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Stourport Cycle Circuit Part 2

Posted: 31st March 2010 | Report and Images: Richard Robotham

Stourport's new closed road cycle racing circuit is nearing completion, well almost. My recent visit saw 'The Machine' develop technical difficulties with just 200m to go. Having laid 1600 tons of the base tarmac and nearly 700 tons of the wearing surface in just two and half days, the starter motor failed, stopping all works. However all was not lost, a new motor was located but it meant a drive down to Bristol to pick it up. The workmen were hopeful to complete by 26th March but had to wait another day.

The new circuit, which is just shy of one mile in length, will be handed over to the Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club within the next few weeks but the whole site is yet to be completed. Two rugby pitches are to be formed within the centre of the site around which the road circuit has been set out. Considerable levelling of the land is needed where the pitches are to be situated, but hopefully this will not affect the use of the road circuit later this season.

Already it is evident how fast the surface and course will be, in whichever direction the racing is to be run. There are long flat sections were echelons will no doubt form, due to the open and exposed location.

There are ten bends in total along the length of the circuit, all of which will no doubt see their fair share of attackers launched. Two of these are very tight and technical corners, which will test even the best bike riders. One of these corners is on a flat section and is without an obvious camber. However the other of the tight technical bends is in a dip and will be extremely fast. To help, there is a pronounced camber which should make it quite exiting to ride either way around. Whichever way around the racing is run this bend exits into a long shallow climb and over a long race will sort out the best riders.

Throughout the circuit, landscaping is being completed ready for seeding. Once these areas of banking have been fully grassed they will form great vantage points for those watching the events. All in all, the development is shaping up to be a fantastic closed road circuit venue for both Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club and cycling in the region as a whole.

Related: Part 1