Track Details

Address: Ellough Park, Benacre Road, Nr Beccles, Suffolk NR34 7XD
Phone Number: 01502 717 718
Web Site: www.elloughparkraceway.co.uk/index.htm | www.bdkc.co.uk
Track Length: 800M / 7.5 M wide.
Facilities: Clubhouse, changing rooms, toilets and a burger van.
Weather Forecast: Click here for next 10 days

An Introduction to Ellough Park

>> PLEASE NOTE: The track has been extended since the guide was written, we will update the guide as soon as possible <<

Ellough Park was first used by Club 100 in 2001, and it is now a regular on the Club 100 calendar for both Sprint & Endurance events.

The facilities at Ellough consist of a small clubhouse, a changing/viewing area (combined!) with patio doors facing the track and a burger van that is usually in attendance on race days. There are also toilet facilities that look quite new.

The pits entrance is at the chicane and hence you go straight on instead of negotiating this corner. Once in the pit lane, you turn right (this is a tight turn so beware!) then left onto the dummy grid. The pits exit runs onto the main start/finish straight, to the left of which is the old track surface that can be used if extra room is needed. Care should be taken when leaving the pit leave and drivers are requested to keep to the far left of the circuit to avoid any incidents with those already travelling at full racing speeds!

Unfortunately there are no cut throughs, which is annoying because it would be very easy to make one at the end of the back straight (going straight onto the hairpin), creating an oval for the formation laps. Missing out the final chicane is the only real short -cut and CLUB 100 will use this at both the Sprint and Endurance events on the formation laps. With no cut-throughs of any significance, it will be important for drivers to get into position quickly and for the front row drivers to ensure a uniform speed on the approach to the start line.

Track Layout

A Lap Around Ellough Park (by Trevor Randall)

"Ellough Park, formerly known as Beccles, is a circuit which has been redeveloped during 2000/2001. The circuit has no gradients to speak of. The track surface offers plenty of grip and dries out very quickly after rain. The circuit layout is fast and flowing until you reach the final two corners, which are slower.

Turn 1 is a quick 180 right approached at top speed from the far left of the track after crossing the start/finish line. Begin braking around the point where the old track surface (on the left) changes colour. Do not turn in too early as you will run out of road on the exit. Get back on the throttle before apexing between a half and two thirds of the way around the inside kerb, do not touch this kerb as it will throw you off the racing line. Use all the available road on the exit for a good run down the short back straight towards turns 2 & 3.

Notes: The probability of a first corner accident is quite high here as although some braking is required, it is not really enough to pass someone of similar ability in the dry unless they have problems. During the race overtaking manoeuvres are possible if the driver in front has messed up the exit of the final chicane and you get a decent tow.

Turns 2 & 3 are too close to be treated separately. The first right is nearly flat out if you turn in at the point where the track surface join is. Stay a foot or more away from the inside kerb here as otherwise you will be off line for turning in to turn 3. Turn 3 is considerably slower and requires braking, but not as much as you may first think as there is a large amount of grip available and the exit kerb is totally flat and as wide as the kart. Smoothness is the key throughout the lap but especially here as a good exit will set you up for an overtaking move into turn 4.

Notes: It is possible to overtake into turn 2, if you get a good run out of turn 1 and your rival does not. However, this leaves you open to late dive attacks into turn 3, which don't always work as the amount of braking required is often less than first anticipated.

The circuit is very wide on the approach to turn 4, a long, sweeping slow to medium speed left with quite a nasty exit kerb. Ideally a very late turn in will give the best exit, but in race conditions this invites attacks up the inside so use between a half and 2/3rds of the width. Brake deep into the corner to turn in for a very late apex, just off the inside kerb about 2/3rds of the way round. Then unwind the steering lock for a smooth run down the short straight to turn 5. There is plenty of friendly run-off available here if you overdo it.

Notes: If the driver ahead has entered turn 3 too fast and compromised their exit speed it is well worth attempting an outbraking move into turn 4, the circuit is very wide here allowing racing room.

Turn 5, a fast left, is approached flat out from the right hand side of the track. Build up to taking this corner without lifting but be warned that there is no room for error on the exit and often turning in too early is the reason for crashing here. Apex just after half way around the corner, off the flat kerb. Be ready to position the kart correctly towards the left side of the circuit for the hairpin.

Notes: Not really an overtaking place against a driver of similar ability, unless they have messed up the turn 4 exit.

The hairpin, Turn 6, is very tight, possibly the slowest corner in the club 100 season. Approaching this corner, the track curves to the left at the last minute, ideally use this extra piece of tarmac to turn late for a smoother exit, but braking needs to be done here also so you may end locking up whilst turning left on the approach to a tight right hairpin! Safest bet is not to turn left at all, brake in a straight line and turn in a little later than feels natural. The exit kerb is wide and 'friendly', i.e flat.

Notes: There is not really enough space to pass here unless the driver ahead allows it, as the track is not wide enough. If there has been rain, a puddle develops on the inside line to further discourage overtaking attempts.

The short straight leading up to the final right/left/right (turns 7) chicane sequence can be used for overtaking if your fellow racer has made a bad exit from the hairpin. It is tempting to go into the first right too fast, this compromises exit speed. Instead brake quite hard using the pit lane entry markers as a guide before turning in to a late clipping point more than half way round, and just off, the steep kerbing before changing direction to turn through the slightly faster left which, depending on where the tyres are, may allow you to run over the flat kerb (a la Birmingham!). From this point be flat out on the throttle and follow a smooth line, tight to the tyres, around the final long right hander that opens out onto the start/finish straight.

The key difference between Ellough and most other circuits we visit is the combination of an ultra high grip track surface and the long left hander (turn 4), which stresses the back muscles and ribs on the opposite side to normal."

Thanks to Trevor for a great insight into the fastest way around Ellough Park.

Directions

If you are coming from Norwich, then come down the A146 and turn left at the roundabout with the McDonalds next to it. Continue on the A146 and go past the Superstore, following the signs for the Ellough Industrial area. Turn right onto the B1127 and go over the first roundabout. The Kart track is just a bit further on from here.

If you are coming from Ipswich, take the A12 to Lowerstoft and then take the A143 then A146 to the B1127. Then follow the same directions as above, once you are on this road. This is not an easy circuit to find, so we suggest you leave yourselves plenty of time on race das & check the website(s) noted above for a graphical representation of how to find the circuit!