TRACKDAY BRIEFING: Snetterton (Norfolk)

Equipment that may be needed plus general information on track days.
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casey
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TRACKDAY BRIEFING: Snetterton (Norfolk)

Post by casey »

All information in this thread is provided for helpful guidance only. The author and club will not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions. Trackdays are for fun and enjoyment of your car, but is a form of motorsport and, although strict safety rules are applied, all motorsports can be dangerous. Damage to cars is rare, injuries even rarer (I've not seen anyone injured at a trackday in the 8 years I've participated).

SPECIAL NOTES
The only major incident at the many RX8OC visits to this circuit has been a car running off the tarmac at the corner at the end of the main pit straight. Once you leave the track at this high speed corner there is nothing to stop you on the grass until the car hits a tyre wall! The driver put the incident down to the cheap tyres on the car and a little “over confidence” at the speed he could take through the corner.

NOISE LIMITS
Static: The standard static noise limit for Snetterton is 105dB(A). EVERY car’s noise level WILL be measured at the start of the day and any car that fails the test will NOT be allowed on circuit. A sticker will be applied to your windscreen to confirm your exhaust has passed the test. Standard RX-8 exhausts, and most popular cat-backs will have no problem with the noise regulations, but some may have issues if de-catted. Cheap noise meters - make sure they measure dB(A) - can be bought for ~£15 from Amazon or ebay and are reasonably accurate.
Drive-by: In addition to the initial static test, Snetterton have a continuous automated 'drive-by' meter operating to ensure vehicles continue to adhere to the noise restriction in place. If the results of the drive-by monitoring show that a vehicle is exceeding the drive-by then it will be called into the pit-lane to address the noise level being generated.
The standard drive-by limit is 92dB(A).
GETTING THERE:
You'll find the circuit 10 miles north-east of Thetford on the A11 from London to Norwich. Coming from the south, leave the M11 at junction 9 and follow the A11. From the north or west, use the M11/A11 and join the A11 after Newmarket.

Snetterton Circuit
Norwich
Norfolk NR16 2JU
Tel: 01953 887303
Fax: 01953 888220

Entry to the pit garages is via a long access road from the circuit’s main (and only) entrance from the Heath Road, just off the A11 (see circuit map below). The access road passes over the circuit via a bridge just before “Brundle” corner

FACILITIES:
Garages are available, usually £30 to book in advance. Each garage will fit 2 cars and there is plenty of room on both sides of each garage to park additional cars.

The main office (Race Control) for signing on is under the control tower, which is at the end of the row of pit garages.
Fuel is normally available at the circuit (Super only, 97 RON?); times the pump is manned (limited times) are announced during the safety briefing. Price was 122.9p per liter in Jan 2015. The nearest offsite fuel stop is a Shell garage (V-Power available). To get there, turn left out of the main gate onto Heath Road, then immediately follow the signs to take the A11 northbound towards Norwich. Total distance is about 7 miles, about 8 minutes. On exit from the garage, take the A11 exit sliproad only a few hundred yards ahead and follow the signs for A11 Thetford, then turn off at the sliproad signposted for Snetterton.
If your fuel budget is really tight, there is a Tesco Fuel Station ~ 9 miles away (~10 minutes). It’s easy to find and serves “Momentum” (99 RON) fuel. To get the Tesco, turn left out of the main gate onto Heath Road, then immediately follow the signs to take the A11 Southbound towards Thetford. At the roundabout on the outskirts of Thetford, take the A1075. You’ll find the Tesco entrance on the left after about 0.5 miles. Return is the reverse of your journey.
There is a restaurant at the circuit selling hot & cold drinks, burgers and the like, open all day, conveniently close to the pit garages.
Toilets are situated at the end of the run of pit garages, near Race Control, and in the restaurant building.
ABOUT THE CIRCUIT:
Snetterton has undergone somewhat of a renaissance during the recent years following a multi-million pound redevelopment project at the start of 2011, which was met with rave reviews from both spectators and competitors alike. Its combination of long straights and a wide variety of turns challenges both power and handling.
Drawing inspiration from iconic motorsport corners such as Monza's Parabolica and the Montreal Hairpin, the Snetterton 300 circuit hosts the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship, British Truck Racing Championship and British GT and F4 Championships.
In addition to racing, Snetterton is a popular test track and has been used to develop a host of vehicles including the Williams F1-designed Formula Two car and various Le Mans machinery including the futuristic Deltawing and ZEOD cars.

TRACK DESCRIPTION:
Snetterton can operate with three track configurations; Snetterton, 100, 200 and 300, with 300 being the longest. The 300 circuit is the most popular and the one we normally use.
Image

Snetterton 300
Length: 3 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Corners: 12

CIRCUIT VIDEO:
Here are a few laps of the circuit from my dashcam, taken in Sept 2014

Once running, click on the gearwheel and select 1080p to get the HD version of the video.

Essex Rotary Full Bridgeport
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoFlex coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Rainsport 3
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