Llandow Circuit

Llandow Circuit stands as one of Britain's few remaining family-owned motorsport venues, carved from the former RAF Llandow airfield in the Vale of Glamorgan. Located 20 miles southwest of Cardiff near Cowbridge and Llantwit Major, this historic circuit has welcomed racing drivers for over six decades since its first sprint event in 1959. The venue has evolved through multiple configurations whilst retaining its authentic character, from early quarter-mile sprints to the modern 1.45-kilometre circuit that provides challenging motorsport experiences for everything from Formula Ford to supercars on a surface maintained to MSUK Sprint standards.

The story of Llandow begins during the Second World War when the Air Ministry established RAF Llandow on 1 April 1940. Initially constructed as a grass airfield with wooden buildings and a single L-type hangar, the site rapidly expanded throughout 1940-1941 to include three concrete runways, eleven Super Robin hangars and a Type 518/40 pattern control tower. The main runway measured 4,800 feet, with two subsidiary runways of 3,600 and 3,000 feet respectively.

RAF Llandow served as home to No. 38 Maintenance Unit RAF throughout its operational life, tasked with aircraft storage and dispatch. The base witnessed significant wartime activity, including bombing attacks in 1940 and 1941 that caused considerable damage and injured 17 personnel. The airfield hosted various squadrons, most notably No. 53 Operational Training Unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires from June 1941 to May 1943.

By 1946, the airfield held 856 surplus aircraft awaiting scrapping, including Lancasters, Halifaxes, Wellingtons, Mosquitos, Beaufighters and Spitfires. No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron AAF reformed at Llandow in May 1946 with Spitfire Mk 16s, later upgraded to Mk 22s and eventually de Havilland Vampire jets in 1950. Tragedy struck on 12 March 1950 when an Avro Tudor V crashed on approach carrying Welsh rugby fans from Dublin, killing 80 of 83 people aboard in what was then the world's worst aviation disaster. RAF Llandow closed permanently in 1957.

The transformation from military airfield to racing circuit began with a possibly aborted attempt to organise a sprint event in February 1958 and again in July of the same year. Unconfirmed reports suggest there may have been a motorcycle event in 1958, but Swansea Motor Club is recorded as having successfully organised a closed sprint on 11 October 1959.  This featured a 1,000-yard sprint course with an electronically timed quarter-mile section. This pioneering event showcased the dramatic potential of motorsport at the site, with some 6,000 spectators reported in attendance. The course utilised one of the former RAF runways, providing competitors with a wide, smooth surface ideal for acceleration testing.  A mix of cars and motorcycles took part, and the 3¾-litre Jaguar driven by Maurice Charles set the fastest time while competing against a 1,000cc Vincent motorcycle ridden by P.J. Barrett.

Local farmer Jack Evans recognised the site's racing potential and purchased an 80-acre parcel of the former airfield in 1961, including runways, perimeter tracks, air raid shelters and gun emplacements. Working with the South Wales Automobile Club, Evans linked part of a runway with sections of the perimeter track to create a complete circuit. The one-mile (1.6km) oval configuration basically retained the original simple layout, incorporating aviation infrastructure into a challenging racing environment.

The circuit was officially opened by Formula One world champion Graham Hill in 1963, marking the beginning of Llandow's transformation into a premier British racing venue. The first official race meeting took place on Easter Monday, 30 March 1964, jointly organised by Hagley and District Light Car Club and South Wales Automobile Club with a programme of six races.

The mid-1960s through early 1970s represented Llandow's golden era, when the circuit regularly attracted crowds of 3,000-4,000 spectators and hosted some of the finest racing talent in Britain. The venue quickly established itself as a crucial proving ground for both established competitors and rising stars who would later achieve international success.

Car racing flourished across multiple categories. Formula Ford provided the breeding ground for future stars, with notable competitors including Jody Scheckter, who would later become Formula One world champion with Ferrari in 1979. Touring car racing attracted established names like Andy Rouse, whilst sports car events featured everything from Mini Coopers to exotic machinery. British rally champion Roger Clark regularly competed at Llandow, along with other leading Welsh drivers.

Motorcycle racing commenced in 1965 and quickly became equally prestigious. Early competitors included Rod Gould, Mick Grant, Ray Pickrell, Charlie Sanby, Malcolm Uphill and Selwyn Griffiths, many of whom would achieve national and international success. The 350cc and 500cc classes provided spectacular racing, with lap records tumbling regularly as both machines and rider skills evolved rapidly.

The circuit gained additional prestige through its connection to nearby RAF St Athan, with the Red Arrows occasionally providing aerial displays during major race meetings. In 1966, the Welsh Rally concluded at Llandow with a spectacular 10-lap solo circuit stage that combined the challenges of rallying with pure circuit racing.

The venue's reputation peaked in the early 1970s. The 1974 Monoposto Racing Club event saw Alan Baillie set a remarkable lap record of 36.0 seconds in his Viking Mk1A, whilst club racing continued attracting substantial grids across multiple categories. Regular events included BARC meetings, 750 Motor Club races and motorcycle competitions sanctioned by the Auto-Cycle Union.

By the mid-1970s, the circuit's infrastructure began showing its age after more than a decade of intensive use. The track surface deteriorated significantly, becoming increasingly bumpy and unsuitable for high-level competition. Safety standards were also evolving rapidly during this period, placing additional demands on circuit operators to upgrade facilities and safety equipment.

The situation reached a critical point in 1977 when Llandow lost its racing licence due to inadequate facilities and poor track conditions. This decision effectively ended the circuit's first golden era and marked the conclusion of major car and motorcycle racing at the venue for the next two decades.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the site adapted to survive financially whilst maintaining some connection to motorsport. Stock car racing provided regular income, with the oval layout well-suited to this form of competition. Grass track events utilised sections of the circuit, whilst much of the site served as grazing land for sheep, providing agricultural income that helped the Evans family maintain ownership.

The venue maintained motorsport connections through various activities. A race and rally driving school operated intermittently, providing training for aspiring competitors. Go-karting events used sections of the circuit, whilst occasional drag racing took place on the main straight. However, the glory days of major car and motorcycle racing seemed consigned to history.

By the late 1970s, the straight was also used as a one-eighth of a mile sprint course when those competitions were popular, demonstrating the venue's adaptability to different forms of motorsport despite the loss of its main racing licence.

The dawn of the new millennium brought renewed hope for Llandow when the Evans family undertook a major restoration project between 2000 and 2001. The track was completely resurfaced and the width narrowed to a uniform 9 metres, creating a modern racing surface to MSA Sprint standard whilst preserving the circuit's unique character and challenging layout.

This substantial investment paid dividends when Llandow regained its Motor Sports Association Sprint licence in March 2001. The modern layout differs significantly from the original oval, incorporating chicanes and varied corners that create a more technical challenge for both cars and motorcycles whilst maintaining the authentic atmosphere that has characterised the venue since 1963.