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The Three Sisters Circuit – drive it in August

Ian Prout

The Three Sisters Recreation Area at Ashton-in-Makerfield was created some thirty years ago out of three giant colliery spoil tips (the “Three Sisters” or “Wigan Alps” as they were ironically known). The track is accredited to stage international karting events, and is one of the most challenging race circuits in the UK. It features an exciting blend of low and high speed corners which are available in many different configurations from 400 metres right up to 1600 metres.

The Revington TR / TR Register Sprint and Hillclimb Championship 2011 will visit here this year on Sunday 7th August.

For sprint events, the track can be arranged in various configurations but the start is always on the exit from the paddock and the finish at the brow of Pentith Climb. The map (courtesy of the 3 Sisters web site) does not show all the configurations we have used on our visits there nor does it do justice to the different gradients available to the organisers.

So what is it like to drive? Built and designed for karting and bike racing it is still wide enough with generous run-off areas for us TR’ers. I share a TR3A with Kev Bryant, not the fastest of TRs but fast enough to spin and visit the scenery… Starting from the paddock exit, in your own time once the light has gone to green, spin the wheels into Paddock bend and be careful not to spin or understeer onto the grass... yes it has been done. Then take the left hander onto Rogdersons straight and if your eye sight is keen (or you have walked the track prior to the start) you can see the apex of the bend marked on the curb. Once on the straight (overdrive second in the TR3A) take a wide line into the next left hand bend aiming for the late apex. Again easy to approach too fast but there is ample room for any misdemeanours. Unfortunately you are in full view of the spectator banking but crash helmets spare any red faces.

Next into Lunar bend, probably the most difficult to get right, again a late apex and a careful approach on the next two right handers assures a high entry speed onto Conrod straight. From here on the first lap we go through the Esses following the highlighted circuit back in front of the paddock for a second lap, on some occasions we take the hairpin left up a sharp hill at the back of Valley, the hairpin is very difficult to get right especially in a low powered car (as the TR3A) to maintain any speed at all for the ensuing hill.

Once over the brow of the hill, left hander down into the Esses (too fast and you will visit the scenery) and off onto Rodgersons straight to complete the circuit to the finish at Pentith hill, a fast uphill approach from Conrod straight has caught some people out... you cannot take it flat. A challenging days sprinting, even more so if it is damp but a walk round the circuit is a must prior to the start to spot the apexes.

With the imagination of the organising Clubs, (Chester and Lancs. M.C.) an excellent challenge at a venue with very good facilities (paddock, toilets and club house) and it’s a shame we do not have many more TR entries.