Historics News: Shelsley Walsh events to return without fans in July

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual vintage meeting and Reg Phillips Trophy weekend planned for 4-5 July will not run, but competition will return to the 1000-yard hill for the Summer Spree event on 25-26 July.

However, the event will run behind closed doors due to the on-going battle to contain the spread of the virus.

A spokesman for the Midland Automobile Club said: "Unfortunately, due to the social distancing rules that are still in place, the event will be held behind closed doors without spectators, while there will be restrictions on the number of people that can attend per entry.

"The Summer Spree weekend has been held every year and we believe this will be a popular event for competitors who have been waiting patiently to go racing again.

"Unfortunately, events that were due to take place before 25 July will not be held.

"We are therefore working on a revised schedule for the remainder of the season that we will announce as soon as details are confirmed."

The next major date in the schedule for this most historic of motor sport venues is due to a round of the British Hillclimb Championship on 15/16 August.

No details are yet available on arrangements for this event.

The suspension of motor sport for three months due to the virus has heralded a rare break in hill climbing at the Worcestershire venue.

Aside from two six-year breaks for the First and Second World Wars, use of the venue had been otherwise uninterrupted since the opening event in August 1905.