Upcoming meetings
No upcoming meetings listed at this venue.
Circuit
Llandow is a privately owned, family-run circuit in the Vale of Glamorgan near Cowbridge, built on part of the former RAF Llandow, a Second World War airfield used by Spitfires and the Royal Canadian Air Force before its decommissioning in 1957. In 1961 local farmer Jack Evans bought an 80-acre section of the airfield and, working with the South Wales Automobile Club, linked sections of runway into a roughly one-mile oval that Graham Hill opened in 1963. Early meetings drew competitors who went on to wider fame, among them Jody Scheckter, Andy Rouse and rally champion Roger Clark, but deteriorating conditions cost the circuit its racing licence in 1977, after which the site saw stock car racing, grass-track events and sheep grazing. The track was later resurfaced and reshaped to a uniform 9-metre-wide strip, regaining a Motor Sports Association Sprint licence in 2001. The modern circuit measures 1.45 km (0.9 miles) with left- and right-hand bends and a 105 dB noise limit, and is used mainly for sprints, track days, supercar events, testing, filming and event hire. The Evans family still run the circuit and operate an adjacent 1,050-metre kart track to MSUK standard. The venue describes itself as one of the few family-owned circuits remaining in the country.
Operated by: Privately owned (Evans family)
Flat, compact circuit 9m wide built on former airfield runways. Technical with a mix of left and right hand bends, tight chicane sections and a short main straight. Surfaced to MSA Sprint standard.
Notable Corners
Llandow Circuit guide
History
RAF Llandow served as a Second World War training and maintenance station, flying Spitfires and hosting Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, before its 1957 decommissioning. Local farmer Jack Evans bought part of the derelict airfield in 1961 and, with the South Wales Automobile Club, linked stretches of runway into a circuit that future Formula One champion Graham Hill opened in 1963. The circuit's early years drew future stars including Jody Scheckter, Andy Rouse and Roger Clark, but a deteriorating track surface led to the loss of its racing licence in 1977, after which the site was used for stock car racing, grass-track meetings and grazing. A resurfacing and reshaping project restored a Motor Sports Association Sprint licence in 2001, and the circuit has operated under that format since, still run by the Evans family.
The circuit
The 1.45 km (0.9-mile) circuit is a flat, technical layout built across former runway and perimeter sections, nine metres wide with a mix of left- and right-hand bends and a 105 dB noise limit. It suits both cars and motorcycles and is used for club sprints, track days, supercar experience days, manufacturer and tyre testing, and filming. An adjacent 1,050-metre kart circuit, run to MSUK standard by the same family, shares the site.
Sources: Llandow official site (llandow.com); Wikipedia