Face masks, social distancing and revised protocols; they were just some of the new measures put in place at Cadwell Park this past weekend (July 4/5) as the British Automobile Racing Club made a triumphant return to the track. 

More than 100 days since motorsport in the UK was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, four of the Club’s championships visited the picturesque Lincolnshire venue to mark the start of what is now a condensed 2020 season.

Whilst spectators were not permitted to attend; competitors, teams and officials all got to grips with what is being dubbed as the ‘new normal’ for the foreseeable future – and it proved to be a successful first outing for all involved.

Prior to the event, the Club issued its own guidelines for Competitors and Officials which outlined the adjustments that had been made to the practice and procedures in order to continue providing the safest possible environment.

With driver and marshal sign-on completed online, Personal Protective Equipment such as face masks were a mandatory requirement once at the venue to whilst social distancing was implemented wherever possible in the paddock and pit-lane.

In the absence of paperwork being distributed over the course of the weekend, a ‘Virtual Noticeboard’ was also created on the Club’s website to ensure that competitors and officials were being kept abreast with the latest updates.

Commenting on the success of the weekend as a whole, David Wheadon, BARC Competitions Secretary, said: “I just want to thank all the competitors for an outstanding meeting at Cadwell this weekend just gone.

“Apart from all the brilliant racing we experienced at the meeting, I was equally impressed with our competitors, their guests and all of our Marshals & Officials attitudes towards the new COVID safety regulations with regards to social distancing, PPE and personal hygiene.

“Motorsport UK had sent representatives to the event on the Saturday and they were equally impressed with their observations of everything as a whole.

As one of the first Motorsport UK permitted events happening in the post lockdown era, BARC understood that how our event performed would have a knock on effect on future events held throughout the remainder of the 2020 season.

“The phrase “start as you mean to go on” has never been more appropriate! Well done to all involved.”

The British Automobile Racing Club now heads to Croft this weekend (July 11/12), with several more championships set to kick off their own condensed 2020 campaigns.