Castle Combe Circuit's traditional winter programme of improvements is
now well under way, further upgrading the circuit and its safety system and
facilities.
The most obvious change is the installation for the first time of debris
fencing at Camp, Folly and Quarry corners, identified by a recent risk
assessment as areas exposed to the greatest risk of intrusion into the spectator
area.
Castle Combe Circuit Chairman Howard Strawford said "Whilst some
spectators might have reservations about watching from behind fencing, put into
perspective, it will cover only 260 metres of a 3000 metre circuit and will give
an added degree of safety whilst watching in those areas."
For competitors, various upgrades to tyre walls and barriers are taking place
from Old Paddock to Tower corners. At the latter, the previously sloping ground
has been levelled, with the tyre walls being upgraded to bolted double rows with
conveyor belt fronting.
This system was first installed at Camp Corner last year and was severely
tested by ex British Touring car driver, Tim Harvey, at the Power Tour meeting
in June. In front of massive crowds and hundreds of thousands more on TV, Tim
pitched his British GT championship Dodge Viper sports racing car into the new
barrier at very high speed. Damage was minimal, Harvey was unhurt and happy to
praise the system afterwards.
This grade of barrier will soon be extended to all the stand alone marshals'
posts around the circuit.
Triple layer armco barrier is being extended from Old Paddock to Tower, with
the marshals' post at the entrance to Tower corner being moved back some 4
metres, which will almost double the run off area across the whole 300 metre
run.
Further landscaping and fencing has been completed around the paddock area
with approximately 1000 Beech hedging plants installed. Some additional
tarmacadam has been laid in the paddock and on the internal road system, by Ford
Brothers of Cheddar.
The popular "view from the car" area at Tower has also been
improved. M.J. Church Contractors from nearby Marshfield has just completed a
contract to install ground reinforcement meshing, providing a more stable
platform for both cars and those on foot.
Next year's major plans include a large showroom extension for Merlin
Motorsport, the specialist motorsport parts company based at the circuit and a
Director's Box above the Medical Centre's Ambulance bay next to race control.
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