
Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb will return for the second time this weekend (14/15 September), as the exciting motorsport event will see around 100 cars and drivers tackling a stretch of the B3276 coast road between Padstow and Newquay against the clock.
The event was a ground-breaking feature in the motorsport calendar in 2018 as it became the first speed hillclimb in the UK to take advantage of the passing of a Parliament law which allows public roads to be closed for timed motorsport events. It returns once again this year, bigger and better than ever, with a longer course set to challenge the drivers.
The motorsport extravaganza has once again attracted a capacity entry with a huge range of cars from across the UK heading to the North Cornwall coast to tackle the hill, which now sits at 850-metres long. Each will be either aiming to secure the new hill record or take the hotly contested class honours.
From an idea in 2013 by Truro Motor Club Competition Secretary and now Deputy Event Director of Watergate Bay Hillclimb Dave Brenton, the concept has grown significantly in strength and has once again gained support from a wealth of local businesses. Local charities benefit from the weekend, with all profits being donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance and Cornwall Food Foundation.
Keen to sample the much talked about event, organisers have been inundated with entries for the weekend which boasts a fantastic mix of competitors all eager to sample the new layout. There will be a wide range of cars competing throughout the weekend, divided into 12 classes, ranging from totally standard road going examples to highly modified racers and rally cars.
Both of last year FTD (fastest time of the day) competitors will return, aiming to stamp their names on the winners trophies. Eyes will be on Tavistock’s Douglas Bennett in his rapid Raw Striker whilst, Chard based Stewart Lillington also returns in his Radical.
Spectators will be well catered for during the weekend with trade displays, car clubs and access to the paddock to get up close and personal to the drivers and cars. Viewing opportunities for fans have also been improved along the hill, offering some great views of the cars in action.

The Hillclimb will start from 9am on each day, entry to the event will cost £10 per adult. The spectator car park can be accessed by travelling along the B3276 from Newquay towards Watergate Bay.
Deputy Event Director Dave Brenton is looking forward to the second running of the event.
“Although it’s the second running of the Hillclimb, it’s still been almost a year in the planning to get it this far, so we are of course delighted to receive another top-quality entry.” he said.
The Hillclimb is the main event in Cornwall Motorsport Month which houses events such as off-road, Kart meetings, Autotests, Talks and Motorcycle Trials. The initiative, backed by Ginsters, officially launched at Cornwall Motorfest in Crantock.
“The organisers are very proud that the hillclimb is the flagship event in Cornwall Motorsport Month. Cornwall is a fantastic place for motorsport as well as surfing and holidays” he continues. “It helps to bring motorsport to the people that may not usually get to enjoy the sport in the county. We look forward to seeing all motorsport fans next weekend.”
More information:
Road closure times are 6am to 6pm on the 14th and 15th September, maps can be found here:
https://bit.ly/2k8g8nl
Spectator information can be found here:
https://bit.ly/2m4jXum
Full list of entries can be found here:
https://bit.ly/2lDbUV2
The event website can be found:
www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk
Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb is sponsored by:
Watergate Bay Hotel, Cowling Plant Hire, Celtic Tuning, Mid Cornwall Self Storage, Penmellyn Vets, The Colourworx, Rallyprep, Hatton Energy Motorsport, Toniq, Brady Construction and WAX.
More information on the event can be found at www.watergatebayhillclimb.co.uk
More information on Cornwall Motorsport Month can be found at www.cornwallmotorsportmonth.comYou can catch up with all the latest news from the event on its social media feeds:http://www.twitter.com/watergatehill
http://www.facebook.com/watergatebayhillclimb/