This document details all the places a driver needs to take themselves or their car over a race weekend.
Main Paddock
The above map begins, at Number 1, as we enter into the paddock. We will then travel in a mainly anticlockwise direction, taking in all the facilities.
Photographic Guide
| 1. Entrance, Showers and Chemical Waste From the centre of the paddock and looking towards the main paddock entrance, the shower block is beyond, to the right. The chemical waste disposal point is at the end of the block, paddock-side. 2. Toilets Looking towards the paddock entrance, there is a toilet block to the left, then a café/bar to the left. 3. Café / Bar The café is usually open during Friday testing and throughout the race weekends. The food is well-priced and, whilst not posh-restaurant quality, of good quality, as is the service. Outside seating is available, suitable for a small family to eat at. |    |
| 4. Pit Lane 2 From the centre of the paddock, look to the left of the café / bar and you will see the exit from Pit Lane 2. The pit lane can be seen behind the café/bar, with the pit entry at the far end. |   |
| 5. Scrutineering Bay Heading from the main entrance past the café / bar, bear slightly to the left and you will come to the Scrutineering Bay. |    |
| 6. Fuel Bay Continue past this for the petrol station, which is a single pump serving 97 RON. In 2022 it was quite expensive at £2.01 per litre, with opening times being listed as 10:30, 13:30 and 15:00. With no closing times provided, I would advise arriving (at queuing) a little early. |     |
| 7. Parc Fermé Exit the fuel bay into Parc Fermé, turning left to exit it. one needs to enter Next is the exit from Parc Fermé, then a little further down, the entrance to the Assembly Area. |    |
| 8. Assembly Area Alongside and to the South of Parc Fermé is the Assembly Area, the entrance being at the southern end, just below First Aid. At the entrance is a hut for the marshals, who will be directing competitors to their correct location before being released, in order, onto the circuit. This is also where noise testing takes place. |   |
| 9. Podium This is by the exit of Parc Fermé, in a little recess against the wall by the petrol station. |  |
| 10. Waste Oil By the entrance to Parc Fermé is a disposal point for waste oil. | |
| 11 First Aid and Pit Lane Entry An entrance to the pit lane is between the Assembly Area and the garage block. First Aid is also here, to the west of the entrance and alongside the Assembly Area. |  Under the green First Aid sign is the defibrillator.   |
| 12. Race Control Looking at the garage block from the paddock, Race Control is right-of-centre, perhaps a third of the way in from the right. |  |
| 13. Pit Lane Exit At the other end of the garage block is, when Parc Fermé is not in use, the egress from the pit lane. |   |
| 14. Toilets From the eastern end of the garage block, above the pit lane exit, are toilet blocks for ladies and gents. |   |
Pit Lane
The International configuration’s approach to pit entry is different from the Coastal configuration and so they will be described separately. The pit exit is common to both.
Pit Entry – International Configuration
After the hairpin and then the unused pits on the left, comes the final corner. On the inside of this corner is the pit lane entry.
If at the end of an official session, be aware the there is a sharp left into Parc Ferme, immediately on entering the pit lane.
The pit lane speed limit is 60 kph, or 37.3mph.
 Approach. Stay to the left. |  Pit Lane entry. |
 The pit lane. Here the speed limit of 60kph begins. |  The return to the paddock. |
Pit Entry – Coastal Configuration
Swooping down the Corkscrew complex, the pit entry is offset to the left, on the inside of the corner that leads onto the start/finish straight.
The driver needs to physically steer to the left, as though one was changing lanes.
If at the end of an official session, be aware the there is a sharp left into Parc Ferme, immediately on entering the pit lane.
The pit lane speed limit is 60 kph, or 37.3mph.
 The approach, form the corkscrew. | Pit Lane entry. |
| The pit lane. Here the speed limit of 60kph begins. | The return to the paddock. |
Pit Exit
The pit lane speed limit is 60 kph, or 37.3mph.
When permission is granted, head straight on for the pit exit lane which curves to the left before a short slip road. If joining a live session, be aware of oncoming traffic; while the racing line will ensure that most traffic exits the corner to the right of the track, dawdling traffic (maybe on a slow lap) may have moved over to the left.
 The pit lane, with the exit ahead. |  The early part of the exit lane gently curves. |
 The curve continues to circuit exit. |  Merge with the circuit here. |
The Grid
International Circuit
Exiting the hairpin and heading past the unused pits on the left, the last place on the grid is just before the pit entry / final corner; It is roughly opposite the end of the tyre wall on the right.
The main starting lights are around this corner and so are out of sight for those at the very back.
The head of the grid is alongside Race Control. As the exit kerb comes to an end, on the right, there is an access road that makes up the Club configuration. Halfway along this is the starting line, with the head of the grid being a little before.
The starting lights are located on a gantry above the left side of the grid, opposite the very end of the access road that makes up the Club configuration.
I believe that there are no repeater start lights.
Coastal Circuit
Slow right down well before entering the Corkscrew, as the last place on the grid is partway down this complex. The grid markings go all the way back into the International GP loop. Those final grid slots are additional to those used for the Coastal configuration, as the Coastal is licensed for eight fewer cars. The final slot here is roughly opposite the entry to Parc Ferme.
The head of the grid is alongside Race Control. As the exit kerb comes to an end, on the right, there is an access road that makes up the Club configuration. Halfway along this is the starting line, with the head of the grid being a little before.
The starting lights are located on a gantry above the left side of the grid, opposite the very end of the access road that makes up the Club configuration.
I believe that there are no repeater start lights.
Pedestrian Crossing of the Circuit
International GP Crossing
This crossing can be used for access to the Medical Centre, or for reducing the spectator’s walking distance. It can only be used, clearly, if the International configuration is not in use. Even then, at best, it will only be open between sessions, whilst the walker should not expect even this. Mornings, lunchtimes and evenings are a safer expectation. The following is extracted from the Spectator Guide.
| For the sake of safety, the crossing is only open, at best, between sessions and lunchtime. If this crossing is closed, it is a simple matter of getting a little extra exercise and walking the perimeter. Alternatively, it may be possible to drive. |  |
| Here we are at the circuit crossing, from the paddock side of the circuit. The crossing point is via the gate on the left. It is shown as currently being closed. The steps that can be seen between the crossing sign and the lorry lead to views of the circuit. |  |
| This photograph was taken whilst on a track walk, with the circuit being closed. Having gone through the previous gate, cross the road to the centre of the track, then cross the road again to exit the track. |  |
| Having crossed the circuit, here is the view back. |  |
| On returning, go through this gate. Again, here the crossing is currently closed. |  |
Crossing at Main Pit Entry
As above for the International Configuration’s crossing, at best it will only be open between sessions, whilst the walker should not expect even this. Mornings, lunchtimes and evenings are a safer expectation. The following is extracted from the Spectator Guide.
This crossing point is by the Assembly Area and crosses the start/finish straight and then the curverd straight between Church and School corners. The following is extracted from the Spectator Guide, starting from opposite the Assembly Area.
| This crossing will only be available when the circuit is closed and not usually between sessions. If there are any officials or marshals, always get permission first. |  |
| This is the crossing point, by Marshal Post 5. |  |
| Cross the first part of the track, into the centre. |  |
| Then cross the start/finish straight, into the pit lane. |  |
| From the pit lane, you can cross in the opposite direction. |  |
Medical Centre / First Aid
Medical Centre
The medical centre is quite remote, but there are First Aid facilities within the paddock, which includes a defibrillator. It is located to the North of Peel Corner. It is separated from the main paddock by the two straights that make up the International GP configuration.
If the Coastal configuration is in use, then pedestrian access via the paddock is as follows:
With the Scrutineering Bay on the left and the café / bar on the right, head towards the second set of pits that are not in use. Walk to the far north end of the pit lane, where the circuit can be crossed at the pit lane entry. Continue along the path to the very end, where you will come across some buildings, the first of which is the Medical Centre.
If driving, or the International GP or National configuration is in use, access is as follows:
Take the access road from the paddock, as if you were leaving the venue. On initially bearing left you will pass the hairpin on the left. Take the next left, which is just before the circuit exit. Continue until a pedestrian/road path crosses. Turn right here (you could have also turned right at the previous path, just a few car-lengths back). You will now come across some buildings, the first of which is the Medical Centre.
First Aid
First Aid is located within the paddock. Looking from the centre of the paddock towards that garage block, it is between the Assembly Area and the left-end of the garage block. It is a metal portacabin-style single-level structure and you can expect at least one ambulance parked alongside.
Looking at the First Aid centre from alongside the garages, paddock-side, you can see the green First Aid sign. Directly below this is the defibrillator.
Page updated by Peter Tattersall, May 2024