Pembrey Circuit
Encyclopedia
Pembrey Circuit is a racing circuit outside Pembrey
village, south Wales
. It is deemed to be the home of Welsh motorsport
, providing racing for cars, motorcycles, karts and trucks. The circuit's facilities have also been used for a single venue rally
.
was the closure of the motor racing facility at Llandow
near Cardiff
. In 1981 the Welsh Race Drivers’ Association (WRDA) was formed with the expressed intention of developing a new race circuit in Wales. At the same time the former RAF airfield at Pembrey
, which had been used a chicken farm, was acquired by Llanelli
Borough Council. Following a representation by the WRDA the decision was taken to construct a racing circuit at the venue. The first race meeting was held on the 21st May 1989, and the winner of the first race at the circuit was Nigel Petch in an MGB.
In 1990 the BARC
signed a 50 year lease to operate the circuit on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council.
and Alain Prost
in the late 1980's. Arrows
, Benetton
, Jordan
and Williams
have all tested at Pembrey in the early 1990s with BAR
being the last F1 team to test at Pembrey in 1998. The Seat and VX Racing BTCC teams have also recently tested there as has Nigel Mansell
in a GP Masters car. These cars are likely to have set times far faster than the official lap record, However, convention suggests that lap record is the fastest lap set under racing conditions. Therefore, that honour goes to Argentine Formula 3 driver, Brian Smith, who drove a Dallara
F397 HKS
Mitsubishi
.
(BARC) under the terms of a 50 year lease from Carmarthenshire County Council. A third configuration was also used in 1996, which was that of a short oval. This followed the race circuit from the Start/Finish straight, through the first two corners of the track, before turning left at the third corner and returning to the Start/Finish straight.
twice, in 1992 and 1993 at which time the championship was the most popular motorsport series in the UK outside Formula One
. Formula 3 races have also been run at Pembrey Circuit.
Today the circuit does not host such high prestige events. The facilities currently at the circuit are no longer suitable for hosting such events and the circuit would need some investment in order to get back onto the BTCC and F3 calendars. Currently the circuit's owners are spending money improving their other circuits including Mallory Park
and Thruxton
.
However, over the winter of 2005/06 a new pit lane was constructed. Highlights on the current calendar include a round of the British Rallycross
championship and two rounds of the British Truck Racing championship, organized by the BTRAhttp://www.btra.co.uk/. Also a Great and British Motorsport Festival
is held at the Welsh track. The circuit serves as the main venue for the Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship
and 3 single venue rallys held in February, October and in late December.
Pembrey
Pembrey is a village in Carmarthenshire Wales, situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly, overlooking Carmarthen Bay.-History:The name Pembrey is an Anglicisation of the Welsh, Pen-bre...
village, south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is deemed to be the home of Welsh motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
, providing racing for cars, motorcycles, karts and trucks. The circuit's facilities have also been used for a single venue rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
.
History
The stimulus for the creation of a racing circuit at PembreyPembrey
Pembrey is a village in Carmarthenshire Wales, situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly, overlooking Carmarthen Bay.-History:The name Pembrey is an Anglicisation of the Welsh, Pen-bre...
was the closure of the motor racing facility at Llandow
Llandow
Llandow is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The village is located south west of Cardiff.- Amenities :Within Llandow is a small medieval parish church, whose history dates back to the 11th century, with a saddleback tower dedicated to the Holy Trinity.Adjacent to the village is a...
near Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. In 1981 the Welsh Race Drivers’ Association (WRDA) was formed with the expressed intention of developing a new race circuit in Wales. At the same time the former RAF airfield at Pembrey
Pembrey
Pembrey is a village in Carmarthenshire Wales, situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly, overlooking Carmarthen Bay.-History:The name Pembrey is an Anglicisation of the Welsh, Pen-bre...
, which had been used a chicken farm, was acquired by Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
Borough Council. Following a representation by the WRDA the decision was taken to construct a racing circuit at the venue. The first race meeting was held on the 21st May 1989, and the winner of the first race at the circuit was Nigel Petch in an MGB.
In 1990 the BARC
British Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
signed a 50 year lease to operate the circuit on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council.
Testing
The circuit is also popular for testing, due to its varied corners and its secluded location. Formula One teams have tested at the circuit in the past including McLaren and their drivers Ayrton SennaAyrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
and Alain Prost
Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur is a French racing driver. A four-time Formula One Drivers' Champion, Prost has won more titles than any driver except for Juan Manuel Fangio , and Michael Schumacher . From 1987 until 2001 Prost held the record for most Grand Prix...
in the late 1980's. Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
, Benetton
Benetton Formula
Benetton Formula Ltd., commonly referred to simply as Benetton, was a Formula One constructor that participated from to . The team was owned by the Benetton family who run a worldwide chain of clothing stores of the same name. In 2000 the team was purchased by Renault, but competed as Benetton for...
, Jordan
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
and Williams
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
have all tested at Pembrey in the early 1990s with BAR
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
being the last F1 team to test at Pembrey in 1998. The Seat and VX Racing BTCC teams have also recently tested there as has Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
in a GP Masters car. These cars are likely to have set times far faster than the official lap record, However, convention suggests that lap record is the fastest lap set under racing conditions. Therefore, that honour goes to Argentine Formula 3 driver, Brian Smith, who drove a Dallara
Dallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
F397 HKS
HKS
HKS can refer to:*the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University*HKS *HKS, Inc., an international architecture firm*HKS , Japanese automotive accessory company...
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
.
Configurations
The circuit has two different sections, an all tarmac race circuit and a rally cross circuit utilizing some of the race circuit with an addition off-road surface. The circuit is operated by the British Automobile Racing ClubBritish Automobile Racing Club
The British Automobile Racing Club is one of biggest organising clubs for auto racing in the United Kingdom.-History:The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder...
(BARC) under the terms of a 50 year lease from Carmarthenshire County Council. A third configuration was also used in 1996, which was that of a short oval. This followed the race circuit from the Start/Finish straight, through the first two corners of the track, before turning left at the third corner and returning to the Start/Finish straight.
Major Events
The circuit has hosted the British Touring Car ChampionshipBritish Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
twice, in 1992 and 1993 at which time the championship was the most popular motorsport series in the UK outside Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
. Formula 3 races have also been run at Pembrey Circuit.
Today the circuit does not host such high prestige events. The facilities currently at the circuit are no longer suitable for hosting such events and the circuit would need some investment in order to get back onto the BTCC and F3 calendars. Currently the circuit's owners are spending money improving their other circuits including Mallory Park
Mallory Park
Mallory Park is a motor racing circuit situated in the village of Kirkby Mallory, just off the A47, between Leicester and Hinckley. With the full car circuit measuring only 1.35 miles it is amongst the shortest permanent race circuits in the UK...
and Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
.
However, over the winter of 2005/06 a new pit lane was constructed. Highlights on the current calendar include a round of the British Rallycross
Rallycross
Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
championship and two rounds of the British Truck Racing championship, organized by the BTRAhttp://www.btra.co.uk/. Also a Great and British Motorsport Festival
Great and British Motorsport Festival
A Great and British Motorsport Festival is a package of motor races organised by the BARC and promoted by Dunlop. The events are a new addition to the motorsport calendar and appears at the Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Pembrey, Silverstone, Thruxton, Croft and Donington Park racing circuits...
is held at the Welsh track. The circuit serves as the main venue for the Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship
Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship
The Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship is organised by the BARC and the Welsh Racing Drivers’ Association, the main venue of the championship being Pembrey. 2009 sees the championship travelling to Brands Hatch...
and 3 single venue rallys held in February, October and in late December.