Blyton Park Driving Centre
has opened following a successful launch on May 4 hosted by the entrepreneur and enthusiast behind it, Richard Usher. The open day saw a wide range of cars take to the pristine new 1.5-mile asphalt circuit, and we're told it garnered praise for its 'challenging yet safe nature'.
"I built the track so that people could come here and enjoy their cars, a pastime that's increasingly difficult on our roads," says Richard, who has invested around half a million pounds rejuvenating the facility near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. "I am overwhelmed by the unanimously positive response to what we have done."
Blyton will continue to host Rallycross and Supermoto meetings but Usher has no ambition to see it become a venue for circuit racing. "The UK already has enough race tracks. I hope the wide range of vehicles that we saw here today will reflect the range of vehicles we attract to Blyton."
The former Second World War US bomber base has been used for various forms of motorsport for around 50 years and the local Grass Track racing club still occupies a part of the site. Blyton hosted the second round of the MSA Rallycross championship on May 7, under floodlights, and it's hoped that the new asphalt track, designed by ex-touring car ace Eugene O'Brian and motoring hack John Barker, will be sanctioned for Sprint meetings.
Blyton is now taking bookings for track days, general testing and location photography - and we're hoping we'll have a chance to check it out soon.