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HETHEL
Saturday 9th September 2023
What: Club-exclusive sessions with free instruction available at the famous Lotus Cars test track.
Where: The Hethel Lotus race/test circuit is situated alongside the Lotus UK factory, a few miles SW of Norwich & approached by a minor road off the A11.10 miles South of Norwich off the A11.
Once 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.
We have not been able to get a booking at the Lotus Cars test track at Hethel for years but we have been very fortunate to secure this historic Circuit for a Club exclusive day on a Saturday in 2023. The normal Club benefits will be available including free instruction.
We will have exclusive use of the circuit throughout the day, starting in Sessions format (with drivers grouped according to experience and ability) and then progressing to Open Pit Lane (OPL) operation as soon as possible and – other than in exceptional circumstances – no later than lunchtime. The event is suitable for drivers at all levels. We provide free instruction which is available to all drivers (bookable on the day).
There are no garages on site, but the paddock does have a large amount of hard standing.
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 modern facility with concrete surfacing and kerbs throughout. The refurbished track was opened by Nigel Mansell in June 2011 and he said - the new asphalt and larger run off areas are better suited to modern racing and performance car testing. Its mixture of corners, straights and braking zones makes it ideal for testing and optimizing every performance aspect of the new era of Lotus products.
Other drivers at the opening in 2011 said:
Jean Alesi,“It’s extremely fast. The first time I went out I was surprised about the length of the straights, but then of course it’s not only for motor sport but for testing road cars. The layout is perfect for that. It’s a proper test track.
Clive Chapman, said: “I remember my father testing the Lotus 49 on this circuit. He didn’t wear a helmet and you could see him grinning from ear to ear because he knew he had another winner. The circuit’s longest straight doubled as a runway, and we would land here in my father’s plane.
The day is subject to a 95dB(A) drive by noise limit.
The Day is limited to just 39 cars.
The cost for a car and main driver – including the benefits listed above – is £196; an additional driver (who must be a Club member) costs £40 and any passengers are charged at £5 each.
There is no camping available at this Circuit.
TO BOOK A PLACE AT THIS EVENT
PLEASE SIGN INTO YOUR CLUB MY LOVE ADMIN ACCOUNT AND GO
TO EVENTS TO BOOK.
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 which discusses rollbars.
Links to Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations (TSSR) and Third Party Insurance are here
Signing on will be online and via email before the event as in recent years.
All drivers must be members of the Caterham and Lotus Seven Club, driving Lotus 7 or Caterham cars.