Bushy Park Circuit Inc’s (BPCI) on-going programme of investment in the St Philip facility marks a new milestone this month, with the launch of the 1.28-kilometre/0.79-mile National Circuit. Combined with last year’s installation of all-arena lighting, which is already increasing interest in activities such as Night Karting Experiences, the addition of an alternative to the 2.01km International Circuit will allow greater flexibility of use.
BPCI Operations Manager Amy Willis said: “We are always looking for new ways of enhancing what we offer. The lights allow us to operate for longer each day, while the addition of the National Circuit opens up a number of options: our regular competitors will be able race on two different circuits, much as they as would in Europe – the Brands Hatch Indy and Grand Prix circuit layouts, for instance - while as a business we will have the scope to run parallel activities in the north and south of the venue.”
The National Circuit will be used for racing first by Bushy Park Motorsports Inc (BPMSI) in round two of its 2018 Championship on Saturday, July 7, although BPCI also plans to run its Open Track Day on Sunday, June 24, on the new layout. The groundworks and surfacing required to complete the National Circuit were carried out last month by contractors Creative Paving Solutions Inc and C O Williams Construction Ltd.
While the National Circuit closely follows the footprint of the original 1970s layout, the new link is tighter, so will not flow in quite the same way, presenting drivers with an interesting new challenge. After the exit of Shak-Shak, the track swings north, leading in to the Dipper and Bullet, the new section based on a short link created for Red Bull Global Rallycross in 2014.
Entries for BPMSI’s July 7 Race Meet, which will run from day into night, opened today (Tuesday) at Motorsport Services, Haggatt Hall, and will close on Friday, June 29. While the programme will accommodate all BPMSI Championship classes on two and four wheels, the feature races will be for the second round of the now-regional Radical Caribbean SR3 Cup, which kicks off at the 2018 Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship’s (CMRC) second round in Trinidad & Tobago on June 23/24.
As it was essential for the recently-laid tarmac to settle and cure, the new link has not yet been used, so likely lap times are unknown. While most of BPMSI’s current competitors also raced on the 0.81-mile Old Bushy Park, the Suzuki-powered Radical SR3 sports racers have not yet competed on any shorter layout.
