Cadwell Park

Cadwell Park was established in 1934 in the rolling Lincolnshire countryside and is known as the "mini Nurburgring", due to its unique challenges among British circuits. The track was almost doubled to 1.3 miles in 1953, when the first car race was held here (500c motorbike-engined Formula 3 class). Cadwell remained on the Formula 3 calendar until 1984. These days the only car races held here are club meetings, but the track's tight and swooping nature provides excellent racing. If you're a track day enthusiast, Cadwell Park should be towards the top of your list. The circuit was expanded to its current 2.25 mile configuration in 1962 and has 3 layouts: Woodlands; Club; and full. While at the briefing, take a look out of the window: what looks like a narrow access road is in fact the track! You may start to wish you'd brought a kart but persevere, it's worth it!

Location

Cadwell is just off the A153 between Louth & Horncastle. From the South leave the A1 at Grantham and take the A153 all the way to the track. From the North, take the A18/A16 to Louth, then the circuit is ~7 miles South on the A153.

Points to Note

If you find yourself needing some support at Cadwell try AW Tracksport in Horncastle. Turn left out the circuit and head towards Horncastle some 8 miles away. Turn right at traffic lights, over pedestrian crossing and up to the next set of lights and straight across. AW Tracksport are on the left next to M.L Plant hire. Their address is AW Tracksport, The Workshop, Lincoln Road, Horncastle, LN9 5AW. Tel: 01507 522242, Mob: 07737399920.

Closest Fuel Station

The closest is left out the circuit and in less than 2 miles there is a village Cash-Only station, else turn right out of the circuit into Louth

Accommodation

Various hotels close by in Louth and surrounding area including Travel lodge and a number of 3 and 4 star Hotels

Sprinting Information

Start

Coming out of the pits @C , competitors line up on the track , the start being at A

Hall Bends

Keep the car to the left on the approach, brake and then turn in, carrying a balanced throttle through the corners, as it is better to be slow and steady rather than attacking this section.

Hairpin

Braking for the Hairpin is tricky as the circuit falls away. Keep the car to the left, slow the car down and keep the car tight at the apex. Be cautious when you get back on the power. Bring the car out to the left and brake and be careful not to turn in too late to Barn.

Barn

Get a good apex and then get back on the power for the down hill run tp wards Coppice.

Coppice

Coppice is a very fast corner but be really smooth with turn in and allow room on the exit of the corner. Following from the first corner bring the car back to the left, lightly brake and then turn the car in at speed to Charlies

Charlies

From the exit you will be on the left. Brake and then turn in, being careful not to turn in too early as this will force the car wide on the exit. Be early on the power and let the car run out using the full width of the track on the exit. If it is dry, there is a small piece of grass concrete on the exit which is okay to use but be careful. This leads you onto the Park Straight. 

Park

After the long run down and up the hill, the braking reference will be the change in tarmac. The corner looks slower than it actually is; carry speed in as the camber will allow the car to grip in the corner.

Chris Curve

At Chris Curve turn in flat out, hold the car to the apex a little longer than you would normally, and then let the car move out to the left. This will then set the car up for the approach to the Gooseneck, 

Gooseneck

Keeping the car out to the left. Lightly brake before the right and then back on the power across the apex before a short hard brake. Then turn in to the apex for the left, then hard on the power down the hill using all the room on the right hand side of the circuit.

Mansfield

Mansfield is at the bottom of the steep downhill run. Because of the steep downhill approach brake earlier and harder than normal, but carry speed into the apex and get back on the power early as there is plenty of space on the exit. Bring the car to the left for the apex and then straighten the car towards the the finish at B.

 

Trackday Information

Cadwell Park was established in 1934 in the rolling Lincolnshire countryside and is known as the "mini Nurburgring", due to its unique challenges among British circuits. The track was almost doubled to 1.3 miles in 1953, when the first car race was held here (500c motorbike-engined Formula 3 class). Cadwell remained on the Formula 3 calendar until 1984. These days the only car races held here are club meetings, but the track's tight and swooping nature provides excellent racing. If you're a track day enthusiast, Cadwell Park should be towards the top of your list. The circuit was expanded to its current 2.25 mile configuration in 1962 and has 3 layouts: Woodlands; Club; and full. While at the briefing, take a look out of the window: what looks like a narrow access road is in fact the track! You may start to wish you'd brought a kart but persevere, it's worth it!

Cadwell is just off the A153 between Louth & Horncastle. From the South leave the A1 at Grantham and take the A153 all the way to the track. From the North, take the A18/A16 to Louth, then the circuit is ~7 miles South on the A153.

Coppice is a very fast corner but be really smooth with turn in and allow room on the exit of the corner. Following from the first corner bring the car back to the left, lightly brake and then turn the car in at speed to Charlies. From the exit you will be on the left. Brake and then turn in, being careful not to turn in too early as this will force the car wide on the exit. Be early on the power and let the car run out using the full width of the track on the exit. If it is dry, there is a small piece of grass concrete on the exit which is okay to use but be careful. This leads you onto the Park Straight. After the long run down and up the hill, the braking reference will be the change in tarmac. The corner looks slower than it actually is; carry speed in as the camber will allow the car to grip in the corner. At Chris Curve turn in flat out, hold the car to the apex a little longer than you would normally, and then let the car move out to the left. This will then set the car up for the approach to the Gooseneck, keeping the car out to the left. Lightly brake before the right and then back on the power across the apex before a short hard brake. Then turn in to the apex for the left, then hard on the power down the hill using all the room on the right hand side of the circuit.

Mansfield is at the bottom of the steep downhill run. Because of the steep downhill approach brake earlier and harder than normal, but carry speed into the apex and get back on the power early as there is plenty of space on the exit. Bring the car to the left for the apex and then straighten the car towards the turn in point for the bottom part of the Mountain, braking diagonally straight across the circuit. Turn in, and keep the car to the left before turning right and getting on the power early up the Mountain. Over the top keep the car slightly off centre so you don't run out of road on the top. It may be worth a slight lift before the crest to protect your driveshafts if you have a car that is prone to driveshaft issues.

This then leads into the very tight section of Hall Bends. Keep the car to the left on the approach, brake and then turn in, carrying a balanced throttle through the corners, as it is better to be slow and steady rather than attacking this section. Braking for the Hairpin is tricky as the circuit falls away. Keep the car to the left, slow the car down and keep the car tight at the apex. Be cautious when you get back on the power. Bring the car out to the left and brake and be careful not to turn in too late to Barn. Get a good apex and then get back on the power for the down hill run to the start/finish straight.

Words kindly provided by Jamie Stanley