A trailblazing rally which brought thousands of people to Tendring last month is returning for another year, bosses have revealed.
Thrillseekers who turned out to watch the inaugural Corbeau Seats Rally event in April – the first of its kind in England – were able to get so close they could almost taste the action.
Crowds watched cars thunder past from a safe distance from spectator areas across the district.
Now organisers Chelmsford Motor Club have said they are delighted with public reaction to the event – which was the first closed-road stage rally in the country – and plan to bring it back again for 2019.
They are urging people to save the date for next year’s event, due to be hosted on April 28.
“Our first closed road event received a great response from the rally crews and most strikingly from the people of Tending and Clacton who enjoyed a family friendly day out in the sunshine,” said event director Tony Clements. “We’re therefore delighted to be planning the next event and to share the date now, to help people plan well ahead.”
More than 100 drivers signed up for this year’s event and tourism bosses said the televised rally attracted national and even international attention.
Challengers competed against the clock in a series of timed tests , with the main hub on Clacton seafront.
Tendring council leader Neil Stock OBE said he was excited to hear the trailblazing event – which brought around 6,000 spectators to the district – is returning.
“The inaugural rally held this year, the first of its kind in England, was a huge success, and we are keen to see that success repeated,” he said.
“As well as encouraging some 6,000 spectators, plus all those involved in the event, to come to Tendring, coverage of the rally provided a fantastic advert for our wonderful district.
“This undoubtedly provided an economic boost to the area, not least in the tourism sector on what would usually be a quieter weekend, so we would encourage that to happen again.
“We look forward to working closely with Chelmsford Motor Club to develop and build on the success of last month’s event, and will continue to listen to our communities to take on board their input into the event planning.”
Further details of the 2019 rally will be released later this year.
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