Bedford Autodrome

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Bedford Autodrome was built on part of the old Thurleigh airfield, a wartime bomber base that later belonged to the Royal Aircraft Establishment. Jonathan Palmer opened it in 1999 and it was designed from the start never to hold races. That means no grandstands, almost no Armco and acres of grass run-off. It runs anti-clockwise and the South West layout, at 4.506km, is the one most track days use.

That makes it one of the safest places in the country to find your limits, which is why it suits novices, people in expensive road cars and anyone who wants to try things they wouldn't dare at Cadwell. The downside is that it's flat and featureless, so finding braking and turn-in points takes a while. Bikes run here too, but noise is the big catch. The 87.5dB drive-by limit catches out a lot of standard cars, never mind loud ones.

A lap of Bedford Autodrome

Layout: South West, 4.506 km (2.80 miles)

The South West circuit joins the West and South loops into one long lap, and the corners are named by number rather than character. From the grid you run down to West 1 and then a hairpin, the first big stop of the lap. Being an old airfield it's all at one level, so the marker boards and painted lines are your best friends here. Pick a board, stick to it, and move it a little each session.

West 2 through to West 6 is the technical heart of the lap, a run of linked bends where getting the first one wrong ruins the next three. Be patient with the throttle and think about where you need to be for the following corner, not just the one you're in. Front-drive cars tend to push wide through here, while rear-drive cars get loose on the exits if you're greedy.

Then you're onto the back straight, a long, flat-out run where speeds get properly high before you brake for West 7 and West 8, so this is where brakes and tyres take a beating. Brake in a straight line, get the car slowed and don't try to carry too much in, because the exit matters more.

South 1 takes you into the South loop and the South 2 chicane, which needs a clean, tidy line rather than lots of kerb. Out of there it's the South Straight and back round through West 13 onto the start. On the SEN layout the lap is different again, using named corners such as Hangar Hairpin, Palmer Curves, Pif-Paf, the Bank Complex and Crab.

Track day tips

• Noise is strict: 101dB static and 87.5dB drive-by. Test your car before you book, because a lot of standard sports exhausts fail here.
• There's very little to aim at, so walk or drive a sighting lap and pick out the marker boards. They make a huge difference to your braking.
• The long straight hammers the brakes. Fresh pads and decent fluid are worth having before a day here.
• Fuel is sold on site, normally between 9am and 4.30pm, so you don't need to leave mid-session.
• Under-16s aren't allowed on site at all, and spectators have to sign on and pay.
• The run-off is huge, but it's still grass. Try not to go off in the wet, because you'll slide a long way.

Getting there

The circuit is about 10 miles north of Bedford at Thurleigh Airfield Business Park, MK44 2YP. From the south, leave the M1 at junction 13 and take the A421 to the A6. From the north, the A14 to the A6 works well. Follow the A6 through Milton Ernest, take the turn for Bedford Technology Park, then follow the red signs. Bedford station is about 20 minutes away by taxi, with regular Thameslink trains from London. There's no camping on site, but Bedford has plenty of hotels.