If you’re a serious motorsport anorak, you could make a convincing argument that the greatest circuits in the world are derived from roads, not custom built for purpose. Monaco is perhaps the most famous, but better ones will quickly come to the fore - Circuit de la Sarthe, Spa, Mount Panorama, Long Beach, The Isle of Man, Pau and Clermont-Ferrand.

Building a circuit is prohibitively expensive. Plotting a loop on a map, closing some roads and dropping a few hay bales pales in comparison, especially in the mid 20th century before health and safety became a thing.

Back in the 1950s, a couple of ambitious motorsport enthusiasts attempted to establish a circuit circumnavigating the great roads of Derbyshire's Peak District. Reg Parnell, a member of the works Aston Martin team, found a kindred spirit in Moto-Guzzi rider and TT winner Bill Lomas. Both lived locally and quickly sussed out a challenging 12-mile loop worthy of inclusion on the list above, putting their proposal to the Derbyshire council, who backed the idea, proposing a bill to parliament in 1955.

The scheme found favour with many prominent MPs and was gaining momentum when tragedy struck at Le Mans - this was the year Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes 300 SLR catapulted into a crowded spectator enclosure, killing 84 people. Parliament immediately lost its appetite for road racing, and the bill was black flagged.

But the spirit lived on amongst motoring enthusiasts, the temptation of winding roads ascending hills and tor’s before plunging down into a valley proving hard to resist. An underground circuit emerged, whispered from one car or motorbike posse to another, secretive yet somehow spreading as rapidly as wild-fire - like an automotive Fight Club.

It may have differed significantly from the 1950s proposal, but the name given to the ‘circuit’ tells you everything you need to know - the Oopnurthring. A humorous play on words it may be, the actual association isn’t that far off the mark, for the loop comprises three of the Peak Districts most challenging roads - the Snake Pass, the climb to Holme Moss Summit, and the Strines pass. There are no long straights. No concessions to allow imaginary D-type Jaguars or Maserati’s to stretch their legs, no need to accommodate the logistical constraints of a pitlane or grandstand. Itâ