The new Snetterton track

[Chris Yates]

I was able to drive around Snetterton on Tuesday, and since then the track has been formally opened and the first test day has taken place.

MSV and the contractors have made a great circuit even better, in my opinion. The work done is first class, the circuit looks great, and is billiard table smooth. Mind you, I was in a road car, so it may be very different in a race 2CV!

Don't forget, as well as putting in a new section, they've also changed what used to be Russell, and Sear is now a hairpin. As a result, the whole circuit has had a re-surface (including the pitlane) and there's new barriers, kerbs, marshals posts, and earth banks (big spectator areas). It's been a huge task, and it probably would have been easier to build a circuit from scratch! But they've done the work in record time.

I took the liberty of strapping a small camera to the front of our car and went for a low speed tour of the circuit. You can see on the footage that there were still diggers and dumpers around the circuit, and the white lines were being painted, so I had to be careful. So don't complain about my lines

Here's the footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dmZfyk5piw

[Andy Craig-Smith]

That looks interesting, it will test the cars to the limit during the 24. Especially if its wet!!! (sorry when).
Andy

[Simon Crook]

There is a lot of straight! handy though having those toilets at the side of the track

[Chris Yates]

Bit of advance information on camping from MSV:

Camping facilities update: camping will now be in the infield at Esses/Coram for club events, and on the outfield by Revett Straight for major events (such as BTCC and BSB).

Our 24 hour race is not classed as a major event, so we'll be camping on the big green (mostly) bit between what used to be Esses and Coram/Russell. I.e. when you come over the bridge into the circuit, the bit on the left.

I'm also led to believe that we'll be racing on the 200 circuit - not the new 300 circuit. At least, that's what the official event guide says (http://ticket.motorsportvision.co.uk/calendar/2011/august/280811-2cv-sn.aspx). A bit of a shame if true really, but with the increased marshalling requirement for the longer circuit, it makes sense.