Prescott Speed Hill Climb welcomed competitive racing back to it’s ground for the first time this season after “winter of uncertainty” left the venue in doubt of what 2021 could look like.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic that hit the world in March 2020 affected Prescott Speed Hill Climb, home of the Bugatti Owners Club, in a big way last year, to the point where they were unsure how to move forward.
But after a successful return for cars to the hill in July last year, going on to complete and finish the season in October, the winter period threw various complications to the venue.
Before the country went into a third national lockdown it was expected for fans to be back at the venue, but with the whole country under tough restrictions, general manager Gemma Price wasn’t sure of what events could be held.
Usually Prescott host two of the national championships, the Midland Hill Climb Championship and the British Hill Climb Championship, a few times across the year, but due to travel restrictions that wasn’t the case for the start of the season.
“We suffered a lot last year as a sport with national championships being cancelled,” explained Price.
“So this weekend marked the opening round of the Midland Hill Climb Championship which is one of the two national hill climbing championships in the country.
“So to have that stability of a championship coming back in again just provides hope for this year going back to normal really.”
Despite the uncertainty about how and what events could go ahead at Prescott, the season opening weekend was a large success, with a fully booked competitor list, and plenty more to come throughout the season for when fans may be able to return.
“It’s really exciting. It’s been a long winter and a winter of uncertainty,“ Price continued.
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“So to have absolute clarification of the direction we are going and to get events going again and to get people back here. It’s really exciting.
“If we talk about the events at the latter part of the season, because that’s when we are a bit more certain that we can have spectators. At the end of July we will host the British Hill Climb Championship for the first time.
We’re finishing the day with a top 10 run off from the motorcycles of the National Hill Climb Association! 🏍💨 pic.twitter.com/tF7N5nhz4n
— Prescott Hill Climb (@PrescottHClimb) April 24, 2021
“Then the weekend after we go into a two-day vintage meeting which is the complete opposite of the British Hill Climb Championship. And then as we move into the Autumn we host the British championship for a second time in September.
“Then we close the season with a club season finale hill climb on the Saturday. And then on the Sunday we let rally cars take to the hill. So yeah, there’s lots and lots to look forward to for fans!”
Action returns to Prescott on May 22 for the Prescott Mini Festival.
