Historic motor races abandoned in the early and mid 20th Century could return to roads in Britain under government plans to be unveiled on Thursday.
Events which attracted thousands of spectators to towns across the country a century ago could be revived, while towns and cities will also be free to host stage rallies, hillclimbs, sprints and motorsport festivals.
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, could even host a Formula One Grand Prix on the streets of the capital to rival races in Monte Carlo and Singapore without the need for Parliamentary approval.
Under the proposals, which have been backed by motor racing heroes including Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss and Nigel Mansell, councils will for the first time be permitted to suspend speed limits for special events.
Doing so on mainland Britain currently requires an act of Parliament, with the result that just three events – the Jim Clark and Mull rallies in Scotland and Brighton speed trials – are currently permitted.
Campaigners said the plans could help revive Britain’s rich heritage in motorsport, which began with a race in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex in 1902 promoted by the 8th Earl De La Warr.
A crowd of thousands turned out to see more than 200 drivers whizzing down the seafront at breakneck speeds of 50mph, at a time when the speed limit was just 12mph.
Motor races soon popped up around the country but had died out by the 1960s as it became clear organisers were contravening road traffic laws, although some races were replaced by non-competitive processions.
At least a dozen local authorities are believed to have expressed an interest in either reviving old races or staging new ones, including a proposed “Rally of the Midlands” and a motor race in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
A study commissioned by the Motor Sports Association and carried out by Sheffield Hallam University suggests that road racing could bring up to £40 million to areas staging events over five years.
The government’s proposal will be submitted for public consultation today.
Nigel Mansell, the former F1 world champion, said: “This would be a great move forward for the sport and would bring visitors and pride to parts of the country that wish to stage such events.”
Sir Stirling Moss, the former F1 driver, added: “If there’s any way they can get a local council to do that then it’s absolutely fantastic.
“One hopes that if they do get permission they use a good road. I don’t mean good as in wide or anything like that, but an interesting and challenging road, so it would be wonderful if you could get it going. I would certainly love to see it.”
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