569:
542:
503:
467:
585:
214:
202:
186:
26:
288:(Cooper) from Don Truman (Cooper) second, third was N. Berrow Johnson (Martin Special) and fourth, A.A. Butler (Cooper). The final was over 20 laps, Brandon winning at 75.99 mph and equalling his lap record he set in the early heat, with Parker second from Lewis-Evans and Leston. The season had ended on a high note and there were hopes for a better 1954.
173:, opened in 1942. Davidstow circuit opened in 1952, and held three Formula 1 races between 1954 and 1955. The circuit hosted its last race in 1955, and was one of many of Britain's airfields to be transformed into motor racing venues. Davidstow circuit is notable for the first victory in a Formula One race by a
237:
which was formed in 1908. When the racing arrived so did the rain. The preceding few days had seen members of the promoting clubs labouring in torrential rain to prepare the track and facilities and as race day dawned there was no let-up in the weather. Despite this the expected crowd of 800 had been
366:
For the 1955 season the organisers decided to concentrate on just one race meeting and this was held on Whit Monday, 30 May. It was their intention that this race meeting would be the last at
Davidstow, but so it was to be. However, the circuit bowed out a high note. At the very end real Formula One
306:
The first meeting was held on 7 June, which dawned to high winds and driving rain. Despite this the promise of a
Formula One in Cornwall drew a crowd of 20,000 spectators. The Formula One was the eighth race of the programme and was over 20 laps. There were only seven starters although, there was a
241:
If
Davidstow had one clear advantage over other circuits it was that there was a distinct absence of complaining populace. Two meetings were planned for 1953, on the Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday and on 1 August. The Bank Holiday dawned over Cornwall as a lovely summer's day and a crowd of 20,000 was
246:
it was blanketed in fog. After sheep were cleared from the bank straight, the weather had improved sufficiently to allow the drivers to have their statutory three laps of practice. So
Davidstow's first race commenced (as opposed to speed trails and relay races) over five laps for the first heat of
351:. This was Lotus's first Formula One win; although the Mk8 was built as a sports car its engine capacity met the Formula One limits allowing it to compete as a Formula One car under the contemporary regulations. Their first win in a World Championship race using a recognised Formula One car was
334:
The next meeting of 1954 also featured a
Formula One race. This was scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday, 2 August. Once again the weather took a hand, as the circuit was blanketed in fog, which later turned to a penetrating drizzle. The fifth race of eight was billed as being for Formula One and
209:
The layout of
Davidstow Circuit was changed for 1953. This layout was kept for 1954 and 1955 as well. The new layout contained a chicane before the first corner and was considerably shorter. This layout cut out the end of the original layout, which meant that this layout was only 3.1 km
193:
The original track layout of
Davidstow circuit was used in 1952 and contained three corners; most drivers thought that this layout was not very challenging. The track was 4.2 km (2.6 mi) long and used the main runways of
410:
In the very last race to be held at
Davidstow, a Formula Libre race, Marr left the outright lap record at a fraction less than 90 mph in the B3, officially stopped the watch at 1min 14sec, a speed of 89.88 mph.
259:
The meeting on 1 August saw the return of
Formula Three cars, this time in better weather. Their event was expanded on this occasion to be run as two heats and a final, and attracted some of the great names of the day.
255:
over 20 laps. Two Kiefts won from two
Coopers, Paulson and Westcott leading home Nurse and Piers. The winner's average speed was 71.53 mph, with the fastest lap being shared between three drivers at 73.9 mph.
407:-Bristol was present but was withdrawn prior to the race. Marr was in his element, winning comfortably at 85.84 mph from Boulton, Kyffin, and Gibson. Not surprisingly Marr set the fastest lap at 88.21 mph.
391:. This was the streamlined car, of which was arguably one of the prettiest cars ever to race in the 2.5-litre Formula One and one of only two streamlined cars to complete at this level. The other being the
335:
Formula Two, but in truth like before, no Formula One car was in sight, and only seven cars came to the start (and some of them were sports cars). The race was planned for 30 laps but reduced to 20;
320:
230:
693:
234:
606:
226:
Motor racing commenced on 9 August 1952 when three races were run over the 2.6 mile circuit; from 1953, the shorter 1.85 mile circuit was used.
348:
229:
The racing history of Davidstow can be counted in the number of races run – a grand total of 44. The first race meetings were organised by the
1004:
57:
328:
291:
For 1954, two meeting were organised for Bank Holiday Mondays, with Permits of National Status, with the bonus that races would be run for
686:
1009:
404:
649:
399:'s Connaught B4, entered by Rob Walker was not ready in time. Tyrrell decided not to run against the assembled company of Kyffin,
679:
217:
RAF Davidstow Airfield - 2 June 1951. The circuit can be seen to use the runway and perimeter roads at the top of the picture.
999:
636:
521:
702:
485:
560:
555:
610:
837:
238:
surpassed when 3,000 arrived. It has been a truly appalling day weather-wise but everyone enjoyed themselves.
827:
368:
307:
true Formula One car amongst them, the majority of the entrants being runners in the early Formula Two race;
902:
568:
414:
So Davidstow ended as a motor racing circuit; it has been a short career but by no means an inglorious one.
716:
50:
534:
495:
459:
344:
261:
942:
324:
917:
776:
766:
343:
at 72.65 mph. The next three places were all taken by Cooper-Bristol's piloted by Tom Kyffin,
907:
356:
867:
631:
Peter Swinger, "Motor Racing Circuits in England : Then & Now" (Ian Allan Publishing,
380:
862:
551:
476:
471:
312:
308:
251:. After more fog related problems, Davidstow witnessed its first race for real racing cars –
832:
746:
736:
8:
897:
801:
653:
383:. Three Connaughts and three Coopers formed up on the grid, the undoubted star being the
210:(1.9 mi) long. The start/finish straight remained in the same place on this layout.
892:
882:
957:
932:
922:
806:
392:
273:
269:
195:
170:
756:
422:
There is a flourishing ultralight and microlight flying school at the airfield today.
927:
786:
632:
403:
and Bob Harris in their Connaughts and Gibson and F. Sowery, both in Coopers. Rolls'
376:
973:
947:
937:
852:
811:
761:
721:
384:
842:
796:
771:
590:
400:
379:, but with only three days to ago, learned he was also entered into a meeting at
367:
cars completed at Davidstow. There was much excitement when it became known that
671:
331:. Later, the meeting was abandoned due to the bridge over the track collapsing.
284:(Cooper) fourth. Both heats were run over 10 laps, with the second being won by
912:
751:
541:
502:
466:
162:
993:
857:
741:
372:
352:
300:
252:
72:
59:
978:
952:
887:
781:
731:
726:
285:
166:
791:
546:
516:
507:
480:
388:
336:
316:
296:
292:
281:
243:
132:
877:
847:
512:
277:
265:
247:
the sports car race up to 1,500 cc. It was won by M.G. Llewellyn in an
174:
396:
340:
213:
108:
360:
158:
39:
201:
185:
25:
395:. There were three other non-starters in addition to Collins;
248:
327:-Alta), with another Cooper-Bristol fourth in the hands of
303:
in addition to the usual sports cars and Formula Three.
157:
is a disused motor racing circuit and airfield built in
43:
580:
701:
991:
687:
319:Type A) won at a speed of 74.2 mph from
233:– itself only founded in 1949 – and by the
694:
680:
165:. The circuit was built on the site of a
135:, F1, Connaught-Alta B3 (89.88mph), 1955)
567:
221:
212:
200:
184:
355:'s victory in Monaco 1960, driving the
992:
625:
675:
323:(Cooper-Bristol) and Anthony Brooks (
1005:Defunct motorsport venues in England
607:"Lotus's first Formula One success"
13:
14:
1021:
1010:Defunct sports venues in Cornwall
583:
540:
501:
465:
205:Davidstow circuit layout 1953-55
24:
339:won in the Lea Francis engined
180:
642:
599:
1:
703:British motor racing circuits
576:
189:Davidstow circuit layout 1952
652:. Lotus Cars. Archived from
7:
1000:Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race
535:Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race
496:Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race
460:Cornwall MRC Formula 1 Race
280:(Leston Special) third and
10:
1026:
425:
264:won the first heat in his
242:hoped for, but this being
169:RAF Coastal Command base,
966:
820:
709:
452:
144:
139:
127:
119:
114:
104:
96:
88:
49:
35:
23:
417:
231:Cornish Vintage Car Club
573:
218:
206:
190:
30:1953-1955 Track Layout
571:
472:John Riseley-Prichard
309:John Riseley-Prichard
222:Motorsport activities
216:
204:
188:
445:Winning constructor
235:Plymouth Motor Club
69: /
20:
574:
572:Davidstow Airfield
393:Mercedes-Benz W196
270:Stuart Lewis-Evans
219:
207:
196:RAF Davidstow Moor
191:
171:RAF Davidstow Moor
148:3.1 km (1.9 miles)
123:4.2 km (2.6 miles)
18:
987:
986:
656:on 1 October 2012
650:"1960's Heritage"
566:
565:
377:Aston Martin DB3S
155:Davidstow Circuit
152:
151:
140:1953-1955 Circuit
19:Davidstow Circuit
1017:
974:Circuit of Wales
696:
689:
682:
673:
672:
666:
665:
663:
661:
646:
640:
629:
623:
622:
620:
618:
613:on 21 March 2004
609:. Archived from
603:
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586:
545:
544:
506:
505:
470:
469:
430:
429:
84:
83:
81:
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73:50.639°N 4.618°W
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28:
21:
17:
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591:Cornwall portal
589:
584:
582:
579:
539:
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442:Winning driver
428:
420:
401:Charles Boulton
224:
183:
128:Race lap record
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923:Linton-on-Ouse
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908:Gransden Lodge
905:
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868:Crystal Palace
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828:Battersea Park
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787:Oliver's Mount
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752:Donington Park
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381:Crystal Palace
371:had entered a
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163:United Kingdom
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78:50.639; -4.618
53:
47:
46:
37:
33:
32:
29:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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638:
637:0 7110 3104 5
634:
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581:
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562:
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415:
412:
408:
406:
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398:
394:
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386:
382:
378:
374:
373:Maserati 250F
370:
369:Peter Collins
364:
362:
358:
354:
353:Stirling Moss
350:
346:
342:
338:
332:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
304:
302:
301:Formula Libre
298:
294:
289:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
257:
254:
253:Formula Three
250:
245:
239:
236:
232:
227:
215:
211:
203:
199:
197:
187:
178:
176:
172:
168:
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147:
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134:
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122:
118:
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110:
107:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
82:
54:
52:
48:
45:
41:
38:
34:
27:
22:
16:
979:Lake Torrent
872:
782:Mallory Park
737:Castle Combe
732:Cadwell Park
727:Brands Hatch
658:. Retrieved
654:the original
644:
627:
615:. Retrieved
611:the original
601:
421:
413:
409:
385:Connaught B3
365:
349:Gordon Rolls
333:
305:
290:
286:Eric Brandon
258:
240:
228:
225:
208:
192:
181:Track layout
167:World War II
154:
153:
115:1952 Circuit
105:Major events
15:
898:Full Sutton
863:Charterhall
802:Silverstone
792:Oulton Park
757:ExCel Arena
747:Darley Moor
547:Leslie Marr
517:Lea Francis
508:John Coombs
481:Lea Francis
389:Leslie Marr
345:Dick Gibson
337:John Coombs
321:Jack Walton
317:Lea Francis
297:Formula Two
293:Formula One
282:Ken Tyrrell
244:Bodmin Moor
133:Leslie Marr
76: /
51:Coordinates
994:Categories
958:Whitchurch
943:Rockingham
848:Brooklands
833:Birmingham
807:Snetterton
577:References
387:driven by
357:Rob Walker
329:Tom Kyffin
278:Les Leston
262:Don Parker
61:50°38′20″N
928:Longridge
918:Ingliston
893:Fersfield
883:Elvington
873:Davidstow
858:Catterick
838:Blandford
767:Knockhill
552:Connaught
492:2 August
477:Connaught
397:Tony Rolt
341:Lotus Mk8
313:Connaught
161:, in the
64:4°37′05″W
967:Proposed
953:Thornaby
948:Rufforth
933:Lulsgate
812:Thruxton
762:Goodwood
722:Anglesey
660:22 April
361:Lotus 18
359:entered
276:), with
159:Cornwall
40:Cornwall
36:Location
903:Gamston
843:Boreham
797:Pembrey
772:Llandow
717:Aintree
710:Current
639:, 2008)
617:19 June
531:30 May
456:7 June
448:Report
426:Results
405:Tojeiro
375:and an
938:Ouston
913:Ibsley
878:Debden
853:Brough
821:Former
777:Lydden
635:
561:Report
522:Report
486:Report
439:Event
274:Cooper
145:Length
120:Length
97:Closed
89:Opened
888:Epynt
742:Croft
528:1955
513:Lotus
453:1954
436:Date
433:Year
418:Today
268:from
266:Kieft
249:MG TD
175:Lotus
662:2013
633:ISBN
619:2009
556:Alta
347:and
299:and
100:1955
92:1952
325:HWM
996::
363:.
295:,
198:.
177:.
109:F1
44:UK
42:,
695:e
688:t
681:v
664:.
621:.
554:-
515:-
479:-
315:-
311:(
272:(
131:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
