide landing zones for one another's accidents. If that is true it would have been spectacularly dangerous in either direction.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff