Cadwell Park

History

Located in the Lincolnshire Wolds, Cadwell Park was established in by Mr Mansfield Wilkinson of Louth. His sons originally used the land for racing their own motorbikes against each other.

Originally the gravel-drives of the country estate measured 0.75 mi, with tarmac and concrete being added in 1938, with widening and lengthening in 1953, and lengthened again in 1961 with the addition of the Donington Curve.

In 1953 the track was lengthened to 1.250 mi, upon the invitation of the 500 cc motorcycle-engined Formula 3 to race in a traditional bike meeting. Around 30,000 spectators attended that particular race.

The track grew to the current 2.175 mi layout in 1962 and hosted the British F3 series the next May. Some of the bends are named after family members e.g. Mansfield, Charlie and Chris.

Cadwell Park circuit was acquired by MotorSport Vision (MSV) along with Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, and Snetterton from The Interpublic Group of Companies subsidiary Octagon in January 2004. Octagon previously acquired prior owner Brands Hatch Leisure plc in November 1999. MSV immediately implemented a programme of improvements to the venue, designed to heighten customer experiences both for spectators and competitors.

Racing usage

Competitively, Cadwell Park is primarily used for motorcycle racing, with the British Superbike Championship round being the biggest event on the circuit's calendar, held during an August weekend each year. In 2010, it hosted an additional BSB meeting on the weekend of 22/23 May.

Cadwell Park occasionally features in the British Superkart Championship calendar, having last done so in 2021. A new circuit lap record for any vehicle was set by driver Sam Moss in that year.

The circuit's track width is now generally considered too narrow for high level car races, although Club motorsport associations such as the BARC, HSCC and 750MC still hold meetings.

Current events

In addition to the August round of the British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park also hosts two major historic events with the Vintage Sports Car Club's annual festival and the Wolds Trophy covering the post-war period.

The Vintage Motorcycle Club is a regular visitor, with the popular Modified Live car show event also on the calendar. The Cadwell Park season typically ends with stage rallying and fireworks.

During the week the circuit offers general test days and track days for cars and motorcycles, and can also be hired out for private use.

Other usage

Several tests and feature clips for the motoring program Fifth Gear have been filmed here. They frequently feature racing driver Tiff Needell.

In April 2009, musician and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason flew into the circuit by helicopter to drive his £1.5 million Ferrari 512.

In June 2015 the circuit was used as part of the course for pedal-cycling's British National Time Trial Championships.

Some racing scenes for the 2013 film Rush were filmed at Cadwell Park.

Top Gear used the circuit for a feature, aired in 2020, featuring former Formula One driver Damon Hill pitted against the regular Top Gear presenters, testing a Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari.

Stock Car racing

During the 1960s and 1970s, BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars attracted big crowds to Cadwell. The gradient changes added excitement to the racing, as stock car drivers were accustomed to racing on flat 400 yard oval tracks of shale or tarmac; and likewise their cars' suspensions and gearing were set up for short flat ovals. File:Cadwell Park Trackday1.jpg|View from Hall Bends, looking towards Coppice Image:Chris Curve, Cadwell Park.jpg|Chris Curve File:Cadwell Park Hall Bends April 2011.JPG|Hall Bends

Race lap records

As of August 2025, the fastest official race lap records at Cadwell Park are listed as:

Track records

References

References

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2. [http://www.cadwellpark.co.uk/contact-us.aspx Contact Us, Cadwell Park at MotorSport Vision Limited] Retrieved 11 August 2015
3. [http://www.ngroadracing.org/circuits/cadwell_park.htm Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire] {{Webarchive. link. (3 June 2009 - NG Road Racing)
4. [http://www.britishsuperbike.com/events/cadwell-park.aspx Cadwell Park] - British Superbikes official website {{webarchive. link. (23 June 2009)
5. Britain's Top Circuits, race circuit guide, 1966 hard copy (free supplement with [[The Motor Cycle. ''Motor Cycle'']]), Accessed 2 May 2015
6. (2004-01-05). "Palmer buys four British tracks". [[BBC Sport]].
7. Cassy, John. (1999-11-10). "Brands Hatch sold to US group". The Guardian.
8. (27 August 2006). "Rea is sixth on Cadwell Park grid". [[BBC]].
9. (27 August 2007). "Rea claims win at Cadwell Park". [[BBC]].
10. [http://www.louthleader.co.uk/news/Pink-Floyd39s-Nick-Mason-at.5186728.jp Pink Floyd's Nick Mason at Cadwell Park on Wednesday] - Louth Leader
11. (25 June 2015). "Dowsett, Simmonds and Davies take British time trial titles".
12. "Rush scenes filmed at Cadwell Park - Louth Leader".
13. [https://www.louthleader.co.uk/news/people/cadwell-parks-top-gear-episode-airs-weekend-2498720 Cadwell Park’s ‘Top Gear’ episode airs this weekend] ''Louth Leader'', 19 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021
14. "Cadwell Park - Racing Circuits".
15. (29 August 2021). "2021 Motorsport UK British Superkart Championship - Race 10 - Classification".
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17. (4 April 1968). "Cadwell Park [Special GT2.0] 1968".
18. (20 May 1962). "BRSCC Cadwell park [Formula Libre] 1962".
19. (24 August 2025). "2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship - Round 7 - Race 1 - Classification".
20. (24 August 2025). "2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship - Round 7 - 2025 Quattro Group British Supersport Championships - Race 1 - Sprint - Classification".
21. (25 August 2025). "2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship - Round 7 - 2025 Pirelli National Sportbike Championship - Race - Classification".
22. (25 August 2025). "2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship - Round 7 - 2025 ROKiT Off BMW Motorrad F 900 R Cup - Main Race - Classification".
23. (1 July 1963). "Cadwell Park 1963".
24. “July_2024_750 MotorClub_Results”
25. "Monoposto Racing Club - Moto Mono 1400".
26. "Engine Fires, High Speed Spins And Brake Failures...Time Attack At Cadwell Was Insane!!!".
27. [http://www.monoposto.co.uk/results/lap-records/mono-f3 Monoposto Racing Club - Mono F3]/