Address: Rye House Stadium, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Herts, EN11 0EH
Phone Number: 01992 460895 / 461698 / 451170
Web Site: www.rye-house.co.uk
Track Length: 1000 metres (approx.)
Facilities: Showers, hospitality suite, changing rooms, cafeteria, kart shop.

Track Layout

A Lap Around Rye House (by Marc Craddock)

The following is a corner by corner account of the correct way to tackle the demanding Rye House circuit in the eyes of twice CLUB 100 Lightweight champion, Marc Craddock

"Into turn 1 'Stadium', if you're brave and the grip is good then it's completely flat into this corner sweeping in from the left hand side of the circuit. The key to entry is to get in early on a nice sweep towards the first apex, half way round the bend (this bend has 2 apexes). The grip is on the inside, get off line and you will be likely to spin, or at least lose a couple of seconds. Just after entering the bend and as you near the apex you will be lifting off the throttle, letting the momentum slow you down. Once at the apex hug the kerb on a balanced throttle as it tightens up to the right. Don't be jerky, let the kart do the work and use a nice arc as it tightens, touching the inner kerb as you reach the 2nd apex and then start accelerating again. If you get Stadium right you won't even need to brake, letting the kart do all the work for you.

Out of Stadium, into turn 2 which is a sweeping flat out left hander taken from just right of the middle of the track. Get close to the apex of the kerb on the left (but don't use the kerb) and let the kart drift wide using all the track on the exit. Now into the infield, up to turn 3, the 1st hairpin.

Don't outbrake yourself here, which is easily done. If you make a 'pigs ear' of turn 2 then the other drivers will be up the inside of you here, so watch out, this hairpin is an accident black spot. There is more room on the exit of this bend than on entry making the apex of the bend just before the middle of the kerb on the inside. Let the kart drift wide to the outside on the exit using the entire track and clipping the outer kerb keeping as smooth as possible. Don't run too wide though, as there is a horrible hole in the circuit just by the kerb.

Up to turn 4 now. Good drivers will overtake on the exit of this corner when you least expect it. It has an unbelievably wide exit and a lot of drivers tend not to use the entire track available. Again don't outbrake yourself, enter the bend and get back on the throttle early once you've clipped the apex and use all the road on the exit. If you don't use all the road, quicker drivers who are close behind you will enter the bend later and slingshot you on exit. Look for drivers that make this mistake in front of you and capitalise on it!

Onto the 2nd longest straight now and up to turn 5. Not the easiest bend to overtake into due to the kink just at the end of the straight. If you get out of turn 4 well then it can be a late brake up the inside of the driver in front into turn 5. However it is sometimes easier to wait until after this complex and overtake down the main straight, as there is little margin for error into turn 5.

Turns 5, 6 and 7 should be driven as one. It is the most important part of the circuit as it determines your straight-line speed down to Stadium on the main straight. Enter turn 5 a little later than you might think apexing late and sitting the kart in the middle of the circuit ready for turn 6. Enter 6 clipping and then hugging the kerb on the left, straight lining as you enter turn 7 late giving the kart as much momentum as possible for straight line speed on the exit.

If you make a mistake at turn 5, it can be made up in 6, but make a mistake at 7 and you will be punished down the straight. Use all the track possible on the left clipping the kerb as you exit turn 7, but if you ride over it you will end up on the grass and in the barrier. Once on the straight it's head down and deep breath into Stadium once again."

Thanks to Marc Craddock for putting this 'lap around Rye' together.