The Brean Rally will not be returning to the village, it has been announced this week.
A joint statement issued by organisers Club Rallysport West and Brean Leisure Park confirms the decision not to hold the long-running event.
A spokesman said: “Following discussions and meetings with the Brean Leisure Park Management over the past months and recent weeks concerning the future of the Brean Stages Rally, the following outcome is announced.”
“Brean Leisure Park, in their plans going forward, have concluded that the provision of facilities within the park are no longer suitable for the running of the stages rally and therefore regret that it will no longer be able to host this event.”
“Brean Leisure Park, in conjunction with Club Rallysport West, wish to express their sincere gratitude to the organising teams, supporting clubs, officials, marshals, competitors, sponsors and advertisers for their tireless support over the past 22 year history of the ‘Rally in the Park’. Thank you.”
The event was not held in January this year, but had previously been staged over 22 years and had often attracted crowds of spectators to watch the fast-paced action over two days each January.
Reacting to the news this week, one of the rally drivers, Yvonne Furzeland, said: “End of an era. We have done every one at Brean. It is very sad there will be no more. It was a fantastic venue plus a place to meet everyone involved over the past 22 years.”
Marshal Paul Melhuish adds: “I have enjoyed marshalling there for a few years and it’s sad to see Brean go the same way as the Regency Stages and the Somerset Stages.”
And Bryan Evans added: “What a massive shame. A cracking event that was the first weekend event to start the year off as marshals. It will go down in history as a great event and will be missed by a massive motorsport family.”
Also see:
Photos: 2018 Brean Rally brings action-packed racing to village
