Knockhill Racing Circuit

Knockhill Racing Circuit at a glance

Location

Dunfermline, Fife

Type

road course

Length

2.0389 km (1.2669 mi)

Turns

9

Direction

clockwise

Surface

asphalt

Elevation change

121 ft

Opened

1974

Owner

Derek Butcher / Knockhill Racing Circuit Ltd (since 1984)

Address

Knockhill, by Dunfermline

Phone

+44 1383 723337

Website

knockhill.com

Track map and layout

Knockhill is Scotland's only FIA-graded circuit, built by connecting old colliery service roads to a disused mineral railway line in the hills above Dunfermline, and its short 2.0389 km, 9-turn lap packs around 37 metres of elevation change into a compact space. The International Circuit drops away from the start-finish straight through Duffus Dip before climbing hard through McIntyres, tightening at the Chicane and Clark's, and rising again to the circuit's high point before dropping down through Hislop's (formerly Railway corner, renamed after Scottish motorcycle champion Steve Hislop) and the final corners back onto the straight. Uniquely among British circuits, Knockhill has been licensed to run in both directions since 2012, and it also has a shorter National Circuit (1.609 km, 10 turns) and a small Tri-Oval (0.482 km, 3 turns) used for karting, rallycross and other club disciplines.

Named corners and sections

• Duffus Dip. A dipping, downhill right-hander early in the lap that tests car control under compression.
• McIntyres. A fast, climbing corner named after Scottish motorcycling family the McIntyres, several of whom raced at Knockhill.
• The Chicane. A tight left-right sequence that slows the lap's fastest section for safety.
• Clark's. A corner named in tribute to Scottish Formula 1 world champion Jim Clark.
• Hislop's. Formerly known as Railway corner, renamed after Scottish motorcycle racer and multiple TT winner Steve Hislop.
• Taylor's Hairpin. A slow hairpin used on the National Circuit configuration.

Configurations

Events and race weekends

As Scotland's national motorsport centre, Knockhill hosts the sole Scottish round of both the British Touring Car Championship and British Superbike Championship each year, drawing the two biggest crowds of its calendar. The circuit's compact, technical layout, combined with rally stages, a karting track, skid pan and off-road courses on the same site, also makes it a year-round hub for driving experiences, rallycross and club motorsport beyond its two headline national series.

Getting there and parking

Knockhill sits in the hills above Dunfermline in Fife, reached from Edinburgh via the M90 north to Junction 2 and then the A92. There is no direct public transport to the circuit; the nearest useful stations are Dunfermline Town, Dunfermline Queen Margaret and Inverkeithing, from which a pre-booked taxi is the only practical way to finish the journey. Edinburgh Airport, across the Forth, is the nearest major airport.

• Edinburgh Airport (EDI) · about 35 min drive

Parking

On-site parking is available for event visitors, usually included with tickets; arrive early for BTCC and BSB weekends as the A92 approach can be slow.

There is no public transport route directly to Knockhill, so visitors without a car should book a taxi in advance from Dunfermline Town, Queen Margaret or Inverkeithing stations rather than relying on finding one on the day.

Hotels and camping near Knockhill Racing Circuit

Knockhill has its own campsite just steps from the circuit, making it the easiest option for BTCC and BSB weekends given the lack of public transport to the venue. For a hotel, Dunfermline is the best base, only 10-15 minutes' drive away with a wide range of chains including Premier Inn, Travelodge and Best Western, while Edinburgh offers a much larger choice for those willing to cross the Forth; rooms in Dunfermline are worth booking early for the Scottish rounds of BTCC and BSB.

Where to look

Dunfermline, 10-15 minutes' drive away, is the recommended base with a wide choice of chain hotels; Edinburgh, across the Forth, offers a much larger range for visitors happy to drive further.

Track days, driving experiences and lap records

Knockhill runs its own car and bike track days in-house, offering both open-pitlane and sessioned formats, alongside a trackday membership scheme that bundles credit for multiple visits. Third-party organisers including Javelin Trackdays and Opentrack Events also hold regular sessions at the circuit, which is prized for its fast, flowing, technical layout and dramatic elevation changes.

Who runs days here

• Knockhill (in-house car and bike track days)both
• Javelin Trackdaysboth
• Opentrack Eventscar

Typical cost: Knockhill 2026 trackday car membership from £210 credit (£160 trackdays credit) valid 13 months; single-day pricing varies by provider

Lap records

Spectator guide

Knockhill's compact, undulating layout means most of the circuit is visible from just a few vantage points, with the banking overlooking Duffus Dip and the Chicane giving views of several corners and around 200 feet of elevation change in one sweep. The short lap and close-quarters layout make it a popular circuit for watching wheel-to-wheel BTCC racing in particular.

Seating

Viewing areas take their names from nearby corners, including Duffus Dip, McIntyres and the Chicane.

Best places to watch

The high ground overlooking Duffus Dip and the climb to McIntyres gives a sweeping view of the circuit's biggest elevation changes and several corners at once.

Weather

• : Fife's weather is cooler and more changeable than southern England; race weekends can see rain in any month, so visitors should pack for showers

History of Knockhill Racing Circuit

Built on an old colliery railway

Knockhill was created in the early 1970s by connecting existing service roads to the route of a disused mineral railway that had served the Lethans Colliery until its closure in 1951. The circuit opened in September 1974 and held its first race the following May, quickly becoming established as Scotland's national motorsport centre and, to this day, the country's only FIA-graded circuit.

Scotland's home of touring cars and bikes

Derek Butcher took ownership of Knockhill in 1984 and has run the circuit ever since, developing it into the sole Scottish venue for both the British Touring Car Championship, a fixture from 1992 to 2002 and again from 2004, and the British Superbike Championship, which has raced there in most seasons since 1996. The circuit has also produced and celebrated its own motorsport talent, naming corners after Scottish champions including Formula 1 world champion Jim Clark and motorcycle racer Steve Hislop, whose name replaced the old Railway corner.

A modern multi-discipline venue

Knockhill became licensed to run in both directions in 2012, a rare capability among British circuits that adds variety for club racers and track-day drivers. Beyond circuit racing, the site has grown into a broader motorsport hub with rally stages, a karting track, a skid pan and off-road courses, and it runs its own driving experiences alongside third-party track day organisers. The venue's compact size, rugged Fife setting and technical, undulating layout have made it a popular filming location too, appearing in Top Gear, The Grand Tour and several racing video games.

Frequently asked questions

Other tracks nearby

• Ingliston Circuit · 22 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Charterhall · 84 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Croft Circuit · 223 km · road course
• Kirkistown Race Circuit · 224 km · road course
• Clypse Course · 225 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• St John's Short Course · 226 km · historic circuit (defunct)