This document details all the places a driver needs to take themselves or their car over a race weekend. Included are areas outside of the paddock itself, which will be covered first.
Each major section can be reached by the following links:
Venue Entrance
From Aerodrome Road, enter the site and head straight on where you will come to a mini-roundabout [1].
Straight on, but bearing left, leads directly to the traffic light-controlled tunnel, which is single-carriage way [2].
Going to the right will take you to parking for four electric car charging points [3], Thruxton BARC [4], the Jackaroo Café [5].
Straight on, but bearing right, leads to limited parking towards the edge of the circuit, by the Jackaroo Café [5]. Opposite this parking is pedestrian access, via a tunnel, to the infield and paddock.
| 1. Entrance Entrance from Aerodrome Road leads to a mini-roundabout. |  |
| 2. Tunnel Access The traffic light-controlled tunnel is the only vehicular access to the interior and paddock. Pedestrians are strictly forbidden; there is a separate pedestrian tunnel on the right. |  |
| 3. EV Charging There are currently facilities for charging up to four electric cars. The charging station is to the right of the BARC offices. |  |
| 4. BARC Offices The BARC facilities are at the rear of the second grandstand. |  |
| 5. Jackaroo Café The entrance is circuit-side. |  |
Paddock Entry
From the vehicular tunnel, drive straight ahead for entry into the paddock [1].
On the right corner of the entrance is the fuel station [2]. Further to the right is a waste oil disposal point [3].
Across the paddock, to the left is the Thruxton Centre [4].
Turning left at the entrance leads towards the main paddock facilities, including circuit access.
| 1. Paddock Entry From the vehicular tunnel, the entrance into the paddock is ahead, by the fuel station. The sign post gives locations of pits, Race Control, scrutineering and toilets. |  |
| 2. Fuel The fuel station is only open on request. |  |
| 3. Waste Oil The oil waste can be deposited in the container by the large rubbish bin. |  |
| 4. Thruxton Centre Food and drink is available all day, and into the evening, here at the Thruxton Centre. |  |
Medical Centre
From the tunnel, on entering the paddock, turn right at the fuel station.
From the main paddock, go past the Scrutineering Bay, and continue past the fuel station.
Pass through a set of gates and continue on the path, that bears left.
Passing the gate you will see a DANGER/ NO ACCESS sign to the right of the path. This is to stop unauthorised people from turning right.
You will see buildings in the distance. The Medical Centre is painted green and can be seen ahead, to the left, after a long building and opposite a large industrial unit.
| 1. Having walked past scrutineering, continue past this fuel station. |  |
| 2. Pass through the gates ahead and bear left, so that you see buildings in the distance. |  |
| 3. Having passed through the gate, bear left and stay on this path. |  |
| 4. The Medical Centre can be seen ahead, left. |  |
| 5. The Medical Centre. |  |
Main Paddock
Having entered the paddock by the fuel station, turn left. The first of the facilities one passes is Scrutineering [1], followed by signing on [2]. Ahead, to the right is the Assembly Area [3];to the left of that is Parc Ferme [4].
To the left (south) of Parc Ferme is the Media Centre [5] and to the left of that can be seen the start of the pit garages [8]. This end of the pit garages contains, above garages 1 and 2, both Race Control [6] and the Timekeepers [7]. There are 27 garages [8], the last of which is used for pit lane access.
| 1. Scrutineering Bay This is the exit from scrutineering bay. |  |
| 2. Driver Sign On To the right of this is the entrance to the scrutineering bay. |  |
| 3. Assembly Area Here, cars can be seen exiting the Assembly Area, onto the circuit via the pit exit lane. |  |
| 4. Parc Ferme Here, cars can be seen exiting Parc Ferme, into the paddock. |  |
| 5. Media Centre The entry to the Media centre can just about be seen on the right. Just about in view to the left are the garages and, above Garage to, the Timekeeper’s office. Middle-of-shot is the podium which all clubs are able to use after a race. |  |
| 6&7. Race Control and Timekeepers Race Control is on the first floor, on the right. Timekeepers are above Garage 2 (left side of the first floor). Both are accessed by passing through the gate in the fence and walking up the external staircase. To the right is the Media Centre. |    |
| 8. Garages There are 27 garages, with the first being below Race control. The last garage is used for pit lane access. |   |
| 9. Waste Oil and Caravan Waste Here there is a green container for waste oil, along with a blue bin for used oil filters. This is also a caravan waste disposal point, although I didn’t see where the waste was disposed of and so recommend investigating this area first. |  |
Pit Lane
Pits, Including Entry and Exit
The pit lane and garages are at the bottom southwestern end of the paddock. Access to the pit lane from the paddock area is via Garage 27 [1]. There is no other access to the pit lane, other than the Assembly Area [1], or when exiting the circuit [1].
Circuit Access, Including from Assembly Area
Exiting the garages, turn right into the pit lane. Drive straight on. After the garage block, to the right, is the entry to Parc Ferme [2], then the egress from the Assembly Area [3]. The pit exit lane then curves to the right [4], cutting Allard, the first corner. On joining the circuit stay right for the next corner. Beware of cars already on the circuit and at racing speed as they sweep past on the left, their racing line, before moving to the right for the following left-hand sweeper.
Circuit Egress, including to Parc Ferme
On exiting Club chicane, stay right, to be clear of the racing line. Raise a hand to indicate that you are pitting and reduce speed as you enter the pit lane. If there are multiple cars behind, be aware that one driver may pull to the right, intending to pass the car in front.
It is a straight run into the pit lane. Ensure that you have reduced your speed to the 60kph limit by the white line that crosses the circuit before the garage block begins.
Immediately after the garage block is the entrance, on the right, into Parc Ferme.
| 1. Pit Lane Access via Garage 27 Other than the Assembly Area, this is the only access to the pit lane. |  |
| 2. Entry to Parc Ferme Driving down the pit lane, immediately after the garages is the entry into Parc Ferme. |  |
| 3. Egress from Assembly Area Official sessions, including races, start from the Assembly Area, where cars are released onto the pit exit lane. Here, cars can be seen exiting the Assembly Area, onto the circuit via the pit exit lane. | |
| 4. Pit Lane Exit From the pit lane or Assembly Area, obey the traffic lights. The pit exit lane then curves to the right, cutting Allard, the first corner. On joining the circuit stay right for the next corner and be cautious of cars already on-circuit. |  |
| 5. Pit Lane Access Having negotiated Club Chicane, it is a straight run into the pit lane. Ensure that you have reduced your speed to the 30mph limit by the white line that crosses the circuit before the garage block begins. |   |
Grid
Due to the preceding chicane, it is a naturally slow approach to the final part of the grid. The approach to the chicane, however, can be rather fast, so be aware of the pack ahead rapidly decelerating.
Starting Grid – Rear
Exiting Club Corner, the pit entry can be seen on the right. The last place on the grid is alongside the start of the barrier that divides the racetrack from the pit entry lane.
Starting Grid – Front
The front of the grid is just before the end of the concrete section of the pit wall, alongside the starting post. It is also alongside Race Control.
Starting Lights
The starting lights are located on a gantry above the right side of the track, at the end of the concrete pit wall.
| Starting Grid – Rear The last places on the grid are at the apex of club exit. |  |
| Starting Grid – Front, and Lights The green car is on pole position, with the starting lights above. |  |
Page updated by Peter Tattersall, July 2023