Thruxton to alter run-off at Church following BTCC accidents

Nick Foster, Simon Belcher and Ollie Jackson all had high-speed crashes at the turn, with Foster and Belcher going over the barrier and hitting trees.

The track will now level the run-off area and install more substantial barriers, as well as removing some of the shrubbery and trees.

But because the work requires planning permission and has implications for Thruxton village's flood defences, it will have to be done in two stages and will not be complete until the start of the 2016 season.

Thruxton Group managing director Bill Coombs said changes at Church had long been on the agenda but were not a straightforward matter.

"Thruxton has always had a long-term desire to level off the run-off area at Church, but because of the slope at the early part of the run-off, a solution was always going to require planning permission," he said.

"It is hoped that we will gain permission to enlarge the run-off area further - which will require about 300m of hedge coming down - and gain a gentle slope in the key early area of run-off.

"This is a much more complex project than it might appear, and it will require a significant amount of material to raise the levels as well as considerable drainage work, and needs to be combined with some flood defence work for Thruxton village.

"Hence there is still much technical detail to be sorted, but the hope is that we will get planning approval early in the new year.

"When finished, the key areas of run-off should have a gentle graded rise towards the barriers - rather than a drop as at present - should be much smoother, extended in key places by 10-15m and will be fronted by Armco and belted tyre barriers."