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!