Monday 12th June 2006

Chimay Closed for Racing

Historic Circuit loses licence - lobbying begins

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News reached us today that the famous Chimay road racing circuit in Belgium will now be forcibly closed to motorcar racing, after an illustrious 79 years.

The Chimay Grand Prix circuit has hosted many spectacular events since Jules Buisseret came up with the idea of creating the Grand Prix des Frontieres in 1926. From that bold inception, the original 11-kilometre Chimay road circuit went on to forge a reputation as one of the most daunting challenges in the international racing calendar.

After an 11th-hour circuit inspection by the RACB (the Belgian governing body) -- just eight weeks before their flagship 80th Anniversary event was due to be staged (on 21-23 July) -- the organisers of the Chimay Historycar Festival have found themselves without a permit with which to run their event under a National licence.

In an extraordinary meeting convened by the RACB on Thursday 1 June, the RACB also dictated that the organisers of the Chimay event may not even run their event via the alternative route of a Provincial licence. This draconian action by the RACB will therefore prevent any form of car circuit racing from taking place at this historic road-racing venue, leaving Belgium with just Spa and Zolder to accommodate the loss of this unique and evocative meeting in the future.

Ironically, circuit permits have been granted for Chimay's other main motorsport events, so the Toyo "King of Europe" Dragster Show (23-25 June) remains unaffected by the RACB's decision, as does Chimay's impressive Classic Motorcycle Festival (14-16 July).

Top Hat Racing is one of the teams that has frequented the cicuit over the years and they are seeking support in lobbying for a reprieve. They are asking all competitors to register their support by emailing a message of support to [e-mail].

Links

• Official Chimay Website
• Chimay Clips on PistonHeads.TV

 

[paul holroyd]

Yet a another race event with lots of history gone by the wayside,
This is sad state of events that’s seams to spreading around the globe; I know that we have to look at all safety issues when it comes to motorsport both for driver and spectator. But if this is the case for Chimay then should we be looking at all rally events.
Lets face it circuit racing is that safe now that you cant see the cars anymore. That’s why I imagine that the rally events are so popular with the fans because you can get so close to the action.
It's not just the race that will go it's peoples livelihood as well, the residents of Chimay will lose out on revenue. Why are there a select number of people trying to kill motorsport, don’t they realise that they are messing with peoples lives it has a knock on effect down the chain even I have been hit by it, Motorsport Art is not the same has it was 10 years ago but that's another story.

Paul Holroyd
Porsche Motorsport Artist
www.porschesport.com

Edited by paul holroyd on Monday 12th June 10:35

[havoc]

paul holroyd said:

Why are there a select number of people trying to kill motorsport, don’t they realise that they are messing with peoples lives it has a knock on effect down the chain even I have been hit by it

Because they don't care about it, and they realise that the number of people that do aren't significant enough to be worth worrying about.

[thunderbelmont]

And those people don't wear the blazers at the RACB.

A damn shame. Let's hope that some negotiations bring it back.