Did Oulton's Island hairpin move?

[graeme]

I'm racing on the Island layout next weekend and was thinking did the Island Hairpin move location? The circuit's own maps were showing this layout until a few years ago, which was definately incorrect:



I can't remember ever seeing the hairpin there, i.e. after Island Bend, rather than just before it, and returning either through the first chicane or bypassing it. The only version I can ever remember (since the late 90s) is the current one which exits into the exit of the chicane. (And am I correct in thinking the hairpin was only reintroduced about that time after being abandonned in the 70s/80s?).

[MagnetON]

A look at MarshalsGuide.com shows the same track layout:

http://www.marshalsguide.com/index.php/Oulton_Park

However if you follow the Google Maps link you can clearly see the relevant section of the track that does indeed have the hairpin on the straight, before Island Bend joining the track at Hill Top.

[garcon]

There was definitely a different / extra 'cut through' at one point, although I'm not sure it was ever part of a proper circuit layout.

Only know this from marshaling a clubby rally event there in the 80s.

Still have nightmares of the Volvo 240 Turbo that demolished our tyre wall.

[graeme]

A bit of research:

The current, correct version is in my 1998 Circuit Guide, along with an editorial note about "the return of the Island Hairpin at Oulton".

Peter Swinger's 2001 book "Motor Racing Circuits in England" doesn't mention the Island layout (presumably only just back in use when written), but does record a layout the same/similar to the one above - the mid-1954 layout!

Derek Lawson's "Sun, Rain...And Even Snow" has this 1954 circuit, the 'square' 70s layout and that the "Long circuit was brought back into use for the late 1980s" (with a map which looks like (c)1988 with the Island Hairpin indicated on it in the correct location).

Surely the location of the hairpin wasn't indicated wrongly in many diagrams for nearly 50-years, just due to a short-lived 1954 layout!?

[Al Weyman]

Where ever it is its one dog of a corner and ruins the flow of the whole circuit.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Where ever it is its one dog of a corner and ruins the flow of the whole circuit.

Which the BTCC still use - and I can't understand why.

Yes it is a terrible corner but in the early 80's it was better than just the Fosters layout. I was so pleased when John Foulston reinstated the full circuit because the banked Shell, Esso or what ever they call it now, is brilliant and the circuit flows well despite the chicanes.

Bev Bond said that the 1 litre F3, in the early 70's, was pretty well flat in top all the way from Shell to Lodge....mad

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

Which the BTCC still use - and I can't understand why.

Yes it is a terrible corner but in the early 80's it was better than just the Fosters layout. I was so pleased when John Foulston reinstated the full circuit because the banked Shell, Esso or what ever they call it now, is brilliant and the circuit flows well despite the chicanes.

Bev Bond said that the 1 litre F3, in the early 70's, was pretty well flat in top all the way from Shell to Lodge....mad

I suspect they use it because a) it adds action, or b) they haven't got the nuts to run flat through island onto shell rubbing bumpers