UK CIRCUITS LOOK TO READMIT SPECTATORS
Visitors allowed back at Motorsport Vision circuits this weekend as other UK venues plan to reopen in coming weeks
UK circuits are exploring letting spectators back into race meetings, following Motorsport Vision allowing visitors at its venues from this weekend.
National motorsport resumed after lockdown last weekend with events behind closed doors. MSV however announced last week that from
July 11 it will reopen Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park with reduced capacities and safety measures in place.
The British Automobile Racing Club, which runs Thruxton, Pembrey and Croft, told Motorsport News its July meetings will remain behind closed doors but it is currently planning for potentially having spectators at venues from August. BARC group CEO Ben Taylor told MN: “We’ve got [from August] a fair number of what you would call strong spectator events. We’ll take a view probably later in July.”
Silverstone is exploring having spectators at events that follow its early-september British Superbikes meeting. Managing director Stuart Pringle told MN that “for other [non-bsb] events from September onwards, we’re reviewing our plans and are working closely with DCMS [Department for Culture, Media and Sport]. Some of our customers are planning for their events to be with spectators, for example Trax/ Japfest and Ford Fair.”
Knockhill bosses told MN they are working on proposals hoping to allow visitors at some point, though it would only be after council consultations and in line with government guidelines. Castle Combe Racing Club chairman Ken Davies told MN on the possibility of visitors at its August 1 event “we will be looking at it very carefully to see what develops”.
Anglesey told MN the matter of readmitting spectators was not being considered while the circuit remains closed.