After years of enduring substantial losses in hosting the traditional hill climb season finale down south, the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club are considering its future.
They will stage this year’s event on Saturday 4 October but have already chosen not to apply for a permit to host it in 2026.
GK&MC speed captain Scott Rayson, who also happens to be a previous winner of the event, credited the decision to ‘simple economics’.
‘It has been losing money year after year,’ he said.
‘Costs are up and entry numbers going down.
‘It’s got to a point where we can’t really keep running it at a £2,000-a-year loss.’
This year’s events have seen an additional surge in costs owing to the need of bringing over rescue professionals, filling the role previously held by Sarnia Rescue.
From a personal standpoint, Rayson will be feeling the loss of Petit Bot.
He has won as recently as 2022 and annually challenges the likes of record-holder Tim Torode for top spot on the particularly tight and technical hill, from which the racing cars that would typically set the fastest times at Le Val des Terres are excluded.
‘It’s a real shame because it’s my favourite,’ he said.
‘I have raced all over the UK, raced in France, and Petit Bot is my favourite.
‘It’s certainly the one that I’ve crashed at the most.’
The annual blast up Petit Bot also almost invariably attracts rainy conditions.
And so it will take an extra stroke of luck if Torode’s record of 25.43sec., now 10 years old, is to be challenged.
Rayson has not entirely ruled out a return in the future, adding: ‘It’s potentially going to be the last one, but you never say never.’
Last one or not, he is hoping for a good turnout at next month’s event, with entries remaining open until 20 September.
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