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Track guide · road course
Mallory Park
Mallory Park at a glanceChecked 2026-09-10
- Length
- 2.269 km1.41 mi
- Turns
- 13
- Opened
- 1956
- Location
- Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire
- Type
- road course
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Owner
- MotorSport Vision (MSV)
- Phone
- +44 1455 502214
- Website
- malloryparkcircuit.com
Track map and layout
Mallory Park is one of the shortest and most compact permanent circuits in Britain, tucked into a natural bowl of parkland in rural Leicestershire and built originally as a grass track before being surfaced in 1956. The main car layout is just 1.35 miles with only five corners, dominated by the huge, sweeping Gerards Bend that takes up nearly half the lap, while the 1.41-mile, 13-turn Superbike configuration adds the Devil's Elbow and two chicanes to slow motorcycles through the same footprint. A separate 1-mile, four-turn Oval layout is used for club oval racing. Nicknamed 'the friendly circuit,' Mallory's small scale and lake-side setting make it one of the most accessible tracks in the country for spectators and novice track-day drivers alike.
Named corners and sections
Gerards Bend.
A long, roughly 200-degree right-hander named after pre-war racing driver Bob Gerard; the defining feature of the lap, taking up much of the circuit's length.
Shaw's Corner (The Hairpin).
A very tight 180-degree hairpin, often described as one of the tightest corners on any UK circuit.
Devil's Elbow.
A downhill, off-camber left-hander used on the Superbike configuration, demanding a confident line.
Edwina's Chicane.
A chicane added specifically to slow motorcycles for the Superbike layout.
Bus Stop Chicane.
A further speed-reducing chicane feature used on the longer motorcycle configuration.
Configurations
Car Circuit
2.17 km5 turns, used for most car racing and track days
Superbike Circuit
2.27 km13 turns including Devil's Elbow and two chicanes, used for motorcycle racing
Oval Circuit
1.61 km4 turns, used for club oval-format racing
Events and race weekends
Mallory Park has a long motorcycle racing pedigree, having hosted the Race of the Year meeting for decades and remaining a fixture on the British club and championship motorcycle calendar, alongside its long-running Festival of Sidecars. Car racing includes BRSCC and 750 Motor Club club championships, historic race meetings and sprints. In 2026 - the circuit's 70th anniversary year - the Festival of 1000 Bikes was revived as a major new fixture on the July calendar.
1000 Bikes Revival
Historic/classic motorcycle racingRevived for Mallory Park's 70th anniversary in 2026
Annual eventWhenJULJulyFestival of Sidecars
Sidecar racingLong-running dedicated sidecar meeting
Annual eventWhenOCTOctoberClub car and bike championship rounds
BRSCC / 750 Motor Club / ACU clubsRegular meetings through the season
Annual eventWhen—
Getting there and parking
Mallory Park is off the A47 between Leicester and Hinckley, close to the M1 (junction 21) and M69 (junction 3). Hinckley railway station is the nearest, about five miles away, with onward taxi or bus connections to the circuit. East Midlands Airport is roughly 30 minutes' drive to the north.
- EMAEast Midlands Airport (EMA)about 30 mindrive
- BHXBirmingham Airport (BHX)about 45 mindrive
Parking
A large spectator car park surrounds the circuit and is free for most events; arrive early for headline motorcycle meetings such as the Festival of 1000 Bikes.
TipBecause the circuit is so compact, spectators can walk between vantage points quickly during a race meeting; check the calendar first, as many weekdays are closed track days rather than public events.
Hotels and camping near Mallory Park
Hinckley, about five to six miles away, and Leicester, a little further, have the widest choice of chain hotels, and the circuit's own accommodation page lists a handful of closer options, including a bed-and-breakfast in Kirkby Mallory village itself just a short walk from the gate. Book ahead for the Festival of 1000 Bikes and other headline motorcycle weekends, when local rooms fill quickly.
Where to look
Kirkby Mallory village (walking distance, limited B&B options), Hinckley (5-6 miles, wider hotel choice including a Travelodge and Premier Inn), and Leicester for a larger range of hotels further afield.
Camping
Paddock camping is permitted before events on sloping tarmac; mains power is limited to a small number of posts in one area, available for a small additional charge.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Mallory Park runs a regular programme of car and motorcycle track days, including its own James Whitham motorcycle training days aimed at coaching riders, plus weekly Wednesday afternoon open-practice sessions for ACU licence holders. No Limits Trackdays is a regular own-bike provider at the circuit, and national brokers such as Trackdays.co.uk also list car and bike dates.
Who runs days here
- No Limits Trackdaysmotorcycle
- James Whitham Track Daysmotorcycle
- Trackdays.co.uk (multi-organiser booking)both
New to track days? Our beginner guides, costs and gear →
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car Circuit outright | 0:37.920 | Nick Algar | Gould GR55 | 2009 |
| Superbike Circuit, Superbike | 0:55.845 | Ryuichi Kiyonari | Honda CBR1000RR | 2007 |
| Oval Circuit outright | 0:33.840 | Ian Fewings | Ford Mondeo | 1995 |
Spectator guide
Mallory Park's compact, bowl-like setting around a central lake means almost the whole lap is visible from banking on the outside of the circuit, making it one of the easiest British tracks to watch from. It's a popular, family-friendly day out thanks to its small scale, though there's little shelter from the weather.
Best places to watch
The banking overlooking Gerards Bend gives sight of nearly half the lap in one view; the area around the lake is a popular general vantage point.
Weather
- Jun-Aug: mild summer weather typical of the East Midlands
- Oct: cooler and often damp for the Festival of Sidecars; pack accordingly
History of Mallory Park
From grass track to tarmac
Mallory Park began life as a grass circuit used for pony trotting and motorcycle grass-track racing on farmland near the village of Kirkby Mallory in rural Leicestershire. The site was surfaced with tarmac and opened as a permanent hard-surface circuit on 26 April 1956, quickly establishing itself as one of the smallest but busiest race tracks in the country thanks to its compact, bowl-shaped layout around a central lake.
A national motorcycle and car venue
Through the 1960s and 1970s Mallory Park built a strong reputation in motorcycle racing, hosting the prestigious Race of the Year meeting that drew leading riders from Britain and abroad, while also staging Formula Two, Formula Three and other single-seater and touring car racing. Its centrepiece Gerards Bend, a huge sweeping right-hander taking up nearly half the short lap, became one of the most recognisable corners in British club racing. The circuit even hosted the UCI Road World Championships cycling event in 1970, a rare departure from motorsport.
Ownership and specialisation
Mallory Park passed through several owners over the decades before coming under the control of MotorSport Vision (MSV), which also owns Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park. Rather than compete for major national car championships, the circuit carved out a niche as one of Britain's premier motorcycle venues, home to the long-running Festival of Sidecars and a packed calendar of club car and bike racing, track days and rider training.
Present day
Now in its eighth decade, Mallory Park marked its 70th anniversary in 2026 by reviving the Festival of 1000 Bikes as a major new event on its July calendar. Known affectionately as "the friendly circuit," it remains one of the most accessible and well-loved smaller tracks in British motorsport, prized by riders and drivers for its tight, technical, low-cost lap.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Mallory Park?
The Car Circuit is 1.35 miles (2.17km) with 5 turns. The Superbike Circuit used for motorcycle racing is 1.41 miles (2.27km) with 13 turns, and a separate 1-mile (1.61km) Oval Circuit is also used for club racing.
Where are the best hotels near Mallory Park?
Hinckley, about five to six miles away, has the widest choice of chain hotels including a Travelodge and Premier Inn. There are also a small number of B&B options in Kirkby Mallory village itself, within walking distance of the circuit, and Leicester offers a larger selection a little further out.
Can you camp at Mallory Park?
Yes, paddock camping is permitted before events on sloping tarmac, though mains power is limited to a small number of posts in one area for a small additional charge.
What is the nearest airport to Mallory Park?
East Midlands Airport is the closest, about 30 minutes' drive. Birmingham Airport is a wider option roughly 45 minutes away.
What is the most famous corner at Mallory Park?
Gerards Bend, a long sweeping right-hander named after pre-war racing driver Bob Gerard, is the circuit's signature feature, taking up nearly half of the short lap.
Can the public drive or ride Mallory Park?
Yes. The circuit runs its own regular car and motorcycle track days, including James Whitham-branded rider training, and No Limits Trackdays is a regular own-bike provider there.
Other tracks nearby
Facts checked against 6 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.