Castle Combe – near Chippenham in Wiltshire – was opened in 1950 on a 1.85-mile World War 2 airfield perimeter road. Barring two infield deviations [don’t say chicanes!] added to tame speeds in 1999, the layout remains the same and has always attracted a large and knowledgeable spectator following from Bristol, Bath, the west country and South Wales.
Period stars included Stirling Moss, George Abecassis, Le Mans 24 Hours winners Ivor Bueb, Louis Rosier and Roy Salvadori. It’s home to a hotbed of Austin-Healey 3000 aces, inspired by Bristolian John Chatham’s spectacular antics in the ’60s. The GT&SCC roll of honour reads: Miles Griffiths/Philip Walker (Lotus 15); Gary Pearson (Jaguar E-type); Andrew Haddon/Andy Wolfe (Lotus Elan 26R) and Mark Holme/Jeremy Welch (Austin-Healey 3000). Will there be a fifth different winner in 2022’s 90-minute race?
