Oulton Park

"The Goodwood of the North"[1]
Location	Little Budworth, Cheshire, England
Coordinates	Coordinates: 53°10′39.34″N 2°36′51.76″W / 53.1775944°N 2.6143778°W / 53.1775944; -2.6143778
Owner	MotorSport Vision
Major events	British Touring Car Championship, British F3, British Superbikes
International Circuit
Length	4.307 km (2.692 mi)
Turns	17
Lap record	1:28.669 (Lucas Foresti, Fortec Motorsport (Dallara-Mercedes F311), 2011, British F3)
Island Circuit
Length	3.616 km (2.260 mi)
Turns	7
Fosters Circuit
Length	2.656 km (1.660 mi)
Turns	6

Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about 5 miles (8 km) from Winsford, 13 miles (21 km) from Chester city centre, 8 miles (13 km) from Northwich and 17 miles (27 km) from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was previously known as the Oulton Estate. The track is set in the grounds of Oulton Hall, which were used as an army staging camp by General Patton prior to the Normandy landings.^[2]. At this time the famous boxer Joe Louis gave exhibition bouts at Oulton Park in the vicinity of the Deer Leap section of the circuit.

History[link]

The circuit was originally developed by the Mid-Cheshire Car Club on the estate of the Grey-Egerton family, with the track attracting a crowd of 40,000 during the 1950s. Oulton Park regularly hosted the International Gold Cup event which attracted many Formula One teams (Stirling Moss won it 5 times), but as the F1 calendar shrank to include only Grand Prix events, the Cup became less well-known. The event has been run for a number of other categories including Formula 5000, sports cars and touring cars. It has now, however, been re-established as a highlight of the classic racing calendar. The British Touring Car Championship, the British F3/British GT Championship and the British Superbike Championship meetings are also highlights of the year. ^[3]

The track is characterised by its rapidly changing gradients and blind crests leading into unforgiving corners. The full track is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) long, with a selection of shorter circuits also possible. Among many British and foreign drivers it is considered one of the most challenging and thrilling circuits ever constructed.^{[citation needed]}

One of the short circuits is the "Foster's" Circuit which comprises half of the "Cascades" corner followed by Hislop's, or "Hizzy's" chicane. The circuit then heads onto Knickerbrook and up Clay Hill to work its way round to the start/finish straight. This circuit is 1.66 miles (2.7 km) in length.

The other short circuit that is used almost exclusively for the MSA British Touring Car Championship. This circuit comprises all of the Cascades Corner and Lakeside but then forks off into a hairpin before Island Bend. This hairpin cuts out all of the Island section of the circuit and takes the cars straight back over Hill Top.

For the 2007 season, the marshalling stations were redesigned with a protective cage around each of the marshalling stations. This was to prevent incidents similar to those in the 2006 season, when cars were known to "fly through" the marshalling stations. At around the same time, the marshalling post at the bottom of the back straight, near the chicane preceding Knickerbrook, also had a proper marshals post built behind the existing armco barrier and was fitted with caging similar to the other marshalling posts.

The paddock facilities are reasonable in size, with large areas of hard-standing and some power points.

A highly-entertaining though rather risqué monologue about the construction of one part of the circuit, "The Naming of Knicker Brook", is told by demolition expert/raconteur Blaster Bates.

A good spot for spectators is alongside either the Fogarty Moss Centre or alongside Hill Top. Most of the track can be seen from these areas.

Knickerbrook corner[link]

Colin Turkington at Knickerbrook.

Pre 1991: The corner was generally known as a 'racers' corner as it required courage and full commitment from the driver. The corner is notorious for causing multiple accidents. There have been several fatalities of racing drivers at this corner. One death in particular, Paul Warwick, caused the corner to be reconstructed as a chicane.

The corner led from a downhill straight [Hill top] into a fifth gear, off camber right bend. There was a deep kerbing section on the inside of the corner which combined with the off camber nature of the corner caused a car to become very difficult to control. The kerbing and camber tended to make the car veer to the outside of the circuit. The armco barrier on the outside of the corner eventually intersected with the grass verge and caused a lack of run off area.

Blaster Bates, a British Explosives and Demolition specialist from Crewe in Cheshire, related an account during one of his recording sessions of how he and a colleague were once removing tree stumps with dynamite close to the corner. Upon the first detonation, a courting couple were seen to run at speed and in some disarray from the cover of a bush or bank nearby. Closer investigation followed a safe interval later and the two engineers discovered a lady's underwear in the brook, and this resulted in the name of the corner.^{[citation needed]}

MotorSport Vision[link]

After many years of decay, Oulton was given new life when it, along with Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Cadwell Park, was bought by MotorSport Vision. MSV, headed by ex-F1 racer Jonathan Palmer, have completely turned the circuits around, tidying them up and pulling the crowds in. Big meetings have returned to Brands Hatch with the DTM, WTCC and BTCC all visiting and Oulton's Gold Cup classic car meeting is dubbed 'the Goodwood of the north'. Furthermore, the BTCC meeting on Sunday 27 July 2008 saw a crowd of 35,000 attend - a record not only for the circuit but the highest crowd at any venue of the BTCC for a decade.^[4]

Current Events[link]

Oulton Park regularly hosts rounds of the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship and the British F3/GT Championships.

The Gold Cup historic meeting has recently been joined by the season-opening Masters Festival, with Modified Live catering for the opposite end of the motoring spectrum.

During the week the circuit offers some general test days and driving experiences, and can also be hired out for private testing and track days.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Oulton Park

• Oulton Park
• Oulton Park Circuit information
• Satellite picture by Google Maps

Joshua 'Josh' Brookes born (1983-04-28) 28 April 1983 (age 29) in Sydney, New South Wales in Australia and is a professional motorcycle road racer. He has experience of Superbike and Supersport racing, both domestically and internationally.

Early career[link]

In 2004 he won the World Supersport round at Philip Island as a wild card,^[1] before a serious crash ruined his year. He returned to win Australia's Superbike and Supersport titles in 2005 on a Honda.

World Supersport and Superbike 2006–08[link]

He then moved to World Supersport with a Caracchi Ducati for 2006, but left the team mid-season despite a 6th place at his home round. Brookes was soon racing again however, joining Bertocchi Kawasaki in the Superbike World Championship, debuting on the bike at the Italian round at Mugello.^[2] He ran 4th in a wet race in Holland before falling, but generally struggled, as it was his first time living in Europe, mostly on circuits he did not know.

He did enough to be retained for 2007, with the team gaining new investors, a switch to Honda Fireblade bikes,^[3] and a new team-mate in fellow Australian Karl Muggeridge. Despite 9 points finishes in the first 7 two-race rounds, the team missed round 8 after a legal challenge from Sergio Bertocchi.

Brookes joined the Stiggy Motorsport Honda team in the Supersport World Championship for the final 5 rounds.^[4] He continued with them in 2008.^[5] Brookes scored his second win (and Stiggy's first) at Donington Park, moving up to second in the championship. He also made a one-off appearance in the British Supersport Championship for HM Plant Honda, qualifying on pole and finishing third].^[6]

British Superbike Championship 2009–[link]

For 2009, Brookes switches to British Superbikes with HM Plant Honda, alongside fellow Aussie Glen Richards,^[7] however he was forced to miss the opening round due to visa issues. Round 3 at Donington Park was also a disaster, as Brookes collided with Sylvain Guintoli on the sighting lap on the way to the grid, causing a broken leg for the Frenchman. Brookes claimed to have experienced a brake failure, if proven these allegations would have left Honda liable: for this reason they neglected to give their support. He received a one-race suspended ban as a result.^[8] In the next meeting at Thruxton he took seventh and third, with some fighting overtaking moves in race two especially. He followed this with a front row start and two third places at Snetterton.

Brookes was involved in further controversy at Mallory Park. While running fourth he lost control of the bike, resulting in a crash with the leader Simon Andrews. The Honda's engine case broke, spilling oil on the track and causing five other riders to crash. All riders involved in the accident were omitted from the result, even those who deliberately downed the bikes to avoid further carnage, due to red flag regulations.^[9][10] Brookes apologised in a TV interview later in the programme for his mistake.^[11] He had sustained a broken thumb from the crash. The BSB officials awarded him a 2-race ban following the incident, for "not riding in a manner compatible with general safety".^[12] He finished 3rd on his return at Croft, defending from one-off team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari on the line.

Despite the bad blood felt towards Brookes, GSE Airwaves Yamaha boss Colin Wright told a Eurosport TV interview at Brands Hatch that he would like to sign Brookes for 2010, if he were to lose one or both 2009 riders. As it turned out, GSE Yamaha would not return in 2010.

For 2010 Brookes stayed with the HM Plant Honda team,^[13] Brookes has changed to bike #4 and is also joined by former double British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari. He took his first win in the fourth race of the season.^[14] He also took a win at Cadwell Park^[15] and two wins at Snetterton.^[16] His season was closely documented in the film I, Superbiker.

He also made a British Superstock entry in the MotoGP support round at Silverstone, and a World Superbike appearance substituting for injured countryman Broc Parkes at Phillip Island. Brookes will also make a wildcard entry with team-mate Kiyonari at Silverstone.^[17]

For 2011 Brookes switched to the Relentless TAS Suzuki team joined by Alastair Seeley who is competing in British Supersport. He a poor start to the season with a massive crash at Oulton Park which wrecked his bike. By mid-season he started to get good results.

Career statistics[link]

Stats correct as of 7 May 2012

All time[link]

By championship[link]

Supersport World Championship[link]

Superbike World Championship[link]

British Superbike Championship[link]

• * Season in progress

Notes[link]

1.^ – Brookes was excluded from the rounds due to causing an accident during Race 1 at Mallory Park.

2.^ – Brookes qualified for "The Showdown" part of the BSB season, thus before the Croft round he was awarded 500 points plus the podium credits he had gained throughout the season. Podium credits are given to anyone finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd, with 3,2 and 1 points awarded respectively.

3.^ – Brookes qualified for "The Showdown" part of the BSB season, thus before the Donington Park round he was awarded 500 points plus the podium credits he had gained throughout the season. Podium credits are given to anyone finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd, with 3,2 and 1 points awarded respectively.

Superstock 1000[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rider Profile

Tommy Hill
Tommy the new BSB Champion 2011
Nationality	English
Born	(1985-02-09) 9 February 1985 (age 27) Beckenham, Kent
Current team	Swan Yamaha
Bike number	1
Website	tommyracer.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics Superbike World Championship Active years 2006, 2009 Manufacturers Yamaha, Honda Championships 0 2009 Championship position 30th Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 16 0 0 0 0 19

Tommy Hill is a British motorcycle road racer, he was born 9 February 1985 in Beckenham, Kent. His greatest success has come in the British Superbike Championship, in which he is the 2011 Champion^[1], but he has also contested the World Superbike and World Supersport championships.

Personal[link]

Hill's early racing life included a near-fatal motocross accident in which he lost a kidney and his spleen.^[2] As a result, medical problems including a bout of food poisoning in 2006 have dogged his career, and require him to take Penicillin every day. His brother Jimmy also races.

Starting out[link]

He switched to road racing in 2001, and first earned his BSB ride by winning the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup in 2003, finishing every race in the process.

British Superbikes 2004-07[link]

In his first BSB season he became the youngest rider ever to start a race on the front row of the grid, and he was the only one of the team's four 2004 riders to be retained for 2005 - team boss Rob McElnea commenting that "He really did prove himself beyond everyone’s expectations this year".

In 2005 he took 2 further front row starts, as well as his first BSB win at Cadwell Park,^[3] finishing 12th overall in the series.

For the 2006 British Superbike season he was the only Yamaha rider to retain his ride, leading a young team with Billy McConnell and Kieran Clarke. Hill was also entered for the Superbike World Championship race at Silverstone as a wild card. In changeable qualifying conditions he stunned the experienced regulars by taking pole position, and then finished both races in the lower reaches of the points. He finished the BSB season eighth overall^[4]

In 2007, Hill was joined in the Virgin Yamaha squad by James Haydon, who returned to the team for whom he raced in 2001 and 2004. From 12th on the grid in damp conditions he briefly led the second race of round 4 at Oulton Park, but ultimately faded to 7th, the Yamaha failing to match other bikes on performance.

He also made a handful of World Supersport rides on an SSP Yamaha alongside his 2007 BSB commitments ^[5]

World Supersport 2008[link]

For 2008 Hill switched to the series full time, with the Hannspree Altea Honda team.^[6] On his very first test he crashed, breaking his femur, ankle and hand, causing him to miss the first five rounds of the season.^{[7] [8]} Hill returned at the Nürburgring, qualifying in 9th place.^[9] But in the race he was involved in an incident at turn one where wildcard rider Arne Tode caused a massive pile-up, and as a result Hill rebroke his femur, putting him out for the rest of the season.^[10]

World Superbikes and return to British Superbikes 2009 -[link]

The Althea team kept faith in him for 2009, signing him to be their sole World Superbike rider, owning to his BSB experience.^[11] However he was uncompetitive, and lost the ride midseason to young Frenchman Matthieu Lagrive.^[12]

He joined Worx Crescent Suzuki as a replacement for the injured Sylvain Guintoli from the Mallory Park round,^[13] qualifying 2nd. He was competitive in race 1 despite the electronic engine management system failing before the start, until chaos and controversy struck. He was running second when Josh Brookes lost control of his bike and catapulted race leader Simon Andrews, dropping oil from Brookes' Honda. Hill was one of five other riders who either crashed or downed their bikes to avoid crashing. The red flag was shown, but these seven riders were omitted from the results, as they were not running at the time of the red flag. Brookes received a two-meeting ban for his mistake.^[14] Hill kept the ride for the next meeting at Brands Hatch on a three race weekend. Hill rode well at Brands Hatch but after the meeting it was confirmed that Sylvain Guintoli would return to the Worx Suzuki team for the remainder of the season.^[15] After missing the Cadwell Park round Hill returned to BSB for the Hydrex Honda team,^[16] taking the seat from Karl Harris after he was sacked.^[17] Hill adapted quickly to the Hydrex Honda, gaining 7th and 6th place finishes in his first outing at Croft, two fifths at Silverstone, and podium places at Oulton Park.

For 2010 Hill joined Worx Crescent Suzuki full time, alongside former World Superbike race winner Yukio Kagayama.^[18] He took victory in the season opener at Brands Hatch, before finishing second to James Ellison in race two.^[19] He led the championship by 36 points at one stage.^[20] Poorer meetings at Cadwell Park and Knockhill eroded his championship lead,^[21] but regained it with three podiums at Snetterton.^[22] Hill was one of the central subjects of the film I, Superbiker, which recorded his 2011 British Superbike Championship season.

On 10 November 2010 Hill signed to Swan Yamaha full time, alongside Supersport champion Michael Laverty.^[23] He came second in the opening race at Brands Hatch Indy and took victory in the second race. This gave him lead in the championship. At Oulton Park, the weekend after, he got pole position in qualifying and topped the time sheet. However during the warm-up session, Loris Baz crashed moments before, leaving fluid on the track, this caused Hill to fall and sustain an injury to the left shoulder.^[24] Later an update said that Hill's injuries would rule him out of the races ahead.^[25], However Hill was back at Croft Circuit in May. He made history at Knockhill Racing Circuit by taking his first double win in the championship and putting him back on top form to fight for the championship title.^[26]

Career statistics[link]

Stats correct as of 7 May 2012

All Time[link]

By championship[link]

British Superbike Championship[link]

• * Season in progress

Notes[link]

1.^ – Hill qualified for "The Showdown" part of the BSB season, thus before the 11th round he was awarded 500 points plus the podium credits he had gained throughout the season. Podium credits are given to anyone finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd, with 3,2 and 1 points awarded respectively.

Superbike World Championship[link]

Supersport World Championship[link]

References[link]