Cadwell Park

Set in the rolling Lincolnshire countryside, Cadwell Park was established when landowner Mansfield Wilkinson allowed his son to race motorcycles around his grounds. Charles Wilkinson formed the Louth and District Motorcycle Club in 1932 and staged the first race meeting on the track in 1934.

During the early years, solo bikes ran anticlockwise around the circuit, whilst sidecars raced clockwise. By the 1950s, the circuit had added the iconic Mountain section we know today, and the layout grew to its current 2.25-mile configuration in 1962. The extended layout ushered in a new era for the Wolds venue, as it was now suitable to host international motorcycle racing events.

15-time Motorcycle Grand Prix champion Giacomo Agostini made his first appearance at Cadwell Park in 1969, the same year James Hunt and Ronnie Peterson enjoyed a famous F3 battle, finishing side-by-side. Other events that established themselves at the circuit included World of Sport Rallycross and Formula 1 Stock Cars, which used a specially designed, anti-clockwise circuit.

Fondly nicknamed the ‘mini-Nürburgring’, Cadwell Park remains one of the UK’s great driving and riding challenges. The circuit is especially popular with bikers, who travel from far and wide to see and experience its undulating twists and turns first hand. Running through a distinct woodland setting, Cadwell Park is also one of the UK’s most visually stunning motorsport venues.

Today, the British Superbike Championship’s annual ‘Party in the Park’ event in August is the venue’s signature fixture. Thousands of motorcycle racing enthusiasts descend upon the circuit for three days of action in what can only be described as a full-on festival of two-wheeled competition.

The vast majority of the UK’s club bike racing organisations visit Cadwell Park throughout the year, allowing clubman competitors to test themselves on a revered track. The circuit also hosts a plethora of club-level car racing events each season, including highlight historic and vintage meetings. Car and bike owners can also sample the circuit themselves through a busy calendar of track days, run by a variety of operators.

Modern-day Cadwell Park has three configurations - the rarely used Woodlands circuit, the short Club circuit, and the splendid, daunting Full circuit. The venue has always posed a challenge for drivers and riders, with the legendary Ayrton Senna among those to be caught out at the Mountain!