Potentially devastating appeal court ruling for Croft race circuit today. Story here
In essence the ruling has restricted the use of the circuit to 40 race days a year (effectively banning all testing and trackday activity), which removes a huge chunk of income and could be enough to make the venue unviable (inviable?) on its own. On top of that, the circuit promoters need to find c.£1m in costs and damages to the complainants. Croft was due to hold a round of the British Touring Car Championship this summer, whether that and other events can go ahead is now open to question, especially if other near neighbours jump on the 'noise' bandwagon.
Many other motorsporting venues in the UK have been fighting longstanding battles against nearby residents, who have often moved to the area long after the circuit was established. These vary from rough and ready stock car tracks that no one but a few diehards would lament, rallying on disused airfields that would otherwise be infested with traveller camps, karting facilities helping to produce the next Lewis Hamilton, right through to Brands Hatch, one of the most famous circuits on earth.
This ruling has opened the door for complainants to win rulings that will limit the use of these venues to the point where they will be forced to close, costing local hotels and businesses much needed income and causing redundancies amongst companies involved in motorsport such as racing schools, race teams and manufacturers, fabricators, engineering (an area where Britain still leads the world). It's an absolute hammer blow, to be honest.
My message to motor racing fans would be - get out and enjoy it while you can, in five years we may have nothing left.
In essence the ruling has restricted the use of the circuit to 40 race days a year (effectively banning all testing and trackday activity), which removes a huge chunk of income and could be enough to make the venue unviable (inviable?) on its own. On top of that, the circuit promoters need to find c.£1m in costs and damages to the complainants. Croft was due to hold a round of the British Touring Car Championship this summer, whether that and other events can go ahead is now open to question, especially if other near neighbours jump on the 'noise' bandwagon.
Many other motorsporting venues in the UK have been fighting longstanding battles against nearby residents, who have often moved to the area long after the circuit was established. These vary from rough and ready stock car tracks that no one but a few diehards would lament, rallying on disused airfields that would otherwise be infested with traveller camps, karting facilities helping to produce the next Lewis Hamilton, right through to Brands Hatch, one of the most famous circuits on earth.
This ruling has opened the door for complainants to win rulings that will limit the use of these venues to the point where they will be forced to close, costing local hotels and businesses much needed income and causing redundancies amongst companies involved in motorsport such as racing schools, race teams and manufacturers, fabricators, engineering (an area where Britain still leads the world). It's an absolute hammer blow, to be honest.
My message to motor racing fans would be - get out and enjoy it while you can, in five years we may have nothing left.
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