Kirkistown Circuit

Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit is a permanent motorsport circuit located between the villages of Kirkistown and Portavogie, on the Ards Peninsula of County Down in Northern Ireland.

Kirkistown Circuit
LocationCounty Down, Northern Ireland
Time zoneWET (UTC+0)
WEST (April–October, UTC+1)
Coordinates54°27′21.6″N 5°28′8.4″W
Owner500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland
Opened1953
Former namesRAF Kirkistown
Full Circuit (1987–present)[1]
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.512 miles (2.433 km)
Turns9
Race lap record0:50.782[2] (Philip Shields, Dallara, 2013, GP2)
Full Circuit (1978–1986)[1]
Length1.480 miles (2.386 km)
Turns9
Original Circuit (1953–1977)[1]
Length1.500 miles (2.414 km)
Turns6

History

The circuit is owned and operated by the 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland (500 MRCI), who opened the circuit in 1953[3] on the site of the former RAF Kirkistown Royal Air Force airfield. Kirkistown's main circuit runs clockwise, and was laid out using portions of the aerodrome's major east–west runway and northern perimeter roadways. The layout it relatively simple, with four main corners and a 1,000 yd (910 m) main straight. During the 1970s, a right-left chicane was constructed approximately one third of the way along the main straight, to reduce approach speeds to the Maguires Hairpin turn.[4]

Current use

In its present configuration, Kirkistown's track length is 1.512 mi (2.433 km)[5] and it is Northern Ireland's only MSA-licensed permanent race track.[6] In addition to the 500 MRCI's own events and other automobile circuit racing series, Kirkistown also hosts races for karting, rallying, rallycross, motorcycle and supermoto classes. Various duathlon, running and cycling events (in aid of Belfast Tandem Cycling Group) have also been held at Kirkistown, including an officially measured series of 5k and 10k races regarded as one of the fastest and flattest courses in the province.

References
  1. "Kirkistown – Racingcircuits". Racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. "Kirkistown – Cars History (continued)". Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. Lynas, Ian; Young, Richard. "Circuit History: Kirkistown – The story so far..." Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit. 500MRCI. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  4. Hunt, Julian (2012). Motorsport Explorer. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. pp. 385–386. ISBN 978 1 84425 634 1.
  5. "Guide to Kirkistown racing circuit". Its My Motorsport. J. Frankin-Pryce & Its My Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  6. "Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit". Discover Ireland. Tourism Ireland. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
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