THE Castle Combe Circuit was forced to cancel a race meeting for the first time in its 66 year history today, due to flooding on the track.

The Howard’s Day meeting, named in honour of Howard Strawford who took over the running of the circuit in the 1970s before his death in 2013, was due to take place on Easter Monday for the opening round of the season.

But rain from Storm Katie had left standing water at certain parts of the circuit, including The Esses, Tower and in the run-off areas, making it too dangerous to race. 

Chairman of the Castle Combe Racing Club and deputy clerk of the course Ken Davies, said: “In view of the amount of water in the run-off and safety areas, we can’t guarantee the safety of the drivers or the marshals, so it’s with our sincere apologies we have taken the decision to abandon the meeting.

“We have worked our darndest to clear the water this morning and whilst some of the track is now bone dry, there are still areas where it is water logged.

“If a car went off into a waterlogged area it would be difficult or even impossible to retrieve the driver.”
Spectators were immediately offered a full refund of their admission charge as they left the circuit.

“It’s just too dangerous,” said Pat Strawford, wife to the late Howard Strawford and owner of the circuit.

“It’s very disappointing and a lot of people have come a long way.

“It’s a bit early to say if the race meeting will be re-scheduled but I think the racing club are negotiating I believe to run some of the races at another time.

“All the spectators have been re-funded but if you lose a race meeting financial it’s not a good thing.”

The drivers, many of whom had travelled great distances, including Finlay Hutchison from Dundee, had no choice but to pack up their cars and return home.

Two Bristol drivers, Dom Burger and Josh Collins, were due to have their first ever race and had been waiting in the paddock collecting area ready for qualifying for three hours, before the meeting was called off at 11.30am.

Chippenham racer Luke Copper had been due to race his new Class-A Formula Ford 1600 car, but was left frustrated over the cancellation of the meeting. 

“It’s very disappointing not to get to race, but the more disappointing thing is we don’t get to develop the car,” he said.

“We’ve only had a day-and-a-half running and we need as much time in it as possible.”

The circuit’s next scheduled meeting is over the weekend of April 16-17.