The expectation and excitement is already building amongst speed hillclimb enthusiasts across the country as the final preparations are made for the Avon Tyres/TTC Group British Hillclimb Championship, when it visits Wiscombe Park on Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, July 31, for the Midweek Herald sponsored speed weekend.

The event will see the only qualifying rounds of the series in the South West and will attract the fastest car/driver combinations from throughout Britain and the Channel Islands.

The format of the two-day meeting will see the British Championship protagonists take three practice runs on the Saturday, with an additional practice attempt first thing, the following day prior to two qualifying rounds which will see the fastest 12 registered championship contenders go forward to a Run-Off where the fastest gains the most points for their championship campaign.

The first of these Run-Offs should take place just prior to the lunch-break with the second providing a climax to the meeting at the end of the afternoon. It is during these action-packed battles that in recent years the outright hill record has been re-written and hopefully with continued technical advances on the cars that will again be the case when the joint hill record holders Trevor Willis (OMS 28-Powertech) and Will Hall (Force WH-Xtec) take to the track.

Local interest will of course revolve around local driver Ed Hollier. The Honiton driver has been contesting the British Championship series for a couple of seasons in his Suzuki powered Empire Evo which is engineered by his father Bob and has recently been out-performing more powerful machinery, so with the added advantage of local knowledge on his ‘home’ hill expectations are high for an upset to the status quo.

In addition to the country’s finest there will be events for regular Wiscombe Park competitors on both days with two rounds of the Bridge Tyres and Wheels Wiscombe Park Championship so there will be plenty of opportunity to not only see the most technically advanced single-seater racers but also a variety of saloons, sports and sports racers and enjoy a superb view of the action from the raised spectator terraces. The sound and smell of these stunning machines should not be missed by any motor sport enthusiast.

Gate opens at 10am on both days with an admission fee of £8 on Saturday and £11 for Sunday, although a weekend ticket will be available on the Saturday at £15. Accompanied children under 14 are admitted free, car parking is free as is entry to the competitor’s paddock where you can view the cars at close quarters. Catering facilities and a licensed bar will be available.

Read the Midweek Herald for more details and information in the run-up to East Devon’s own ‘speedfest’.