New closed road car rally coming to the East Riding

EAST Riding of Yorkshire Council is supporting a closed road motor rally heading for East Yorkshire when Beverley & District Motor Club host the East Riding Stages on February 27.

The event follows in the footsteps of the successful Clacton Rally which first ran in 2018, after Motorsport UK gave the green light for competitive events to take place on closed public roads.

A success over most of mainland Europe, Ireland, Isle of Man and Jersey, it has long been the wish of many motorsport fans in the UK to see similar events take place on British soil. Yorkshire has long been the hot bed of rallying in England and it is fitting they now join the growing band of Closed Road Stage Rallies.

“It’s been over two years in planning, but over 40 years of dreaming,” said Rally event director Richard Vincent. “The club are hoping that the event will become a firm favourite amongst competitors and marshals alike. Running in late February it gives crews a chance to shakedown their old and new machinery without the pressure of championship points at stake.”

Cllr Jane Evison, portfolio holder for economic development and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council is delighted to support the hosting of the East Riding Stages by Beverley & District Motor Club. It is so pleasing to be able to bring yet another experience to the residents in the East Riding and I am sure this is very exciting news for motor rally fans in the region.

“I know Yorkshire is a hotbed for rallying in England so we are all really looking forward to the event getting underway at the end of February.”

Eight stages are planned over two loops, offering 50

competitive miles of special stages to test the crews. They will be a mixture of tight and twisty to straight and simple, something to test even the most seasoned competitors. The rally has attracted a full entry of 100 cars.

Rally spectators can enjoy the action from the Coom Hill stage in the grounds of Burton Constable Hall, while wheelchair users can watch at the Rise stage.

Further information on the event can be found at: www.bdmc.org.uk

To ensure that the club were able to organise an event on this scale they have worked closely with ESAG (Emergency Service Advisory Group), whose members work for all three blue light services as well as the East Riding of Yorkshire Councils Highways Department and Events Department. Full safety plans of each stage have been submitted showing where marshals will be located and how many there will be at each location with over 500 marshals signed up to the rally. Members of the committee have visited all residents on route and Event Director, Richard Vincent said: “I am pleased to say that the event has been very well received. One resident at the end of our Rise stage has even bought himself a rally car and has entered the event!

“Lengthy negotiations have taken place between ourselves and Burton Constable Hall and Burton Constable Holiday Park to allow for a spectator area within their grounds. We are also using both the Hall and the Holiday Park as parking locations.”

Competitors are coming from as far afield as the Isle of Mull in Scotland, the West Coast of Wales, Southampton and all areas in between, including a dozen or so local crews. Each competing car will have a driver and co-driver and between two and five support mechanics. Richard added: “It’s fair to say that our local Hotels and B & Bs will be benefiting from these numbers. As an organising team, we are providing over 60 hotel rooms

for our officials. It’s anticipated that around 5000 spectators will attend the rally weekend.”

The event is also supporting both the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and The Motor Neurone Disease charities.