Snetterton Guide

Snetterton Photographic Circuit Guide

Snetterton Circuit, Norwich, Norfolk, NR16 2JU

Website: Snetterton

Tel: +44(0) 1953 887303

Email: snetterton@msv.com

A photographic guide to where to take photos at Snetterton race track.

Parking up and walking towards the circuit you are reminded that like a lot of UK race tracks, Snetterton is a an old WW2 airfield. A memorial to the young men who left the station on bombing raids over Europe never to return is located to the left of the main entrance.

I will always pause for a few minutes at these memorials to pay my respects, it’s the least you can do for what they gave.

Click the image below to take you our resources page with more maps and all the riders numbers for this weekends 2022 British Super Bikes Round 8 meeting.

It has been a few years since my last visit to Snetterton and there have been a lot of changes for the better, so lets take a look around.

Area A After the staff have relieved you of your cash and you have walked through the main entrance, in front of you is a small raised bank at Nelson.

This area gives you great views towards Brundle and the Snetterton bridge that leads to the paddock area.

First thing in the morning the light is to your left and behind, just right to capture the race cars, making the livery pop. The bridge gives you a great backdrop if you get it right.

A telephoto lens of 70-200mm will be fine all the way round this corner. I used a 200-500mm which worked but is a bit on the long side for close up panning.

Experimenting with shutter speeds of 125th for car 94 and 320th for 89 gives you a slightly different effect on the bridge.

There is not much in the way of catch fencing all the way round Snetterton so the views are great and you are very close to the track most of the time, which is great for watching the racing and excellent for the automotive photographer.

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Dropping down to one knee, the exit to Nelson is now just below eye level, great to capture the cars exiting. Pre-focusing here is probably the best bet unless you have the reactions of a cat.

Moving round to the right to the apex of Nelson I swapped to a kit lens, 18-140mm and dropped the shutter speed down to 80th with some pleasing results.

From here I would cross the bridge and head up the Bentley Straight for a few fast panning shots.

If you carry straight on to your left is Agostini's with a large banked viewing area.

The view from the top is very good enabling you shoot out to Oggies and Palmer if you have a large lens, up to 500mm is needed here.

To the left of Agostini's banking is the paddock and pits area where you can pick some photo journalism type shots.

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Heading towards Murrays you will see the staging areas with the drivers and pit crews preparing to go out on track.

To the left is Murrays this is a great corner for the photographer. You can shoot from the right or left of this corner depending on where the sun is as the viewing area goes all the way round.

You can see the Clios were cocking a leg coming out of the Coram and smoking on the way into Murrays. A 70-200mm lens will do here.

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I always watch the racing for the first lap to see where the braking zones for the cars on track is. Also look out for flames as the driver let off the accelerator, who doesn’t like flames.

Continuing round to your left from Coram is the sweeping Bomb Hole right hander. Its all pretty much the same round here as Coram, fast panning.

When you get to the apex of the Bomb Hole there is a grandstand on the other side of the track which can make an interesting background.

Again, heading to your left is the inside of Nelson and Brundle with the bridge in the background.

The cars will be travelling at speed entering Brundle after the long Bentley Straight so be prepared for when it goes wrong, which it does quite often.

My actions on hearing a screech of tyres is to immediately turn the shutter control wheel as far as I can in one movement to increase the shutter speed. As I'm doing that I'm looking up but keeping the camera at my face. If the action is in front of me I'm pressing the back focus button and the shutter release; you might get lucky. Then I frame the shot via the view finder.

From here you can call it a day and head back to the carpark or revisit your favourite areas. Remembering the sun will have moved helping or hindering you to get "that" shot of your visit to Snetterton.

I haven't covered Richie's or Wilson as the last time I was here it was a long walk and not to interesting. My advise is to hang around Nelson, Brundle, Murry's and the Bomb hole you won't be disappointed.

I hope you have enjoyed this photographic guide to Snetterton. As always I don’t claim to be an expert on this subject. It's just my observations of a day out with some friends carrying a camera and hopefully I will inspire some of you to get out there and take some great images.

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