Pembrey Circuit
Pembrey Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Llanelli, Wales
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.343 km (1.456 mi)
- Turns
- 8
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1989
- Owner
- Welsh Race Drivers' Association (operated by BARC)
- Phone
- +44 1554 891042
- Website
- pembreycircuit.co.uk
Track map and layout
Pembrey is built within the perimeter of a former Second World War RAF airfield on the South Wales coast near Llanelli, and is marketed as the National Motorsport Circuit of Wales. The 1.456-mile, eight-turn lap mixes long, sweeping bends with a couple of tighter technical corners, and its flat, open layout made it a favoured winter testing venue for Formula 1 teams in the 1990s - Ayrton Senna tested there in 1989. A rallycross extension using part of the circuit and adjoining land is also used for the British Rallycross Championship. The circuit runs clockwise and sits close to Cefn Sidan beach and the Pembrey Country Park.
Named corners and sections
- Hatchets Hairpin. A tight hairpin, one of the slowest points on the lap.
- Spitfires Corner. Named for the RAF Spitfire squadrons once based at the airfield.
- Dibeni Bend. A flowing bend in the middle sector of the lap.
- Honda Curve. A right-angled right-hander named for Honda's past testing connection with the circuit.
- Woodlands Corner. A corner leading back toward the final section of the lap, named for the tree line bordering the track.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit | 2.34 km | Current 8-turn layout used for all circuit racing and track days |
| Rallycross Circuit | — | Mixed tarmac/off-road extension used for the British Rallycross Championship |
Events and race weekends
Pembrey hosted the BTCC in 1992-93 and British Formula 3 through the 1990s, but its current calendar centres on the British Rallycross Championship and British Truck Racing Championship, alongside the long-running Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship and regular BARC and club car and bike race meetings. The circuit's flat, open layout also continues to attract manufacturer and team testing.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Rallycross Championship round | Rallycross | — | Regular fixture on Pembrey's rallycross extension |
| British Truck Racing Championship round | Truck racing | June | Requires pre-booking for camping at this meeting |
| Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship | Club racing | — | Long-running Welsh club championship based at the circuit |
Getting there and parking
Pembrey Circuit sits between Kidwelly and Llanelli on the South Wales coast, just off the A484. Pembrey and Burry Port railway station is the closest, a short drive from the circuit, with Llanelli station also within easy reach for mainline connections. Cardiff Airport is the nearest with scheduled flights, roughly 60 miles and about 90 minutes' drive away.
- Cardiff Airport (CWL) · about 90 min drive
- Swansea (nearest city, no scheduled airport) · about 30 min drive
Parking
Free on-site spectator car parking is available for race meetings; arrive early for the British Truck Racing and rallycross weekends, the circuit's busiest fixtures.
The circuit sits next to Pembrey Country Park and Cefn Sidan beach, making it easy to combine a visit with a day at the coast; check ahead as camping for some meetings must be pre-booked directly with the circuit.
Hotels and camping near Pembrey Circuit
Llanelli, a few minutes' drive away, has the widest choice of hotels close to the circuit, with Kidwelly offering a smaller selection nearer the gate. Carmarthen, a little further inland, and Swansea, about 30 minutes east, both add a larger pool of chain hotels for visitors wanting more choice. Book ahead for the British Truck Racing Championship and rallycross weekends, when nearby accommodation is in greater demand.
Where to look
Llanelli (closest, widest hotel choice, including the Best Western Diplomat), Kidwelly (smaller, nearer the gate), and Carmarthen or Swansea for a larger selection further afield.
Camping
Caravans and campervans are welcome in designated camping areas at the circuit; some race meetings, including the British Truck Racing Championship, require camping to be pre-booked with the circuit rather than arranged on arrival.
RV
Motorhomes and caravans are accepted in the same camping areas as tents at most events.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Pembrey runs a regular programme of car and motorcycle track days catering to both experienced and novice drivers and riders, bookable directly through the circuit and through driving-experience operators such as Everyman Racing. National trackday brokers including Trackdays.co.uk also list dates at the circuit.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outright, Formula 3 | 0:50.079 | Brian Smith | Dallara F397 | 1997 |
| Formula Renault | 0:53.057 | Joni Wiman | Formula Renault car | 2010 |
| Super Touring (BTCC-era) | 1:00.720 | Will Hoy | Toyota Carina | 1992 |
| Superbike | 0:59.280 | Jim Moodie | Yamaha YZF750 | 1994 |
Spectator guide
The flat, coastal airfield setting gives spectators clear views across much of the lap from banking around the perimeter, with little in the way of natural elevation. Being on the open South Wales coast, wind and rain off the Bristol Channel can affect visits at any time of year.
Best places to watch
The banking around Hatchets Hairpin and the run down to Woodlands Corner give views across several corners at once.
Weather
- Jun-Aug: mild summer weather typical of the South Wales coast, though still exposed to wind
- Nov-Feb: cold and often wet for rallycross and winter club meetings
History of Pembrey Circuit
Spitfires to circuit
The land now occupied by Pembrey Circuit was built up as RAF Pembrey during the Second World War, home to Spitfire squadrons and the RAF's Air Gunnery School between 1941 and 1945. In one of the airfield's stranger wartime episodes, a German Luftwaffe pilot mistakenly landed his Focke-Wulf 190 there in 1942, believing he had reached a base in occupied France. The airfield remained operational into the 1950s before falling into disuse after 1957.
Building Wales' national circuit
The disused airfield was redeveloped for motorsport and opened as a permanent racing circuit on 21 May 1989, filling the gap left by the earlier closure of the Llandow circuit near Cardiff. Owned by the Welsh Race Drivers' Association and operated by the British Automobile Racing Club, Pembrey quickly became known as the National Motorsport Circuit of Wales.
National championships and testing
Through the 1990s Pembrey punched above its weight, hosting rounds of the British Touring Car Championship in 1992 and 1993, British Formula 3 from 1993 to 1999, and an early British Superbikes-era round in 1990. Its flat, open layout and relative seclusion also made it a popular winter test venue for Formula 1 teams during the era, with Ayrton Senna among the drivers who tested there in 1989. A European Rallycross Championship round followed in 1997-98.
Present day
Pembrey no longer features on the BTCC or British Superbikes calendars, but it remains one of Wales' busiest motorsport venues, hosting the British Rallycross Championship, British Truck Racing Championship and the long-running Welsh Sports and Saloon Car Championship alongside regular BARC club meetings and car and motorcycle track days. An enlarged paddock, added in 2007, continues to support the circuit's mix of national and club-level events.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Pembrey Circuit?+
The main circuit is 1.456 miles (2.343km) with 8 turns. A separate rallycross extension using part of the circuit and adjoining land is used for the British Rallycross Championship.
Does Pembrey host the BTCC?+
Not currently. Pembrey hosted the BTCC in 1992 and 1993 and British Formula 3 through the 1990s, but today it focuses on the British Rallycross Championship, British Truck Racing Championship and Welsh club racing.
Where are the best hotels near Pembrey Circuit?+
Llanelli, a few minutes' drive away, has the widest choice of hotels, including the Best Western Diplomat. Kidwelly is closer but has fewer options, and Carmarthen or Swansea offer a larger selection a little further out.
Can you camp at Pembrey Circuit?+
Yes, caravans and campervans are welcome in designated camping areas, though some meetings, including the British Truck Racing Championship, require camping to be pre-booked directly with the circuit.
What is the nearest airport to Pembrey Circuit?+
Cardiff Airport is the nearest with scheduled flights, around 60 miles and roughly 90 minutes' drive from the circuit.
Can the public drive or ride Pembrey Circuit?+
Yes. Pembrey runs its own car and motorcycle track days for both experienced and novice participants, and operators such as Everyman Racing and national trackday brokers also list dates there.
Other tracks nearby
- Aberdare Park · 59 km · road course
- Circuit of Wales · 75 km · proposed (never built)
- Castle Combe Circuit · 148 km · road course
- Anglesey Circuit / Trac Môn · 165 km · road course
- Birmingham Superprix · 186 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Thruxton Circuit · 196 km · road course
Facts checked against 6 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.