CASTLE COMBE SOLAR FARM WON’T CAUSE EXTRA FLOODS
Lost Wiltshire meeting rescheduled for this weekend after track investigation
Castle Combe management is confident that a new solar farm built near the circuit did not contribute to the cancellation of the Howard’s Day meeting at the venue earlier this year after investigations.
Exceptional rainfall from Storm Katie led to the March 28 event being abandoned with the track waterlogged, but it is thought the solar farm did not affect drainage from the circuit.
“As far as we are concerned Howard’s Day was cancelled due to the extreme amount of rain that we suffered as a result of the passing storm,” said circuit managing director Graham Marshallsay. “Having investigated the possibility that the solar farm may have contributed in some way we conclude that it is very unlikely.”
To replace the cancelled meeting, an extra day has been added to the Castle Combe Racing Club’s Bank Holiday meeting this weekend, with racing now on Sunday as well as Monday.
The cancelled meeting was set to feature rounds of the MG Car Club’s Thoroughbred Sportscar and BCV8 championships but these won’t feature on the new programme.
“It’s not exactly the same races [as the cancelled meeting] but the Mini Se7ens and Miglias will be with us again and there will be a Formula Ford double header,” said the CCRC’S Jo Lewkowicz.
“There will be a couple of Trophy races which are looking popular, and the Dave Allan Trophy race has attracted some new guys to the grid, so that’s good for us.”
Meanwhile, Gary Prebble (SEAT Leon Turbo) and Charles Hyde-andrews-bird (Renault Megane) will return to the Saloons grid this weekend.
Both were involved in a startline shunt in the opening round in April and missed the races earlier this month, but their cars have been repaired and are now ready to return.
The meeting will also feature a rare track demonstration of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of sportscars: the Ferrari Laferrari, Mclaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder. Anyone who orders an advanced ticket for the Sunday will be entered into a prize draw to win a passenger ride in one of the cars.