History of Oulton Park

The circuit's characteristics have earned it comparisons with the Nürburgring's Nordschleife, but what is the history behind the circuit?

(Image cred to Oulton Park)

Oulton Park is a circuit located near Little Budworth in Cheshire that opened in 1953. It was around this time that there wasn’t a huge number of motor-racing tracks in the northwest of the country and it was the members of the Mid-Cheshire Car Club that took it upon themselves to make sure it was changed. By August of 1953, the track was built and measured 2.420km (1.504 mi) and was practically rectangular in shape. The first meeting took place on the 8th August that year showcasing the main event which was the Formula Two race.

It was by April the following year that the track's length had been extended to 3.792 km (2.356 mi) and was extended again within a year of the opening meeting to 4.443 km (2.761 mi). In 1954, the BRDC (British Racing Drivers’ Club) brought the British Empire Trophy to Oulton and ran it for sports cars. Furthermore, it was in August of 1954 that Oulton Park first played host to the International Gold Cup which saw many of the major formulae of the time compete - Formula One, Formula Two and Formula 5000.

Ten years later in 1964, Oulton Park was bought by Grovewood Securities which coincided with the increase in required safety measures but due to Oulton being set in parkland it was difficult and more expensive to bring up to standard than other circuits but the decision was made to make motorsport first and parkland second.

It was in 1987 that a chicane was added between the Shell Oils Hairpin and Knickerbrook. This was added with the intention of reducing speed as a measure to improve safety at what was the fastest section of the circuit. Between 2002-2003, the Knickerbrook chicane was re-modelled slightly aiming to slow the cars that came through Knickerbrook up Clay Hill onto Druids. After this, the length of the circuit was 4.332 km (2.692 mi).

Oulton Park was acquired by MSV (MotorSport Vision) in 2004, and currently hosts some major UK race championships including BTCC, British GT, British Superbike Championship and GB3. On the current international circuit which is 4.307km (2.676 mi) long, the lap record is held by 2023 GB3 driver Joseph Loake with a 1:28.619.

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