About the Venue
Hethel
The venue is the Test Track at the Group Lotus Cars factory at Potash Lane, Hethel, near Wymondham, Norfolk, NR14 8EZ, off the B1135 about 3 miles from the junction with the A11. The north end of Potash Lane is closed to traffic.
The village of Hethel gave its name to the former RAF Hethel bomber station, which has been the location of the head office and factory of Lotus Cars since the 1960s. The Lotus Cars Test Track uses sections of the old RAF Hethel runway.
The track contains a series of bends, hairpin corners and straights designed to put Lotus' high performance cars through their paces. It was officially re-opened on 21st June 2011 by Nigel Mansell having been totally renovated to bring it up to FIA standards
Sprinting
The sprint takes place over 1.33 laps, Graham Hill, Andretti and Senna Curves being tackled twice. It contains fast straights, sweeping corners and technical sections and is one of the longest sprint courses in the country. For practice there is only one run but it consists of two full laps plus another one third of a lap, the second practice lap is a flying lap.
Start
The start is from the pit lane. On entering the track get quickly over to the right for the first corner.
Graham Hill
A fast sequence of left, right, left follows immediately. Your speed will be increasing and you may well find that you have to lift slightly through this section. After the final left hander you will be accelerating hard towards the Andretti hairpin.
Andretti
The Andretti hairpin is surprisingly fast and has a lot of grip in the dry. It has a late apex and it is important to get a good exit onto the Senna Curves which are very fast.
Senna Curves
At the end of Senna Curves there is an artificial chicane. This is another spot where it is important to get a good exit as it is followed by the Mansell Main Straight.
Mansell Main Straight
At the end of the Mansell Main Straight you will approach a bus stop chicane at very high speed but there is a change of surface to give you a braking point.
Rindt Hairpin
After the bus stop you are immediately faced with the Rindt Hairpin. The Rindt Hairpin is followed by the Fittipaldi Straight so it is important to get a good exit
Fittipaldi Straight
Fittipaldi Straight is followed by another artificial chicane and this time there are no obvious markers other than those placed there by the organisers.
Clark/ Graham Hill
After the chicane you meet what is probably the most challenging part of the sprint course. A sequence of right, left, left, right, left, right, left corners. After the first right hand corner the two left hand corners can be taken as one but, if you carry too much speed into the right hander that follows, you will be out of position and this will compromise the rest of the sequence.
Andretti
You are now back at the Andretti hairpin and the finish is just after Senna Curves.
Trackday Information
The official Lotus Test Track, located directly on the premises of the Group Lotus headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, UK, is the base of the Lotus Driving Academy.
Originally the site served as an airfield to the U.S. Air Force during World War 2 from 1942 to 1945. Group Lotus moved its headquarters to Hethel in 1966 and it has been there ever since. Portions of the runways and taxiways were developed as a circuit that could be used for the testing of cars, which was in turn used by the likes of Clark, Rindt, Fittipaldi and Senna to fine-tune their Formula One racers.
The entire complex has recently undergone a complete refurbishment and is now a state-of-the-art facility with concrete surfacing and kerbs throughout. An FIA specification purpose-built test circuit with a length of 2.2 miles and a width of 40 feet, the Lotus Test Track combines a variety of technical aspects with a series of bends, hairpin, corners, straights and a turning circle designed to put Lotus’ high performance cars through their paces, and to train and develop your driving skills.
Closest Fuel Station
On A11 - equidistant North and South bound - both sell Super Plus - Northbound also has a Waitrose store for food and drinks.
Upcoming Events
Saturday 6th September 2025
THIS EVENT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY ALPHA 7.
www.Alpha7.co.uk
What: Exclusive Caterham and Lotus 7 Club “Novices Day” – with extended novice-friendly briefing session and extensive (free of charge) one-to-one instruction.
Where: The Hethel Lotus test circuit is situated alongside the Lotus Cars UK factory, a few miles SW of Norwich and approached by a minor road off the A11 around ten miles South of Norwich off the A11.
Our unique Caterham Lotus Seven Club trackday offering includes
· Trackdays for Club members only
· Caterham or Lotus Seven cars only
· Free instruction from qualified racing driver instructors
· Free support and mechanical help from Caterham specialists including breakdowns on the day
· Friendly Club environment
· Days specifically for novice drivers
· Days for experienced drivers and drivers of all abilities
· Experienced trackday organising team
· And then there is the banter!
As a result of the record numbers of novice drivers attending our Club trackdays in recent years we are delighted to offer another chance to participate in a Club Novice Trackday at the Lotus Cars test circuit in Hethel. This circuit is great fun in a Seven and as you would imagine provides a good mix of high-speed running and technical sections.
This Club-exclusive event is aimed specifically at members who class themselves as a novice or newcomer, or those who may need a comprehensive refresh after a substantial period away from any track activity. It will be ideal for those who want to get on track with the Club in a friendly, supportive and structured environment.
As a result of the success of selling out our last six novice events we have again provided for a significant number of participants – up to 27 cars – whilst maintaining a superb ‘instructor to driver’ ratio. Following the extended briefing session, track activity will start with members divided into groups, with no more than nine cars on track at any one time and with pre-allocated instructor slots. Later in the day we will move to a controlled Open Pit Lane approach – though still with a limit to the number of cars on track and plenty of one-to-one instruction being available throughout.
Hethel was originally a working airfield servicing bomber squadrons of the U.S. 8th Air Force during World War 2. The Lotus Group, founded by Colin Chapman, moved its headquarters to Hethel in 1966, where it remains in residence whilst also running the Lotus Test Track.
An FIA specification purpose-built test circuit with a length of 2.2 miles and a width of 40 feet, the Lotus Test Track combines a variety of technical aspects with a series of bends, hairpin, corners and straights designed to put Lotus’ high-performance cars through their paces.
The circuit went through a complete refurbishment and is now a very modern facility with concrete surfacing and kerbs throughout. The refurbished track was opened by Nigel Mansell in June 2011 when he commented on the new asphalt and larger run off areas being well suited to modern racing and performance car testing.
There are no garages on site, but the paddock offers a large amount of hard standing.
The day is subject to 105db static noise limit and a 100dB drive-by noise limit.
The cost to participate is set at £225 for a car and main driver; an additional driver (who must be a Club member) will cost £65 and passengers will be welcome at £5 per head.
Definitely a date to book and enjoy!
Cars will not be permitted onto the circuit unless fitted with an MSA-acceptable rollbar or roll cage. In practice, this normally means the use of the ‘trackday’ or ‘FIA’ rollbars as supplied by Caterham Cars. Please see our Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations document which includes guidance on rollbars and safety requirements.
Link to Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations
The Club trackday Indemnity Form which you agreed to when booking can be seen HERE
Signing on and accepting the Club Indemnity Form will take place online when you book. All participants will be required to register on the day and all drivers will be required to present a current driving licence.
All participants will also be required to complete a Lotus Cars online Registration Form prior to the event, details of which will be emailed 10 days before the event.
Drivers will be required to present a valid DVLA driving licence or recognised international equivalent on the day.
Camping: Camping is not available at the circuit.
All drivers must be members of the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club, driving Lotus 7 or Caterham cars.
Link to Webshop Terms and Conditions
Non-refundable costs were incurred on
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE
Hethel Novice Trackday EXPERIENCED GROUP
Saturday 6th September 2025
THIS EVENT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY ALPHA 7.
www.Alpha7.co.uk
What: Experienced trackday drivers’ group running in parallel to the Club’s novice groups on the famous Lotus Cars Test Track
Where: The Hethel test circuit is situated alongside the Lotus Cars UK factory, a few miles SW of Norwich and approached by a minor road off the A11 around ten miles South of Norwich off the A11.
Our unique Caterham Lotus Seven Club trackday offering includes
· Trackdays for Club members only
· Caterham or lotus Seven cars only
· Free support and mechanical help from Caterham specialists including breakdowns on the day
· Friendly Club environment
· Days specifically for novice drivers
· Days for experienced drivers and drivers of all abilities
· Experienced trackday organising team
· And then there is the banter!
This is a Club exclusive event running as an ‘event within the event’, providing an opportunity for experienced trackday drivers to join the Club’s novices trackday at Hethel. More than three hours of track-time is on offer for the ‘Experienced Group’ during the day, likely to be as follows:
0900 – 0930 30 minutes
1000 – 1015 15 minutes
1100 – 1115 15 minutes
1200 – 1215 15 minutes
1400 – 1420 20 minutes
1500 – 1520 20 minutes
1600 – 1700 60 minutes (all members OPL)
During the final hour, the track will be open to all Club members present on an OPL basis (subject to Hethel’s normal “maximum sixteen cars on track at one time” limit) allowing the novice participants to finish their day with the experience of being on track alongside a group of more seasoned trackday drivers.
Originally a working airfield servicing bomber squadrons of the U.S. 8th Air Force during World War 2, the Lotus Group, founded by Colin Chapman, moved its headquarters to Hethel in 1966, where it remains in residence whilst also running the Hethel Lotus Test Track.
An FIA specification purpose-built test circuit with a length of 2.2 miles and a width of 40 feet, the Lotus Test Track combines a variety of technical aspects with a series of bends, hairpin, corners and straights designed to put Lotus’ high-performance cars through their paces.
The circuit went through a complete refurbishment and is now a very modern facility with concrete surfacing and kerbs throughout. The refurbished track was opened by Nigel Mansell in June 2011 when he commented on the new asphalt and larger run off areas being well suited to modern racing and performance car testing.
There are no garages on site, but the paddock does have a large amount of hard standing.
The day is subject to 105db static noise limit and a 100dB drive-by noise limit.
The price for this special opportunity is set at £225 for a car and main driver, with an additional driver (who must be a Club member) being welcome at a cost of £65 and passengers being charged £5 each.
This event is limited to just 16 cars - so book now!
Cars will not be permitted onto the circuit unless fitted with an MSA-acceptable rollbar or roll cage. In practice, this normally means the use of the ‘trackday’ or ‘FIA’ rollbars as supplied by Caterham Cars. Please see our Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations document which includes guidance on rollbars and safety requirements.
Link to Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations
The Club trackday Indemnity Form which you agreed to when booking can be seen HERE
Signing on and accepting the Club Indemnity Form will take place online when you book. All participants will be required to register on the day and all drivers will be required to present a current driving licence.
All participants will also be required to complete a Goodwood online Registration Form prior to the event, details of which will be emailed 10 days before the event.
Drivers will be required to present a valid DVLA driving licence or recognised international equivalent on the day.
Camping: Camping is not available at the circuit.
All drivers must be members of the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club, driving Lotus 7 or Caterham cars.
Link to Webshop Terms and Conditions
Non-refundable costs were incurred on
PLEASE GO TO THE STORE ABOVE TO PURCHASE A PLACE AT THIS TRACKDAY