Today (17th July) the Wirral Hundred decided, in principle, to start its 2020 race season at Anglesey with a meeting over the Bank Holiday weekend of 29th & 30th August, two weeks later than was provisionally announced last month.
The continuing uncertainty over the easing of the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on sporting events involving more than 30 persons, and the consequent uncertainties over the timing of the circuit’s furloughed staff returning to work and readying the circuit for racing, has meant that the Club’s race meeting scheduled for 15th & 16th August became unfeasible.
However Thundersport’s cancellation of their Anglesey meeting on 29th & 30th August, has meant that that weekend has, in theory, become unexpectedly available, and with representations now being made to government sources about the unusual nature of motorsport events and with the next statement from the Welsh Government on the Coronavirus lockdown due on 31st July, the Anglesey Circuit and W100 have decided to now plan for a race meeting on that later date.
This decision is, however, subject to the contents of the next Welsh Government statement, and to the necessary confirmations from the local Health & Safety and Medical authorities. Hopefully W100 will be able to confirm the meeting will go ahead on or very soon after 31st July.
Revised regulations and entry forms are currently with the ACU for approval, and we expect that these will be available on the Club’s website (www.wirral100.co.uk) immediately the meeting is confirmed. These will comply with the ACU’s requirements concerning Covid-19, and, as one of the steps to minimise social contact at the event, they will require all signed entry forms and entry fees (cheques or bank transfers) to be received two weeks before the meeting. Various other matters will be included in a special set of Covid-19 Instructions (covering various aspects of social-distancing, PPE, etc) designed to minimise the risks of infection to the paddock community, marshals and officials, whilst present at the circuit.
For safety reasons we are planning to have two practice sessions at this, the first, meeting of the season – one untimed, one timed - and, by popular demand, to run all races over a minimum of 12 laps.
Finally the Club and Anglesey Circuit regret this further delay, but we hope that our riders and marshals understand the difficult situation both organisations have been faced with, and will appreciate our commitment and perseverance in trying to start the racing season in Wales at the earliest opportunity. Thank you.