The Sixth running of the Watergate Bay Sprint near Newquay will once again bring action-packed closed-road motorsport into the heart of Cornwall in 2025, marking a Centenary of Good Sports!
In September 2023 a hundred cars and competitors descended on the region from across the UK to tackle the 850-metre course which used the B3276 coast road between Newquay and Padstow.
The event starting life as a Hillclimb in 2018, as the pioneer closed road sprint event following a change in primary legislation in 2015 and then secondary legislation in April 2017 which enabled Motorsport UK to authorise closed road motor sport events in England. Watergate Bay transitioned into a Sprint in 2021 and continues to be one of only a handful of closed-road speed events in the UK. Its unique format attracts some of the fastest drivers in the country to the challenging course, all eager to beat class records or secure fastest times.
Next year, 2025, will mark the Centenary of the last of the early speed trials held on public roads, on 4 April 1925 in Hereford and Tavistock, speed events took place two days after the then decision to stop motor racing on public roads, a Bill having been put to Parliament and the RAC Competitions Committee cancelling all permits for speed contests on the open highway on 2 April 1925. Back then local authorities and Police allowed these last speed trials to proceed on the basis of ‘good sportsmanship’!
Watergate Bay is the spiritual successor of these grass roots events 100 years ago…Something for ‘Good Sports’ to celebrate in 2025!
Putting on an event like this is a mammoth undertaking, the standards of safety we adhere to has moved on considerably since those halcyon days of a century past. Watergate Bay Sprint is organised by a partnership between Truro and District Motor Club, Newquay Auto Club, Plymouth Motor Club and Camel Vale Motor Club. A dedicated team of volunteers stepped forward from these clubs to establish this event from the spark of enthusiasm that fuelled its first running in 2018 and after its sixth running some members of that team have had to take a break.
The organising partners in the Watergate Bay Sprint are in the process of establishing a new team but recognise that they are not yet up to the capacity needed to make the event a success in 2024. Consequently, the decision to postpone the Watergate Bay Sprint to 2025 has been taken. This enabling the organising partners to secure the running of their own club events throughout 2024, whilst focussing their collective attention on returning to Watergate Bay with a Centenary Celebration of Good Sportsmanship and Closed Road Motorsport in September 2025.
There really isn’t another event like the Watergate Bay Sprint and through coming together to enjoy motorsport in this spectacular Cornish setting local charities are benefiting. Watergate Bay Motorsport has, since 2018, secured over £30,000 to worthy causes, including the vital work of Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Watergate Bay Motorsport extends its thanks to all sponsors, the local community, businesses and competitors for their continued support for this pioneering event. We look forward to the return of an exciting weekend of thrills, spills, and fast-paced motor racing against the spectacular backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean in 2025, what better way to mark this Centenary in Motorsport.
See all ‘Good Sports’ there in 2025!
We are currently making arrangements for the 2024 Watergate Bay Sprint and would like to take this opportunity to understand what impact, if any, this event has on you and the local community.
This will be the 6th year running this event, having started in 2018, although the event was not held in 2020 due to the CoronaVirus.
One of the main objectives of the event has always been to raise funds for the Cornwall Air Ambulance. To date, we have raised over £33,000 for the Air Ambulance and local good causes.
In order that we can take into account any concerns, issues or comments that you may have about the event as part of our application to the Council, we invite you to take a few minutes to complete this short survey.
The fifth running of the Watergate Bay Sprint near Newquay once again brought motorsport into the heart of Cornwall as the action-packed closed-road speed event witnessed a thrilling two days of racing last weekend [16/17 September].
Around one hundred cars and competitors descended on the region from across the UK to tackle the 850-metre course which used the B3276 coast road between Newquay and Padstow.
Organised by a partnership between Truro and District Motor Club, Newquay Auto Club, Plymouth Motor Club and Camel Vale Motor Club, the flagship event provided thousands of spectators who flocked to the venue with an exciting weekend of thrills, spills, and fast-paced motor racing with the spectacular backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
After starting life as a Hillclimb in 2018, it transitioned into a Sprint format in 2021 and continues to be one of only a handful of closed-road speed events in the UK. Its unique format attracts some of the fastest drivers in the country to the challenging course, all eager to beat the class records or secure the coveted Fastest Time of the Day award.
A huge array of machinery from standard road cars to classic racers and the Ralli 22 Group B rally cars from the past entertained a bumper crowd of spectators who flocked to the venue over the weekend, enjoying an impressive view of the course, range of displays, trade stands and access to the drivers and cars in the paddock.
The fight for the quickest time of the opening day would see the honour head to South Wales as Mike Rudge stormed to a time of 26.15 seconds during his second run in what was perfect conditions. The Force SR8 driver was uncatchable in the dry, although his final attempt of the day would see him spin off the track, but his previous run was enough to take the trophy.
With the weather closing in on Sunday, it offered the chance for the tin-top machinery to bid for the accolade, and the second day would see the highly regarded speed event break new ground.
Watergate Bay Sprint introduced several new initiatives for 2023, which saw the introduction of a new all-electric vehicle class, one of only a handful of events to do so since their inclusion in active motorsport in the UK.
And that move would prove fruitful, as Sunday’s fastest time of 28.40 seconds would come from John Chambers in his Tesla Model 3 Performance, an all-electric vehicle, the first time the event’s top honour would go to an EV. It’s also understood to be the first time an electric vehicle would take that honour on a closed-road Sprint event in the country.
Once again, local charities will benefit from the weekend, with profits being donated to the vital work of Cornwall Air Ambulance. Since 2018, Watergate Bay Motorsport has secured over £30,000 to worthy causes and organisers will announce this year’s addition to that total shortly.
“Once again Watergate Bay Sprint has continued to push the boundaries of what can be done in motorsport and we are delighted to have run yet another successful weekend of sport for Cornwall and in fact, the UK” said Event Director Dave Brenton.
“Putting on an event like this is a mammoth undertaking but it makes it all worthwhile when you see the crowds watching the action out on track and enjoying getting up close to a fantastic array of cars. There really isn’t another event quite like Watergate Bay Sprint and the feedback we have had has been extremely positive.
“Introducing a range of new environmentally positive measures has been an important part of the event’s development so seeing an electric vehicle take the fastest time of the day on Sunday is a true testament to the hard work of the team to enable them to compete. We have had support from many people including the sport’s governing body Motorsport UK and its Chairman, David Richards CBE, and it’s an exciting time for the next generation of motorsport vehicles”.
“I’d also like to extend our thanks to all the sponsors, local supporters and backers that have made the event possible once again and we are already looking at how to make 2024 bigger and better than ever.”
Images courtesy of Doom Media
One of the most eagerly anticipated British-built supercars, the Nichols Cars N1A will take pride of place on the Rally Prep stand at this weekend’s Watergate Bay Sprint [16/17 September], offering one of the first opportunities for private viewings since its launch this summer.
The Can-Am-inspired supercar pays homage to one of the most iconic racing cars of all time: the original McLaren M1A thanks to co-founder Steve Nichols’ connection with the iconic brand. He was lead designer at McLaren during the late 80s and was responsible for the design of the MP4/3 which carried Alain Prost to three victories and led the team to finish second in that year’s Constructors’ Championship behind Williams.
The following year Nichols came up with the MP4/4. In the hands of the late Ayrton Senna and Prost, the car set new records with an incredible 15 out of 16 race victories, including 11 firsts and second finishes, taking Senna to his first World Championship.
The racing pedigree of the N1A is apparent across every meticulous inch of the impressive design which not only gives a nod to the rich motorsport heritage of Steve Nichols’ past but also takes inspiration from the latest generation of modern-day materials and engineering.
Underneath its Formula One-grade, graphene-infused carbon fibre body, sits a 7.0-litre all-alloy V8, which has been developed and upgraded by Nichols Cars offering a total power output of 650 bhp through the rear wheels and it weighs in at just 900 kg. A six-speed manual gearbox is the perfect accompaniment, as is the hand-fabricated independent front and rear suspension with double wishbones and anti-roll bars as standard.
Inside, the cockpit reflects the stripped-back approach of a racing car, highlighting the dashboard with dials that hark back to the golden era of motor racing, whilst premium-grade materials and fabrics ensure a luxurious feel. Featuring an Ayrton Senna-inspired gear knob, the N1A’s fully reclined seating position is like that of the MP4/4, giving drivers a chance to experience exactly what Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost saw.
The first 15 cars will be an individually numbered series, each one celebrating a specific victory of Steve Nichols’ McLaren MP4/4 Formula One car.
This awe-inspiring machine will be available to view via appointment throughout the weekend at the ground-breaking Watergate Bay Sprint, which sees over 100 vehicles each day tackle the closed-road course along the Cornish coast near Newquay.
To book an exclusive appointment to view, please email: john.minett@nichols-cars.com
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Nichols Cars Media contacts and information:
Website: www.nichols-cars.com/then1a
Social media: Instagram | Twitter
Media enquiries: Hannah Burgess
+44 (0) 7730 570975
Media assets and press pack: www.tinyurl.com/NicholsCarsN1A
About Nichols Cars:
Nichols Cars was founded in 2017 with the goal of creating a car of extraordinary performance and presence, with eponymous founder Steve Nichols and CEO John Minett going back to the very first McLaren for inspiration. Inspired by the M1A, 60 years since it first appeared, Nichols Cars focuses on combining classic lines with modern engineering to create the very best driving experience possible without any aesthetic compromise.
Together with incredibly talented individuals from all corners of the automotive industry and relying on the expertise of the countless professionals encountered over the years, the N1A is Nichols Cars’ first product, with production expected to begin in the last quarter.
For more information on Rally Prep: www.rallyprep.co.uk
More information on Watergate Bay Sprint:
Road closure times are 06:00 to 18:00 on the 16th and 17th September.
Click HERE for a Diversion Map/Route.
https://www.watergatebaymotorsport.co.uk/
You can catch up with all the latest news from the event on its social media feeds.
http://www.twitter.com/watergatemsport
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The sensational Watergate Bay Sprint, near Newquay in Cornwall takes place for the fifth time this weekend [16/17 September] and promises to be the best ever edition of the popular motorsport event.
Regarded as one of the “must see” motorsport events in the country, Watergate Bay Sprint will once again welcome around 100 cars and drivers from across the country to the hillside above the beach resort, to tackle the closed-road circuit and compete for class awards or the coveted Fastest Time of the Day.
Running as a Hillclimb in 2018 and starting from Watergate Bay itself, the event was the first closed-road motorsport speed event to take advantage of the passing of parliamentary law in England, which enabled roads to close for competitive motorsport.
It would then switch to a Sprint in 2021, starting on the Newquay side of the B3276 at Trevelgue with cars tackling the road towards Watergate Bay offering a fast and flowing section mixed with a technical element that includes a tight ‘90-left’ turn before powering towards the finish, which continues once again in 2023.
In a bid to drive continuous improvement, the organisers, consisting of a partnership between Truro and District Motor Club, Plymouth Motor Club, Newquay Auto Club and Camel Vale Motor Club have introduced several new initiatives for the fifth anniversary to keep fans entertained and to ensure the longevity of the event.
Continuing to innovate its offering, the Sprint will be one of only a handful of motorsport events in the country to allow Electrified Vehicles to compete. Whilst EVs are popular on our roads, their use in motorsport is minimal but the new category has seen four vehicles entered to see the boundaries broken for this exciting class.
This goes hand in hand with the introduction of a series of environmentally positive measures for this year’s Sprint, as does a new partnership with Carbon Offset Cornwall which will ensure around 50 trees are planted in the county, helping with woodland biodiversity, and habitats, with those trees helping to absorb the carbon created from the running of the event.
Also new for 2023, is the appearance of the Ralli 22 Club which will bring an exciting range of rally cars from the past, including the Group B, Group A, and classic era. Conducting demo runs throughout the weekend; the thrilling machinery will certainly be a fan favourite as they blast along the track or at close quarters in the paddock.
An impressive entry list of around 100 cars each day boasts everything from standard road cars to full-blown race cars with crowds flocking to the venue last September and organisers have once again ensured a superb viewing location, with access to the paddock included to enable fans to get up close to the cars and drivers.
Once again, local charities will benefit from the weekend’s activities, as profits will be donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance with £30,000 already raised for good causes since the inaugural event in 2018.
A substantial trade display area offers plenty to see and do during the weekend discounted advanced tickets are available until Thursday 14th September at midnight. They cost £10 per day for adults saving up to £4 on the weekend gate price with those under fourteen going free. Tickets will still be available at the gate.
To purchase advanced tickets and find out more, click: HERE
The action will start from 9.00 am on each day and the spectator car park must be accessed by travelling along the B3276 from the Newquay Airport side – Watergate Bay. Car parking is available at a discounted rate of just £3.50 per day [cash only].
More information:
Road closure times are 06:00 to 18:00 on the 16th and 17th September.
Click HERE for a Diversion Map/Route.