Circuit racing, spectators return to Bushy Park

 Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI) will organise the first race meeting for more than two years on the full International Circuit at the St Philip facility on April 30 . . . and spectators will be welcome. The first round of the 2022 BPMSI Championship will cater for all the club’s usual saloon car Groups and the race programme will also feature three non-championship races for Radicals.

  The 2.01-kilometre International Circuit was last used for a public race meeting in March 2020, just before the coronavirus pandemic struck, although the National Circuit was used once in August that year, when spectators were allowed. That March date was intended to be the opening round of the 2020 Radical Caribbean Cup, but the regional contest has now missed two seasons; the 2022 series is now scheduled to start in July, once regional travel has become easier.

  The Clubhouse and the Hammer Zone – the park and view area overlooking the circuit from the north-west corner of the facility – will be open for spectators; admission will be Bds$20, with a $5 discount on a Karting Experience on production of the ticket stub from April 30. Under current Covid protocols, spectators will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative rapid antigen test within the previous 24 hours. Spectator vehicle access will be through Gate 4, with pedestrian access through Gate 3. The timetable remains a work in progress, but action is likely to start late morning.

  Entries are open at Motorsport Services from today (Monday) and will close on the Wednesday, April 27. BPMSI Competition Secretary Kurt Seabra said: “We’re excited to finally be able to go racing again, even more so because we can welcome fans back to Bushy Park. The last two years have been difficult for everyone, but there is a real desire among our members to get back on track, so we are doing our best to help by reducing our annual Competitor Membership Fees to $150.00 for this year.

  “Although we won’t know what the entries will look like for a week or so yet, we’re feeling really positive as we look forward to the end of the month. There are some new cars in the pipeline which look like making Group 3 one of our strongest Groups going forward, so we’re excited to see that.”