Bedford Autodrome is an autodrome based on the former site of RAE Bedford, in the village of Thurleigh, Bedfordshire. It is owned by former

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

driver Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision organisation.

The autodrome

It is built on the northern section of the former site of the Royal Aerospace Establishment Bedford, a former Royal Air Force airfield and took five years to convert to a track using the latest in track-laying techniques to provide a quiet and smooth surface. It was designed to be driven by high performance road cars and as such has larger than usual run off areas and does not have sections of Armco safety barriers which would potentially damage a car seriously if it left the track. Because the track has no Armco it is not eligible to hold races there or have an area for spectators due to the inability to ensure their safety.

The airfield

The autodrome has its own private aerodrome located on one of the former runways.

The 306th Bombardment Group Museum

The 306th Bombardment Group Museum is a small

museum A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying or Preservation (library and archive), preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private colle ...

located within the Bedford Autodrome complex. The museum itself is housed in one of the few remaining buildings on the original airfield, now Bedford Aerodrome, built during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The museum is primarily concerned with the Second World War and the history of the airfield and has a collection of artifacts assembled to re-create the activities and atmosphere of the airfield and surrounding area during the war years. The museum is supported and funded by the 306th Bombardment Group.

2012 Olympics and Paralympics

Bedford Autodrome was used as an official training site for the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012, were an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

and

Paralympics The Paralympic Games or Paralympics is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of disabilities. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Kore ...

Vehicle storage as part of the UK Scrappage Scheme

Sections of the main and secondary runways at the aerodrome are currently utilised for vehicle storage in relation to the UK Vehicle scrappage scheme. A petition to the UK Government requesting allowance for recommissioning and resale of classic vehicles from this stockpile was submitted in March 2006, but ultimately rejected.

Appearances in video games

*In '' rFactor'', the track is one of the tracks available for download to be added into the

game A game is a structured type of play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or video games) or art ...

. *The many configurations of the track are also available to be driven on in '' TOCA Race Driver 3''.

References

External links

Bedford Autodrome

The 306th Bombardment Group Museum

rFactor Bedford Autodrome Track
{{Authority control Motorsport venues in England Sports venues in Bedfordshire