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Head West on the M4 for long enough, and you'll get to Pembrey,
the home of Welsh motorsport. The weather can be inclement, but
it's worth the trip as it's a cracking little circuit. Pembrey,
like so many other circuits was an RAF base until it was
abandoned and then used as a chicken farm before the Welsh Race
Drivers Association chose it as the venue for a new circuit
which opened in 1989. Some of the banking around the track edge
was made from the abundant chicken guano around the site, and in
the 1980s the circuit had a decidedly rustic feel! In 1990 BARC
signed a 50-year lease to operate the circuit which has at times
been used for testing by a number of Formula 1 teams including
BAR, Williams and Benetton. Pembrey is easy to find: exit the M4 at J48
and head to Llanelli |
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on the A4138. Take the A484 west, through
Burry Port (watch out for speed cameras!) to the circuit which
is just off the road and is clearly signposted.
It's a circuit of two halves: a fast outer
section and a slower, technically challenging inner section. The
Dibeni/Paddock left hander is probably the hardest to get right,
but it's the Brooklands hairpin and Honda Curve right hander
that have the most effect on lap times.
Over the start finish line and into the
braking zone for Hatchets hairpin. The turn is very late: if you
do out brake yourself there is an escape road straight ahead.
From the apex you can get back on the power hard and early. The
right of Spitfires is fast in with the lightest dab of brakes if
not flat. The following two corners, Dibeni bend and Paddock,
should be treated as one. The first has a very fast approach and
most cars will again only require a very light dab of the
brakes, if any. Take an early apex letting the car drift out to
the right nice and early to give you as much time as possible
for the second part. On approach to this part either a small
brake or a lift is required which helps a good turn in. On the
exit of Paddock there is a wide expanse of concrete. If needed
you can take a little bit of the concrete but dont be greedy.
The run down to the Esses is a fast
approach and again will need a light break or lift depending on
the car. Take a late apex and it is important to run right out
to the exit. This is because you need all the space available
for Brooklands hairpin, which has two parts. The first is a
slight right and it is best to set the car up so that as you go
through the first part you are braking in a straight line. This
will open up the second and most important part up much more.
Getting a good exit from here is important as a small loss of
speed hear will hurt you all the way down to the final corner.
There is a slight right kink on this straight known as Woodlands
which is taken flat in any car. The final corner of the lap,
Honda curve, has a very fast approach and the high speed turn in
makes this corner very tricky. Its important to be accurate with
your apex. If you miss the apex the car will start to wander to
the outside of the corner. There is limited space on the exit.
Words
kindly provided by
Jamie
Stanley
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Closest Fuel Station
Return to the main road, turn right and keep going for
about 5 miles to the Esso. |
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Accommodation in the Area
There are several hotels in Llanelli, Kidwelly and Carmarthen.
The Best Western Diplomat in Llanelli and the Ivy Bush in Carmarthen are both good sized hotels with plenty of parking.
Note that rooms get booked up pretty quickly when there are race meetings on, so you're advised to book early. |
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