CARTs 'oval' here at last! (Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby, England)

Member Name: indyjo

Product:	Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby, England
Date:	28/07/01 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: should give great racing, location, near motorways etc

Disadvantages: ticket prices for CART event, high

Rockingham Motor Speedway is the new addition to the UKs purpose built race tracks.
Building work started in 1999 on the site of a disused steel works in Corby, Northants.

The design incorporates several tracks, with a 1.5 mile oval surrounding a 'traditional' 2.2 mile road course in the infield area, a smaller 1/3 mile oval and a kart track. This gives greater opportunity for a variety of events at the venue.

The track will hope to attract various race series such as the BTCC , ASCAR (similar to the US NASCAR), motorbike races and has already hosted a British F3 championship meeting on the infield track.

The 1.5 mile oval course is set to host the inaugural round of the Fedex CART series, or Champ Cars as it is also known, in September 2001. This series is based in the USA but races across the World in 7 Countries and has a large International driver field including Scots driver Dario Franchitti.

The track at Rockingham will see the CART boys race side by side at speeds in excess of 200mph, believe me to see that live is simply awesome! To watch the action on T.V just doesn't do it justice.

I was delighted when I heard that the series was coming to England (save on my airfares)! however I was quite taken aback when I saw the ticket prices for the event, they are much higher than I have experienced anywhere else. Rockingham say the prices are comparable with other international sporting events... we presume F1, however as CART does not get the same kind of marketing and exposure here, to the average man or woman in the street the series will not be as well known as the F1 championship, what's the likelihood they will pay out large sums of money to go see 'the unknown'?

For the inaugural race I feel ticket prices should be lower to attract people in to see what a great show the CART series puts on over the race weekend.
Setting high entrance fees coul
d deny many people, including genuine race fans, the chance of going to the CART race.

* The inaugural cart event wasn't without problems. Heavy rainfall in the week preceding the race caused problems with the track surface.

Water had drained down through the surface but had begun to weep back up, this caused the track surface to become slick and dangerous in a couple of areas on the circuit. The cars did several laps under the pace car on Thursday and reported areas of concern.

4000 holes were drilled into the track over Friday night and the race was eventually able to go on late Saturday afternoon.

Spectator facilities were adequate, with merchandisers, hot food, and purpose built toilets. Access to the paddock was good and viewing fabulous from the grandstands. Driver signing sessions were organised Friday and there were plenty of opportunities to snap photos in the paddock area.

Ticket refunds were given for Fridays no-go.

Only gripes the car parking miles from the stands and traffic congestion. These problems along with a possible date change should be ironed out by next year and I'm sure the event will be fantastic!

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