The Watergate Bay Sprint will partner with Carbon Offset Cornwall ahead of the fifth running of the closed-road motorsport event [16/17 September] as part of a roadmap to reduce the environmental impact of the event.
Having already introduced a series of dedicated environmentally positive measures for this year’s Sprint, event organisers have now joined forces 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.
The ground-breaking event was the first closed-road motorsport speed event to take place in England back in 2018 and now sees over 100 drivers and cars each day tackle the 850-metre course near Watergate Bay.
But event organisers are very conscious of their responsibility to reduce the event’s carbon footprint and environmental impact and have looked at measures to speed up the journey towards a sustainable future.
Whilst these steps may seem trivial, the importance of recognising these measures is significant and can provide the building blocks in the journey towards a net-zero sport.
For the first time, organisers have introduced a dedicated Electric Vehicle class to the weekend, offering fully electric vehicles the opportunity to compete toe-to-toe with like-minded racers and will battle for class honours in the process. Whilst `EVs` are quickly becoming a common fixture on our roads, their use in motorsports and competition is largely lowkey outside of the global arena, so their introduction to Watergate Bay Sprint has been applauded by the sport’s governing body, Motorsport UK.
There has also been a ban on single-use plastic tyre wraps [used to protect tyres from dirt] for the weekend, ensuring that unnecessary plastic use is avoided. Recycling bins have been introduced in the paddock to ensure that they are separated from general waste.
Spectators are also invited to attend on foot or bicycle too, with the coastal path from Newquay to Watergate Bay fully open and having access to the spectator entrance over the course of the weekend. A fan survey will also gather data on the attendance of spectators, further building a better picture of the impact on the environment.
Event Director Dave Brenton is pleased to progress the commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of the popular event.
“Watergate Bay Sprint is delighted to partner with Carbon Offset Cornwall this year and this is just the start of our journey to mitigate the environmental impact of the event” he says.
“We realise there is much more to do but being able to plant 50 trees in the county will, over time, be able to absorb a significant amount of carbon as they grow and that’s an important first step.”
“To put this in perspective, some football matches see over 50,000 people attend a two-hour game so the movement of fans to one match far outweighs an event like Watergate Bay Sprint. But that’s no reason to ignore it and in addition to our other measures, starts us off on this vital journey for the event and motorsport.”
Richard Brown of Carbon Offset Cornwall said, “We’re thrilled to share some amazing initiatives that are taking root in our local community, At Carbon Offset Cornwall, we’re all about making a positive impact on the environment. That’s why we’re excited to announce our partnership with the Watergate Bay Sprint.”
“Our mission is simple yet powerful: we’re transforming otherwise unproductive private farmland and estates into lush havens for young trees. These areas provide a safe haven for the trees to thrive during their crucial early stages of growth, ensuring they’re set up for long and healthy lives.”
“We’re also proud to have recently participated in the Silverstone and Masters Classic events. The thrill of motorsports is something we all love, and we’re excited to bring that enthusiasm to our environmental initiatives. “
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Watergate Bay Sprint and contribute to the local environment in a small yet meaningful way. By planting trees and embracing nature-positive planting, we’re setting an example that we hope other local events will follow. After all, caring for our planet is a collective effort that brings us all together.”
“So, let’s drive positive change in our community! Stay tuned for more updates on our journey as we continue to make a difference, one tree at a time.”
For more information on Watergate Bay Sprint, please visit:
www.watergatebaymotorsport.co.uk
You can catch up with all the latest news from the event on its social media feeds
For more information on Carbon Offset Cornwall, please visit:
-ENDS
The ground-breaking Watergate Bay Sprint is all set to wow thousands of motorsport fans with a thrilling weekend of action this September [16/17], as the popular closed-road event has been given the all-clear to go ahead as planned.
Held near Watergate Bay in Cornwall, Watergate Bay Sprint uses the B3276 coast road between Newquay and Padstow, with competitors from across the UK heading to the region to contest the prestigious timed race, which was the first speed event to take advantage of a Parliamentary law enabling roads to be closed for motorsport use in England.
After the inaugural running as a `Hillclimb` in 2018 and starting from Watergate Bay itself, the event switched to a `Sprint` in 2021, starting on the Newquay side of the B3276 at Trevelgue. Considered one of the highlights of the motorsport calendar, cars will tackle the road towards Watergate Bay, with a fast and flowing section mixed with a technical element that includes a tight ‘90-left’ turn before powering towards the finish. The event attracted around 120 competitors each day in 2022.
Authorised by the sport’s governing body Motorsport UK, organisers have been issued the permit authorising the event to go ahead following a renewed consultation with both local residents, parish and town councils.
Whilst many were supportive of the event, some concerns were raised over the diversion route and disruption to the road infrastructure during the weekend, as well as the environmental impact of a motorsport event of this size taking place in Cornwall.
Parish and Town Councils surrounding the area put forward their commentary, and the event launched a Public Consultation, inviting locals to air their views in an online survey and attend a public forum evening at Mawgan Porth Village Hall. The findings of both were submitted to Cornwall Council Streetworks department which subsequently authorised the event, enabling Motorsport UK to grant the necessary Permit.
Dave Brenton, Deputy Event Director is delighted to be able to continue planning for this year’s event.
“I and the entire organising team are very happy to have received the permit from Motorsport UK and I’d like to extend my thanks to every member of the local community who reached out to us over the consultation period,” he said.
“The event does cause a level of travel disruption to local residents over the weekend and going forward we are committed to better communication, timely information and diversion route management to give them plenty of prior warning of the event.”
“For some time, we have been looking at various Carbon Offset programmes, as we certainly appreciate the impact that any motorsport has on our environment. But with proper management and willingness to invest in a programme, we hope to ensure Watergate Bay Sprint doesn’t leave its mark in any way.”
Watergate Bay Sprint will also continue to donate profits to local charities. From its inception, Watergate Bay Motorsport has ensured charities like the Cornwall Air Ambulance have benefited from over £30,000 since 2018.
You are invited to our Public Consultation Meeting to discuss our Motorsports Event taking place on 16th / 17th September 2023
The meeting will take place in Mawgan Porth Village Hall on Sunday 5th March 2023.
Doors will open at 7:00pm.
Doors will close at 8:30pm
Please come and meet the organising team and find out more about our event. We would also like to hear about any concerns or questions that you may have about our event.
The impressive collection of Ralli22 will head for Watergate Bay Sprint in 2023, offering motorsport fans an exciting glimpse into the iconic rally cars of the past.
The popular group of car owners and drivers, will bolster the weekend with a stellar line up of rally cars, from the flame spitting Group B era, as well as the Group A and WRC period. Ralli 22 is a collection of historic rally cars, whose owners offer their cars for competition and demonstration purposes at selected events.
Cars in the collection include the MG Metro 6R4, Audi Quattro S2, Lancia 037, Subaru Impreza WRC and many more. Further details of cars in attendance during the weekend will be announced nearer the event.
*Update – the Local Consultation period has ended. We would like to thank everyone for taking the time to respond to the survey and for those who attended our Public Consultation Meeting at Mawgan Porth Village Hall*
We are currently making arrangements for the 2023 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 5th 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 £30,000 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.
You are also invited to our Public Consultation Meeting which will take place in Mawgan Porth Village Hall on Sunday 5th March 2023.
Doors will open at 7:00pm.
Doors will close at 8:30pm
Please come and meet the organising team and find out more about our event. We would also like to hear about any concerns or questions that you may have about our event.
To take part, please fill out the below form: