Snetterton Circuit
Snetterton Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Norwich, Norfolk
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.779 km (2.97 mi)
- Turns
- 12
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1951
- Owner
- MotorSport Vision (MSV)
- Phone
- +44 344 225 4422
- Website
- snetterton.co.uk
Track map and layout
Snetterton was built on the flat site of a former Second World War RAF bomber airfield in Norfolk, and its lap has always rewarded speed and momentum over elevation drama. The current Snetterton 300 layout runs clockwise over 4.779 km and 12 turns, starting down the Senna Straight into Riches, sweeping through Wilson (formerly Montreal) and Palmer before the fast Agostini and Hamilton corners lead into the infield extension added in the 2011 rebuild. From there the lap continues through Oggies and Williams onto the Bentley Straight, into Brundle and Nelson, drops through the Bomb Hole and rejoins the historic loop at Coram and Murrays before the run home. The shorter Snetterton 200 (3.219 km, 8 turns) and Snetterton 100 (1.577 km, 5 turns) use only parts of the full lap and can, unusually, run simultaneously for testing or split-group track days.
Named corners and sections
- Riches. The tight corner after the start-finish straight, named after Fred Riches, the landowner who leased the airfield site to the founding car club in 1951.
- Agostini. A fast corner named after 15-time world motorcycle champion Giacomo Agostini, part of the infield section added in the 2011 redevelopment.
- Coram. A long, sweeping corner named after Dudley Coram, one of the Aston Martin Owners Club members who helped establish the circuit.
- Murrays. The final corner before the pit straight on the historic part of the lap.
- Nelson. A quick corner on the modern infield loop leading towards the Bomb Hole.
- Bomb Hole. A dip in the circuit whose name recalls the site's history as RAF Snetterton Heath, an active bomber airfield during the Second World War.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Snetterton 300 | 4.78 km | 12 turns; full lap since the 2011 rebuild; hosts BTCC, BSB and British GT |
| Snetterton 200 | 3.22 km | 8 turns; club and local racing, broadly similar to the pre-2011 lap |
| Snetterton 100 | 1.58 km | 5 turns; used for testing and race schools; can run alongside the 200 layout simultaneously |
Events and race weekends
Snetterton's 300 layout is a regular stop for the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship and British GT Championship, and the circuit has long been a proving ground for junior single-seater racing, hosting British Formula 3 for decades and, more recently, F4 British Championship and GB4. Porsche Carrera Cup GB and TCR UK also race there, and the circuit's long straights make it a favoured venue for testing across multiple categories.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | BTCC | — | |
| British Superbike Championship | BSB | — | |
| British GT Championship | British GT | August | |
| Porsche Carrera Cup GB | Porsche Carrera Cup | May | |
| F4 British Championship / GB4 | Junior single-seaters | May |
Getting there and parking
Snetterton sits on the A11 between Thetford and Norwich in Norfolk, reached from the south via the M11 at junction 9 and from the north via the A11 past Newmarket. There is no station at the circuit; the closest are Eccles Road (about 2 miles, roughly a 10-minute taxi ride), Attleborough and Thetford, all on the hourly Cambridge-to-Norwich line. Norwich International Airport is the nearest airport, around 30 minutes' drive away.
- Norwich International Airport (NWI) · about 30 min drive
Parking
General parking is provided in fields around the circuit, typically included with event tickets; arrive early on BTCC and BSB weekends as the A11 can back up near the circuit entrance.
If travelling by train, book a taxi from Eccles Road station in advance for race weekends, since it is a request stop with limited onward transport options directly to the gates.
Hotels and camping near Snetterton Circuit
Snetterton runs on-site camping for most of its major race weekends, giving visitors an easy walk to the gates rather than a drive along the A11. Those preferring a hotel are best based in Thetford or Attleborough, both under 15 minutes away, with Norwich offering a much wider range of accommodation about 30-40 minutes' drive; rooms in the immediate area can sell out for BTCC and BSB weekends.
Where to look
Thetford and Attleborough are the closest towns with hotels and B&Bs, both within about 15 minutes' drive; Norwich, roughly 30-40 minutes away, has the largest choice of accommodation in the region.
Camping
On-site camping is available for most race events, with full facilities laid on at larger meetings and a charge applying per pitch.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Snetterton, one of MSV's six circuits, runs car and bike track days across all three of its layouts, with the ability to run the 100 and 200 configurations simultaneously making it a flexible venue for split-ability sessions. Independent organisers also book the 300 layout for faster track days and testing.
Who runs days here
- MSV Trackdays (car)car
- MSV Trackdays (bike)motorcycle
- Trackdays.co.ukboth
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 3 (Snetterton 300) | 1:39.933 | Felipe Nasr | Dallara F308 | 2011 |
| NGTC/BTCC (Snetterton 300) | 1:54.871 | Ashley Sutton | Ford Focus ST | 2023 |
| British Superbike (Snetterton 300) | 1:46.404 | Kyle Ryde | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 2026 |
| TCR (Snetterton 300) | 1:56.027 | Joe Marshall | Audi RS 3 LMS | 2024 |
Spectator guide
Being built on flat former airfield land, Snetterton offers wide, open sightlines rather than the elevation-driven views of hillier UK circuits, with the run from Riches through the infield section and the long Bentley Straight among the best places to see high closing speeds and overtaking. General admission banking is spread around the outer part of the lap, giving views of multiple corners from several vantage points.
Seating
Grandstands and viewing areas take their names from nearby corners, including Riches, Coram and Murrays.
Best places to watch
The infield section added in 2011, particularly around Agostini and the Bomb Hole, gives close views of racing through the circuit's most technical sequence.
History of Snetterton Circuit
An airfield turned racing circuit
Snetterton Circuit occupies the site of RAF Snetterton Heath, a Second World War bomber airfield that opened in May 1943 and closed in November 1948. Members of the Aston Martin Owners Club, Oliver Sear and Dudley Coram, approached local landowner Fred Riches in early 1951 to lease the disused airfield for motor racing, and the venue's first meeting, a speed trial event, was held on 27 October 1951, with Ken Wharton posting the fastest time. Using the airfield's runways and perimeter track, the circuit quickly became a fixture of British club and national racing through the 1950s and 1960s.
Decades as a proving ground
Snetterton built its reputation as one of the country's key single-seater venues, hosting British Formula 3 for most of its history from 1977 and later Formula 5000 and the EuroBOSS series, while its long straights made it a popular test venue for teams across multiple championships. MotorSport Vision took ownership of the circuit in 2004, adding it to a portfolio that eventually included Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Bedford Autodrome.
The 2011 rebuild
The most significant change in the circuit's modern history came in 2011, when a multi-million-pound redevelopment added a new mile-long infield section after the original Sear Corner, re-profiled two other turns and overhauled spectator and safety facilities. The project created the three configurations still used today, Snetterton 300, 200 and 100, with the 100 and 200 layouts able to run at the same time, something no other UK circuit offers. Snetterton today is a regular venue for the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship, British GT and junior single-seater series including F4 and GB4, alongside a busy programme of testing and track days.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Snetterton 300 circuit?+
Snetterton 300 is 4.779 km (2.970 miles) with 12 turns; the shorter Snetterton 200 is 3.219 km (2.000 miles, 8 turns) and Snetterton 100 is 1.577 km (0.980 miles, 5 turns).
What is the lap record at Snetterton?+
The outright lap record on Snetterton 300 is 1:39.933, set by Felipe Nasr in a Dallara F308 Formula 3 car in 2011.
Why is Snetterton so flat compared with other UK circuits?+
The circuit was built on the site of RAF Snetterton Heath, a former Second World War bomber airfield, and its layout still follows the largely flat terrain of the old runways and perimeter roads.
Can you camp at Snetterton for race weekends?+
Yes. On-site camping is available for most major race events, with full facilities provided at larger meetings for a per-pitch charge.
Where is the nearest train station to Snetterton?+
Eccles Road, about two miles away, is the closest station, with Attleborough and Thetford also on the same Cambridge-to-Norwich line; a taxi from Eccles Road takes around 10 minutes.
Can the public drive or ride Snetterton?+
Yes. MSV Trackdays runs car and bike track days across the 300, 200 and 100 layouts, and independent organisers also hold sessions there.
Other tracks nearby
- Bedford Autodrome · 100 km · road course
- Rockingham Motor Speedway · 109 km · historic circuit (dormant)
- Cadwell Park · 116 km · road course
- ExCeL London Circuit · 124 km · street circuit
- Brands Hatch · 132 km · road course
- Battersea Park Street Circuit · 133 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 7 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.