London’s Crystal Palace circuit was a twisting road course in its original form. But when it reopened after the war, the Royal Automobile Club’s Competition Committee ruled that the sinuous infield was too tight, so it was bypassed, making the course essentially an oval with kinks. The proximity of houses meant that it only ever held a limited number of races each year, and eventually noise and safety concerns forced the Greater London Council to close Crystal Palace in 1972. That year’s final visit of the European Formula 2 Championship resulted in a win for Jody Scheckter in the unique McLaren M21.
