COMPETITIVE motorsport will return to a UK city centre for the first time in almost three decades at this year’s Coventry Motofest.
A series of time trial events will take place on the unique city centre sprint circuit carved out of Coventry’s ring road.
It will be the first time competitive motorsport has been hosted on a UK city centre circuit since the Birmingham Superprix in 1990.
The news follows the Motor Sport Association’s (MSA) decision to issue Coventry Motofest – which this year takes place on June 2 and 3 – with a racing licence.
Motofest Coventry has worked with the MSA and Coventry City Council since April 2017 to make competitive racing at this year’s festival possible.
The decision also gives the green light to Motofest Coventry to host sprints, time trials and specialist road rally stages as future options at the festival.
James Noble, Motofest Coventry festival director, said: “We have made no secret of our desire to host competitive motorsport on the Coventry Ring Road and we are now in a position to make this a reality.
“After Coventry’s recent winning of city of culture status, being the first to host competitive motorsport since the legislation changes is another superb achievement for the city.
“We look forward to putting on a great show filled with the thrills and excitement you would expect of the UK’s largest free urban motorsport festival.”
Coun Abdul Khan, deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for events, said: “Motofest is doubly exciting this year with Coventry staging time trialling.
“We know from previous years the event is a popular right across the country.
“The city will enjoy a massive boost in terms of additional economic benefits by welcoming thousands of extra visitors to Coventry.”
Motofest Coventry is a two-day festival dedicated to the city’s motoring heritage.
There will be a range of automotive activities taking place from pop-up and demonstration events to static displays and fringe events at Motofest Coventry, now the largest free urban motorsport festival in the UK.
