Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, DefunctTraining Ground

Bruntingthorpe is a former Second World War airfield and US air force base near Lutterworth in Leicestershire, now operated as the largest privately owned vehicle proving ground in the United Kingdom. The site spans some 670 acres and sits centrally in the country with easy access to the M1 and M6 motorways. At its heart is a circuit of around 6.5km that incorporates a famous high-speed straight roughly 3.2km long and 60m wide, one of the longest in Britain and a magnet for high-speed testing and top-speed runs. The full lap measures about 4.2 miles with a handful of fast corners and generous airfield run-off, while a shorter half lap offers a more technical sequence of bends suited to driving experiences and novices. Alongside automotive development work, Bruntingthorpe hosts car track days, sprints and high-speed passenger experiences, and was once used by Top Gear as a test track. The proving ground is supplemented by off-road facilities, turning circles and skid and sprint aprons, and is heavily secured with perimeter fencing and round-the-clock patrols.

Operated by: C. Walton Ltd