History
The Castle Combe airfield opened in May 1941. The land which the airfield occupied belonged to the Castle Combe estate, which was owned by the Gorst family. It operated as RAF Castle Combe for seven years before being decommissioned in 1948.
Castle Combe Circuit opened in 1950, and the first meeting was staged on July 8 by the Bristol Motorcycle & Light Car Club. Over the next few years, the circuit attracted star names such as Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Roy Salvadori and John Surtees.
Castle Combe has staged many different motorsport disciplines over the years. In 1997, Nigel Greensall established a new lap record. His Tyrrell 022 lapped the circuit at 130.93 mph (210.71 km/h). However, this was the last year that the circuit would remain unaltered. A tragic accident involving the death of a spectator forced the owners into installing two new chicanes in order to slow the cars down. The new layout was slightly longer at 1.85 miles (2.98 km), and was completed over the winter of 1998-1999.
Formula Three returned to Castle Combe in 2001. However, it would not stay long. In 2005, the circuit was issued with a noise nuisance order, which meant that the circuit had to reduce its noise level. The British Formula Three Championship and the British GT Championship were both louder than permitted, and so were prevented from returning. The local championships dedicated to Saloon Cars, GTs and Formula Ford are instead still active, with packed grids and exciting races. Since 2001 Rallyday, an annual demonstration event for rally cars, has been held at the circuit. Once a year, the circuit hosts races of MC 750 and the Formula Ford Carnival.
Motoring shows Top Gear and Fifth Gear have used this circuit to race or test cars on. One such race was British motorcycle racer Leon Haslam on a Ducati 1098 vs Fifth Gear presenter Tiff Needell driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, the bike coming out on top. Top Gear used the circuit for their '70's Supercar challenge. In this episode The Stig lapped a Vauxhall Astra. Richard, James, and Jeremy failed to beat the Stig's time. Jeremy Clarkson said "It's a fierce track, one of the fastest in Britain."
One aspect of the circuit which has remained unchanged throughout the years is the large population of rabbits who live in the extensive tyre barriers around the circuit.
When not in use for racing, the circuit is the venue for a regular car boot sale. In May it also hosts an annual steam rally.
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