CRYSTAL PALACE SPRINT EVENT SET TO RETURN
Half-mile course will use part of original circuit
Sevenoaks and District Motor Club has confirmed the crystal palace sprint event will return in 2019 after its ’18 cancellation, in its traditional late May Bank Holiday slot.
The club has held the sprint annually since 2010, however the 2018 sprint was cancelled due to financial problems associated with a promoter pulling out and difficulties from moving it to the August bank holiday weekend from 2017.
The club has committed to running the sprint again next year on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May. It hopes to find sponsorship but will run the event even if a backer cannot be found.
“It’s the love of the event,” said club chairman Chris Judge about the decision. “We’ve put the date in and the logistical work is coming together. We decided that we would have a big push for sponsorship. Because we’ve started this almost a year ahead we’re hopeful and confident that we can secure some backing. But if not we’ll go ahead ourselves anyway.
“We’re quite confident we can secure various sponsorships to help us along the way even if we don’t get a main sponsor. We’ve got a number of irons in the fire.”
Judge added that there is also focus on improving car turnout for next year’s sprint. “That’s our concentrated effort to try to bring it back to what it was in 2010,” he said.
In its hey day crystal palace hosted circuit racing including international Formula 2 before the track closed in 1972.
The sprint takes place on a half-mile course which includes some of the original circuit.