FORDS IN MOTORSPORT
C A DW E L L PA R K
The Mountain is Cadwell Park’s signature piece
TRACK GUIDE
CADWELL PARK We guide you around the UK’s version of the Green Hell
THE KEYS TO CADWELL PARK ■ Build your pace: there’s no tarmac runoff anywhere, just grass and tyres, so small mistakes have big consequences.
■ Plan your lap: each corner has its own demands; sections such as Charlies or the Mountain require a degree of aggression, but they’re followed by corners such as Park or Hall Bends where the same approach will result in you losing time.
■ Be brave (or don’t): leave a bigger margin of error than you might at other circuits. There’s such a high chance of damage when you’re flat out at Cadwell, it’s just not worth the risk if you aren’t driving competitively.
Words ALEX NEVILL Photos JONATHAN FLETCHER & FAST FORD ARCHIVES
nown as the mini-Nürburgring, Cadwell Park presents an incredible challenge for drivers. It’s extremely narrow and offers a fantastic combination of blind crests, big elevation changes and some really rewarding cambers. As a racetrack it’s better suited for bikes (it really is that narrow), but for a pure driving experience it’s unrivalled, making it a great track-day venue.
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1 - COPPICE The first turn is Coppice; a fast left-hander that climbs uphill steeply. You need to carry as much speed as you can through the corner. There’s a cut-through for a shorter version of the circuit to the driver’s right on approach – 68
FAST FORD MAY 2022
you want to use that as a marker for turning in. Try to be soft and smooth with your steering inputs to help keep the momentum high and, if the car allows, try to keep left on the exit to set yourself up for the righthanders at Charlies.
2 - CHARLIES Charlies features two right-handers, but the straight between them is too long for this to be considered a double-apex. As with Coppice, momentum is key as it leads on to the longest straight on the circuit. You’re still climbing at this point, so the first turn will only need a lift or a dab of brakes. The apex is the kerb on the inside, and from
there you’ll want to run back out to the left. The crest of the hill is between the two corners, which of course means the second turn is downhill. It’s a tricky corner, and lacks any markers, so you’ll need to develop a feel and a rhythm for the corner. With braking downhill, there’s limited weight on the rear of the car, so you’ll want to be sensitive with the brake pedal to manage the weight transfer. Turn in early and hug the inside through the corner; it’s an easier way to keep the minimum speed high.
3 - PARK STRAIGHT & CORNER After a blast down Park Straight you arrive at Park corner, an awkward 90-degree right-
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