Public roads could be turned into weekend racetracks under plans announced by the government last week. Councils will be given the power to close roads and put on motor racing, creating street circuits that could rival classics such as Monte Carlo and Le Mans.
Mike Penning, the minister responsible for deregulation and road safety at the Department for Transport, announced a three-month consultation on the proposals, which he said would allow drivers to compete on public roads in races or rallies. They could also see industrial estates closed down and used as karting tracks.
At the moment, holding road races requires parts of the Road Traffic Act to be suspended by an act of parliament. If the road is simply closed, the urban 30mph limit still has to be observed, said Ben Wallace, the Tory MP for Wyre and Preston North, who proposed the change in the law.
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“We should not forget that 95% of motor sport is amateur and consists of people participating,” said Wallace. “It is not just about the glamour and glitz of F1.”