Thruxton Circuit

Thruxton Circuit lies in Hampshire’s countryside near the village of Thruxton, about 48 kilometres north of Southampton. Built on the site of a Second World War airfield used by both the RAF and USAAF, it opened as a racing track in 1968. The track follows the old perimeter road and runways, giving it a fast, flowing layout. It has hosted major British championships including the British Touring Car Championship and British Superbike Championship. The circuit is widely known as the fastest in the UK, where cars and bikes reach speeds over 300 kilometres per hour. The airfield’s history adds depth to the circuit’s story. Paratroopers left from here for the Bruneval Raid in 1942, seizing German radar equipment. After the war, bike races began on the runways and perimeter road from 1950 to 1965. Damon Hill set an unofficial lap record of 57.6 seconds in a Williams Formula One car in 1993. Safety upgrades in 2020 and a new spectator bank in 2025 show the circuit continues to evolve. Visitors find a compact 3.8-kilometre track surrounded by open fields and gentle hills. The Church section is one of the fastest parts of the lap. New viewing areas at Noble and Woodham Hill Bank give clear sightlines over the track. On race days the grandstands and banks fill with spectators watching cars and bikes compete. The British Automobile Racing Club has its headquarters on site, linking the circuit to British motorsport’s governing bodies.