Blyton Park Driving Centre Firmly On The Map.

The Test and Tuition Circuit at Blyton Park has proved to be a popular addition to the list of leisure facilities in the East Midlands, attracting thousands of visitors in its first full year of operation. The regeneration of the former RAF Blyton by entrepreneur and lifelong car enthusiast Richard Usher has resulted in the creation of a unique facility where car enthusiasts can enjoy their cars and learn the art of car control in a purpose built environment.

Blyton Park comprises over two miles of new surface laid on the runways and perimeter track of the old airfield making up multiple circuit layouts.  These circuits were designed by ex-touring-car driver Eugene O’Brien, now a professional driver coach, John Barker a founding editor of EVO magazine and Richard Usher himself.  The main purpose of the facility is to encourage drivers to learn their cars’ capabilities by taking instruction in either their own car or one provided for them. Blyton Park is not a racing circuit as such but it is licensed by the MSA (the governing body of British Motorsport) for sprint events against the clock.

Blyton Park Driving Centre officially opened on May 4^th 2011. Since then the venue has welcomed an incredible array of vehicles and owners, including over 100 pre-war cars on “The Flying Scotsman” Classic Trial, the first ever Brabham Formula One Car and both the new McLaren MP4-12C and Ferrari 458 Italia road cars. On July 1^st over 300 Mazda MX 5’s set a new world record for convertible cars on a circuit. In addition, the unique nature of the track has attracted vehicle manufacturers and racing organisations including Audi UK, Mazda Europe and Caterham who have used the track for engineering work and vehicle evaluation.

Commenting on the last 16 months, Richard Usher said “We have been delighted by the incredibly positive response which Blyton Park has received both from individuals and large organisations, as well as in the Press. This has enabled us to continue investing in the facility which has had a positive effect on the local economy as well as completely re-invigorating a site which was slipping into a state of post-war dereliction and neglect.”