Local hill climbs and sprints still some way off says GK&MC president
GUERNSEY’S current motorsport situation remains ‘up in the air’ despite an announcement from the governing body exciting petrol heads across the British Isles, writes Jamie Ingrouille.
Motorsport UK yesterday announced that it would be inviting permit applications from 1 June in anticipation of restarting motorsport on 4 July.
Yet we are still some way from seeing the popular hill climbs and sprints roar back to life, according to Guernsey Kart and Motor Club president Karl Marshall, due to the States' 'phase four' guidance limiting social gatherings to 30 people.
This follows the recent cancellation of the Le Val des Terres ‘national’ hill climb set for late July due to concerns over travel.
Even if Marshall feels that Guernsey’s unique situation could lead to domestic events being approved earlier than July, he now awaits several key decisions both locally and nationally.
‘A gathering of 30 people is hardly a hill climb – that’s just not going to happen,’ said Marshall. ‘We will need to have a gathering of about 200 people to make it worth running.
‘120 competitors, myself and another 20 marshals, and 15 to 20 officials – straight away that’s 150 and that’s without all the spectators.
‘The clubs are working hard to get motorsport back in action, but it’s mostly down to the government here and Motorsport UK. We have got to plan around the guidelines.’
Marshall feels that karting meets, taking place behind ‘closed doors’ at Victoria Avenue, are a somewhat more realistic prospect for the near future, but he continues to await guidance from the Guernsey Sports Commission and local governance in order to decide the road ahead.
Thanks to the clever work of local organisers, a virtual hill climb championship has captured the attention of numerous drivers in the meantime.
