Aintree Sprint Circuit

Aintree is an excellent, fast sprint course on the outskirts of Liverpool.   In the '50's and early '60s it was a Grand Prix course, though we only use part of it now.  It is, of course, home to the Grand National.  Whilst it is used as a round of the British Sprint Championship it is also a fine place to start being fast, yet relatively safe (as long as you keep off the grass).  For visitors it also has the advantage of being quite easy to learn. Liverpool Motor Club, who run events there have their own WebPages.  Note they run track days there too if you would like to get a feel for the place Try the BBC 5-day weather forecast for Aintree. There is also an alternative description by Steve Liptrott of how to get around this place somewhat quicker published in Speedscene, the HSA magazine. Then, why not have a look at Fluke motorsport for another description and more videos.

The Course

Aintree is flat and very wide.  The course is now 1847 metres long.  It has been both longer and shorter in the recent past.  It consists of only three bends and is a good place to start with its wide run-offs.  Although it is obviously a "power" course, a good exit speed from all three bends is probably worth 50 bhp.  It goes something like this:

The start is clean and flat, but watch out if there is a strong tailwind - it just might push you through the beam inadvertently.  You get up to third before the first bend, Country Corner,  which is a 90 degree?  lefthander.  I think it tightens up a bit on the exit.  There is plenty of run-off on the outside (been there, done that when the throttle stuck open!).  If you do go off it's probably safest to let it go as I have seen a few people try to recover from the grass on the outside and end up in the solid earth bank on the inside.

Then there is a decent straight where you get into top.  Next comes, Village Corner, a fast sweeping right-hander which goes on for a while.  This is one of my favourites as you really have time to feel what the car is doing.  Of course, if it is not doing what is is supposed to then you have plenty of time to regret it too!  I think a late entry is best - there used to be a gravel footpath on the left of the track which could be used as a marker for turning in.  Be warned though, if you run out of road on the exit you'll be on the Grand National course at about 100mph with no grip and some jumps to think about.

Next comes another straight which is now probably the fastest part of the course.  This is followed by Beechers, a right hander with a fairly tight entry but which opens out a lot on the exit.   I find this really difficult to get right, usually braking too heavily then cursing myself for the lack of speed during the rest of the bend and all the way up the final straight.   In something of moderate speed and power if you turn in successfully you know you are going to be OK, but I am sure the big single seaters have to consider the final right kink before they are home and dry.  In the Mallock with a 4 speed box Beechers may be taken in top if you:

a) have a reasonably torquey engine;

b) don't run a high final drive - 4.2 on 21" tyres seems OK to me;

c) are too shortsighted to see the fence blocking your escape route; and

d) have no intention of ever asking my daughter out for a drive.

The Beechers Brook fence is on the outside of this bend, hence the name.  Although the fences look a long way away, they really are solid and it takes a long time to stop on the grass.  To add insult to injury I believe you are charged for repairing damage to fences or ploughing up the adjacent golf links.  Nowadays there is just a shortish blast to the finish line about 200? yards after Beechers.  The final straight used to go on for another 200-300 yards, but has been shortened for safety reasons.  Anything fast used to carry on up the escape road rather than take the normal return to the paddock, but in a slower car you could get out your knitting whilst waiting for the finish line.  A chicane was tried for a while.

There are rumours of adding a completely new bend on the final straight, which would certainly get my vote, but tarmac is unbelievably expensive..

Course layout

See also the BMRC page.

How to get there

It is about 5 miles north of Liverpool.  At the M57/M58/A59 junction, take the A59 towards Liverpool.  Go past ASDA then a few hundred yards later turn left at the lights.  Follow the road around to the right keeping the shops on your left.  A mile or so later turn right just before some shops onto the Melling Road (B5184).  Go over the hump back bridge then a few yards further on turn left onto the service road.  Park somewhere on the right.  Map.

Likes

• Efficient organisation - if Carlsberg organised sprints they probably wouldn't do it as good as LMC do.
• Village corner - but only if ambition does not overtake ability.
• No hassles getting to the start line - no pushing cars, no flat batteries.
• Speed trap and first 64ft times - if you're lucky.
• Washing facilities including hot water - dead useful if you get as dirty as I do.
• Having a beer in the club house afterwards - essential.

Dislikes

• Nothing major - except:
• Being 3 seconds off the class record.
• Going backwards into concrete posts on the far side of the National course.
• Horses.
• Golf Courses.

Class Records

These are courtesy of Ron Hunt of the Liverpool Motor Club.  They relate to the current course as run over the last few years.  Immediately prior to that the course was considerably shorter (as reflected in the times in the table following this one). 

and here are the times from the short course ran in 98-99

How Fast?

Finally, click here for a fairly random comparison of how fast the various types of cars go through the final speed trap from April 2006.  or here for some more from June 2006. 

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Contact dennis.doyle at tiscali.co.uk with questions,  comments or corrections to this web site.

Last modified: July 20, 2006