Last weekend, I headed to Rockingham Motor Speedway to take in some British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) action as part of a feature for a future issue of Autocar.
One of the major talking points among those in the paddock was the future of the Northamptonshire venue itself, which has been up for sale since owners Bela Partnerships went into administration in 2016. The uncertainly over Rockingham’s long-term future had already caused the BTCC, along with other high-profile championships, to drop the venue for 2019.
A few days after the BTCC event, the sale of the circuit was confirmed. A statement from Rockingham said that all events scheduled for 2018 would run as planned but referenced “changes in business operations” at the venue.
BTCC 2018: Morgan, Sutton and Smiley share wins at Rockingham
According to the Companies House website, an investment company registered in St Helier, Jersey has bought Rockingham, and the Northamptonshire Telegraph has reported it will become a car storage centre. Whether it can continue to be used for track activities, or whether there are other long-term plans for it, is unknown. It was offered for sale as a ‘development opportunity’ and a huge housing development is being built nearby.
That the first purpose-built banked oval built in the UK since Brooklands in 1907 could be shuttered as a venue after just 17 years is almost as hard to comprehend as the circuit existing in the first place.
Built on a disused British Steel quarry site in Corby, Rockingham was conceived as an American-style high-speed oval test track, with a bold plan to attract the US-based CART Champ Car World Series for Indy-style machines. It took ten years of planning before the £70 million venue was built in 23 months.
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Probably not the last circuit to shut down in England
Unfortunately it seems the way of world these days especially in this over populated country. In the last 30 years MX circuits, especially in the SE, have had to shut owing to small minded idiots complaining all the time (Victor Meldrew types). Anyway hope they're happy with the housing estate that replaced the green fields (he said with sarcasm in mind)
Oh check out how Mallory park has suffered at the hands of a bunch of small minded %^£$%^"
I remember hearing or reading
I remember hearing or reading about mx tracks closing due to nearby home owners complaining of the noise, that really pees me off, nearby house prices probably reflected the effect a race track noise could have, and yet they still chose to move there and then somehow a court finds in their favour and the track closes. Ridiculous, it's the same with people who complain at airports or train stations.
A shame for Rockingham to close, sounds like mis management to some extent what with grandstands being closed for years. The appeal of being able to watch the whole race from the main grandstand, I would have thought, would be a draw for spectators.
I’m surprised....
Surprised that it stayed open that long, American still racing Cart racing was never going to take off here,and because it was purpose built all concrete Flat-ish it had no atmosphere it couldn’t be adapted for other types of racing because it was an Oval track and I don’t know what other facilities were there, was the a motor museum for instance?, were there Track days? , corporate Days?, no, I think sounds like it just didn’t get developed enough that and the global down turn, less money about finally put the key in the Gate.
Orher facilities
It has a whole host of abilities including track days, private testing, even an offroad course. There is no museum.
Sad, but US style oval racing
Sad, but US style oval racing doesn't seem to be able to take off on this side of the Atlantic.
Remember too Eurocars, mk1 Mondeo styled V6 stock cars? Series didn't take off either.