Cadwell Park circuit guide

Corner one – Coppice

This is one of the fastest corners in the country due to being at the end of a long pit straight, also the bend being up hill to the left. Depending on what car your drive and your level of experience this can be a flat out 4th gear corner as it requires no braking. As a guide, in a caterham you can expect speeds of over 110mph through this section.  

Corner two and three – Charlies 

Charlies is made up of two right hand turns, the second leading onto an important long back straight.

On the approach to the first corner you need to make sure the car is over to the left to help straighten the curve as much as possible. You only need to apply a medium brake pressure to get the nose of the car turned in. There is a blind exit to the corner so you need to make sure your always look as far up as possible. Slowly allow the car to get close to the outer edge of the track ready to turn in for the second corner.

When looking for a turning point for the second corner, you will see the racing line embedded in the tarmac. Bring the car into the apex curb and then to run out wide to the exit curb.  

Corner four – Park

This is a 90-degree right turn after a long straight, so the approaching speed can be anything between 100mph to 130mph. There are marker reference boards to help you with break at the optimum point. Apexing for this right turn, aim to keep the front right wheel close to the end of the inside curb and power through the corner which will push you out to the exit curb.  

Corner five – Chris Curve

This is a really fast challenging corner. Depending what car you are driving this can be taken flat out or with the smallest of lifts on entry. It is important to be back to full power to drive through the bend, and once the car meets the apex curb after turning in continue to hug the inside white line until you can see the bend slowly start to open out and you can see the next corner.

Corner six & seven – Gooseneck

This is a fast, committed chicane leading to a downhill section. The turn in point can be a bit tricky as it doesn’t have an obvious point of reference. One thing to aim for is making sure you apex at the start of the inside curb and hug it all the way to the end of the curb. At the end of the curb is your turning point to turn left for the downhill section, taking as much momentum through the turns as possible. 

Corner eight – Mansfield 

This short downhill straight leads into a 90 degree left turn and requires good trail braking. 

A rough braking point can be found if you look at the tarmac. Half way down the hill there is a colour change from light to dark and back to light again; as it changes back to light, this can be used as a reference point. It is important not to turn into early or too quickly as the exit to the left turn tightens up and could lead to running wide very easily. Aim to apex later rather than earlier and this will also help.  

Corner nine and ten – Mountain

On the approach to this uphill chicane you will go under a bridge which be used as a rough braking point. Look to turn into the corner by the access road on the right. Once turned in you will need to hug the apex curb all the way round the left corner. Just after the curb ends turn for the right hand part of the chicane. This is very steep and blind exit and you need to trust that the circuit goes straight at the top.  

Corner eleven – Hall Bends 

This is a fantastic group of four bends that flow all the way to the hairpin. It’s about being accurate with the racing line and using all the flat apex curbs to straighten the curves as much as possible. It is also crucially being gentle across the pedals as the entry to the woodland area and last part of the Bends you will require to brake whilst the steering is on a slight turn. If you lift off the power too quickly and brake too hard initially you can unsettle the car and cause a spin towards the barriers.  

Corner twelve – Hairpin

Hairpin is the slowest corner on the track: it is a 90-degree right hand 2nd gear bend.  The apex curb on the inside of the corner is raised so if you hit the curb it can unsettle the car.

Corner thirteen – Barn

This corner can be taken in 2nd or 3rd gear depending on the length of the cars gear ratios. It requires only a medium brake pressure to get the front of the car turned in and a gentle progressive throttle to full power by the exit of the corner. A good exit momentum means more speed ending the lap and starting the next lap.