Chimay Closed for Racing

Historic Circuit loses licence - lobbying begins

By PH Staff / Monday, 12 June 2006 / Loading comments

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 julius@tophatracing.co.uk.