5 UK Race Tracks You Need To Drive Before You Die

The Oulton Park track is made up of sweeping, fast corners, rapidly changing gradients and a number of tight, slow hairpins and chicanes. There are three different configurations, with the shorter ‘Foster’s’ and ‘Island’ circuits and the full ‘International’ layout.

Whatever the configuration, it is undoubtedly a popular and challenging track with a mix of corners. Championships like the BTCC, BSB and British GT all race at Oulton Park and make for fantastic viewing.

The Leicestershire circuit hosted its first racing event in 1931, before becoming a military vehicle storage depot during World War II. It was re-developed and re-opened in 1977. A new loop to end the lap was added in 1985, and Donington Park hosted its one and only Formula 1 race in 1993.

The circuit features a number of fast, sweeping corners - including the famous Craner Curves. It currently hosts motorbike and touring car events, such as the British Superbike Championship and BTCC, as well as being the base for the new Formula E series.

This bonkers Hampshire race track was formerly a World War II airfield, and started hosting motorsport events in 1950. It is made up of 11 corners, with most of them being taken at high speeds - including Village and Church.

Sadly, the number of events at Thruxton is restricted, but the British Touring Car Championship and British Superbike Championship will both be racing at the circuit in 2015.

Brands Hatch is a classic British circuit that has remained largely unchanged since it was extended in 1960. Here, we are not talking about the short and simple Indy layout, but instead the epic GP loop that was used for 12 F1 races between 1964 and 1986.

The track features legendary corners like the steep drop of Paddock Hill Bend, the quick right-hander of Hawthorns and the tricky uphill Sheene Curve. It may no longer host the British Grand Prix, but top touring car, GT and motorbike championships still race around Brands Hatch.

Silverstone, the home of British motorsport, was going to feature on our list. It is the most famous track in the UK and is one of only four to have hosted a Formula 1 race.

Despite the new layout - introduced in 2011 - losing some of its old charm, it is still a challenging circuit to master and produces some spectacular racing. It is the current home of the F1 British Grand Prix, but also hosts a variety of other leading championships, including the FIA World Endurance Championship, BTCC and MotoGP.