How do you rate Mondello Park as a circuit?

[Irv the Swerve]

i was just interested to know how you guys rated Mondello Park as a circuit. Its my local track, so it would be interesting to hear the opinions of those who have more than two circuits in their country.
The facilites have been upgraded in the last few years and it is starting to look the part now.

[racer69]

I going solely on what i saw on TV of last years BTCC round, but it does seem like a good little track. Provided some good close racing.

[Jimeth]

it seems VERY tight to me, but produces very good racing!

[Carrie]

Judging from the TV it always looks an interesting circuit. I'm sure you'll get more opinions from people who've actually been to Mondello once a few people from the forum get back from the BTCC weekend.

[Ann]

I quite enjoy Mondello although I could have done without quite so much weather this weekend! There was greater access for viewing this year which was good and I spotted a new toilet block! I know several drivers who aren't at all keen on the track though.

[Craig]

It's okay. It's in a nice location with friendly locals and it has some good facilities. But it's too much like an overgrown kart track for my liking and doesn't 'flow' as well as it perhaps should.

[EvilPumpkin]

(note to self: spank Craig )

Mondello is a very technical circuit which is why a lot of drivers have problems with it - but it's not little and it's far from an overgrown kart circuit. Mondello is a circuit that requires drivers to have a bit more than brute force and ignorance to win a race - and circuits like that are starting to die out in favour of high speed thrills with less emphasis on actually being able to drive!

From a spectator point of view, I think the main problem is that most spectators don't get to see the good bits - something I believe is being addressed this year with new catch fencing and spectator areas being set up.

As for karting, it actually only comes to Mondello 4 times a year and uses a variation on the National circuit when it does! However, if you're interested, there are Karts there this Sunday......!

[joey1]

"oversized kart track"
I would agree with this.
Having been their, I would like to comment on the facilities. Their are two good facilities, the pit lanecomplex and that control tower. otherwise I would say they are very poor.
Having been round the track in a touring car, I would say it's ok, but more than 10 cars it gets to crowded.

[EvilPumpkin]

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion - I think that it certainly rates with some of the UK circuits I've been to. When you say "too crowded" are you talking about width or cars keeping up with each other?

[joey1]

width. juding by the amount of safety car activty on monday this would suggest, the track provides "close" racing I think it is to close.
I think the track is split in to two sections. 1, the new era with the new facilities. 2. the back end of the track, the 1971 tarmac etc..

[EvilPumpkin]

well I don't think the width is much different from any of the other circuits that the BTCC go to - remember it's a FIA Class 2 international and there are some fairly stringent requirements for that - I'm sure someone here can tell me if minimum track width is in there, but I'd be willing to lay a fair bet that it is.

The bottom line is that drivers are supposed to be skilled enough to determine whether there's a big enough gap for them and when to back off - it's part of what they're supposed to do. If you want a circuit where all the cars can trundle around together, then the oval at Rockingham would probably be more your speed. Mondello is a racing circuit.

[SPOONERBORO]

would be nice if there were more spectator areas around the back, it makes for a classic touring car circuit, nice hairpins preceeded by fast straights, no bleeding showers in campsite though!!

[EvilPumpkin]

LOL - well spectator areas are being done as far as I know - the showers were there last year, but obviously it's a campaign that needs to be done every year to get results!

[SPOONERBORO]

top of the morning to the place

[speedy king]

I think Mondello has very good facilities, suplies very close racing, however it is a bit 'micky mouse' for my liking. I like fast flowing circuits, i'm not so keen on the tight and twisty circuits where most of the corners look the same, which is why Brands and Knockhill are good, even though there tight, each corner is unique

[redshoes]

I think the number of safety car period is not down to the width of the track but rather the lack of run-off area and number of marshals. At most UK circuits if a car goes of there's likely to be half a dozen or so marshals ready to pounce and extract the car from the gravel. Mondello seems to have lots of flag posts and a few rescue/snatch vehicles. Nothing against the marshals (before I get lynched by EP) it's just that they don't have the numbers to do anything different.

[Chris Y]

Originally posted by speedy king
however it is a bit 'micky mouse' for my liking. I like fast flowing circuits, i'm not so keen on the tight and twisty circuits where most of the corners look the same

You're gonna love Rockingham then!

[EvilPumpkin]

Originally posted by redshoes
I think the number of safety car period is not down to the width of the track but rather the lack of run-off area and number of marshals. At most UK circuits if a car goes of there's likely to be half a dozen or so marshals ready to pounce and extract the car from the gravel. Mondello seems to have lots of flag posts and a few rescue/snatch vehicles. Nothing against the marshals (before I get lynched by EP) it's just that they don't have the numbers to do anything different.

Partly true and I won't argue it - we do have less marshals per post than some of the UK circuits. Having said that, with the way the weather was and the way the drivers drive, even had we had 50 marshals per post, I would not believe it would be safe to try and move a car in those conditions with no protection.

We have a saying "where one goes, more will surely follow" - that is particularly true in the wet on certain corners. I wasn't running a crew, but had I been, I would not have allowed them onto the circuit without cover once the cars started to spread out - and I think you'll find that is a fairly prevalent attitude even at circuits where they can field more marshals than us.

[FLASH]

Mondello is a wonderful place. I have crossed the water from England and marshalled there for the past 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is tight and twisty giving lots of OVERTAKING opportunities. By the way, thanks to the local boys and girls for making us English lads and lasses feel so welcome. Oh and ta for the free T Shirt that I won in the raffle !!

[Shinners]

Hi Flash Im glad you enjoyed your weekend ! Hope to see you over again soon.

[Speedworx]

I wouldn't say it was my favourite track. It produces good racing, but only gets a rating of 5/10.

[EvilPumpkin]

I didn't realise you'd visited Hakkiman - rather hurt you didn't come and say hello.

[lauz]

mondello isn't the best track that the championship visits but its alright. i have been to mondello twice for the touring cars and i saw an improvement this year.

[KPC]

From a spectator point of view I thought it was excellent. We worked our way from the start line down to Dyunlop then round to the top bit... whatever it may be called... something boring like "If you go to Ireland be sure to go Irish B&I Corner #1." Unlike most circuits where the cars whiz by then that's it till the next lap, at Mondello you can keep moving around over a short distance and see a good half of the track. Pity you can only access half the track though, after the Holiday in Ireland corner or Irish Ferries corner (the one after the hairpin off the start) the cars vanish pretty much until the imaginatively named Corner #1 and corner #2.

Enjoyed the museum but was less than impressed with the merchandise availability... I want souvenirs of my excursion.

Go kart circuit. I've thought about this one and think that it does make things more interesting. The safety car was certainly out no longer than you see elsewhere, the problem with that only being the rules for 2003 - not extending laps to counter. I thought the Legend racing was really good in particular. The raised banks, like Croft, make for good viewing. The crowds weren't too big and access to the paddock was no big deal, which was a friendlier less corporate touch. I rubbed shoulder with many a driver in the bar and the whole thing seemed more relaxed. I actually wondered how many Irish fans had come for the tourers as even the likes of Anthony Reid seemed to go unnoticed.

Put it this way... it's worth the trip again..... 9/10 and my current favourite circuit.

[Les]

I loved the circuit - there was an area where I see the cars doing about 5 different areas of the track and close as well - I really enjoyed that (as did my camera).
More of the circuit is going to be fenced and opened up for next year.