Rockingham

[Teletubby]

I've been up to Rockingham today, it is far from finished but is definitely getting there. The sheer magnitude of the civil engineering up there is fantastic to behold!

The banking was much more shallow than I had expected but at least the oval is finished, the road course is coming along nicely as are the circuit buildings.

Looking forward to the first meeting there.

cheers

Martin

[Craig]

Excellent! Can't wait to get to that first meeting

Keep us informed if you have any more Rockingham news. Wish I could get to make a trip up to see what's happening on site.

[Craig]

Wow! Think I just realised this thing is really gonna happen...

The International Single-Seater Challenge development car created the
unofficial lap record for Britain's sensational new Rockingham Motor
Speedway last Friday, during successful trials to evaluate the
Northamptonshire circuit's contours on behalf of builder Morrison
Construction and surfacing contractor Colas.

Driven by Guy Smith, the 310bhp Reynard-Chrysler V6 chassis lapped the
1.5-mile tri-oval in the 36s bracket, for an average speed of 144mph, in the
course of a 50-lap programme. The previous mark, of 131mph, was set by an
800bhp Pontiac Grand Prix NASCAR stock car, the first to run on the track,
last month.

"I didn't know what to expect, and had to be cautious because there was a
lot of construction work going on, but the track is fantastic to drive,"
said Smith. "The four corners are different, each with its own personality.
It's also nice and wide, with four distinct lines, which will make for great
racing."

Fitted with potentiometers to gauge microscopic surface level variations,
the loaded racing car fed information to on-board data acquisition
equipment, which conventional laser measuring devices cannot pick up.
Results are being analysed prior to the application of the final surface.

PI Research made available the data logging equipment along with an engineer
to work with the Meritus team who professionally produced the information
Rockingham sought.

"As part of our commitment to achieving the best possible surface for
competitors to race on, the exercise was a great success," said Rockingham
chief executive David Grace. Morrison's site boss Gordon Calder echoed his
sentiments: "I'm delighted, it did everything we wanted it to do before we
start laying the wearing (top) course in mid-March."

Smith, who has extensive oval-racing experience from the Indy Lights
Championship in the USA, was complimentary. "There are two or three minor
compressions to smooth out in turn one, but the racing line is smooth. In
fact, this circuit is already a lot less bumpy than some I've raced on."

The test Â* yet another milestone in the development of Britain's first
purpose-built banked motor racing circuit since Brooklands almost a century
ago - was attended by more than 30 journalists representing the construction
industry's press, and by two specialist film crews.

Lap speeds will rise dramatically by the time the ISSC series visits in
September. "I would expect these cars to lap around 34.5 seconds (an average
of 156mph) when they are dialled in to the track, ambient temperatures are
higher and the final surface is prepared," said Smith.

-ends-

For more information on the ISSC, contact:
Nigel Wordsworth
European Racing Organisation
7 Enterprise Park
Trent Lane
Castle Donington
Derby DE74 2XB

Tel: +44 1332 81 40 42
Fax: +44 1332 81 40 43
E-mail: nigel@euro-racing.com