The Watergate Bay Sprint
Annually in September
The Watergate Bay Sprint returns every year with hundreds of cars competing against the clock for the best time.
The event boasts everything from standard road cars to full blown race cars, with a brand new category for electric cars. Spectators can watch the action from the side-lines, whilst getting up close to the race cars and soaking up the festival-style event.
All profits are donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance and Watergate Bay Lifesaving Club.
In 2023, the event partnered with Carbon Offset Cornwall to reduce the environmental impact and help woodland biodiversity by planting 50 trees.
The event first ran in 2018 and has grown year on year. The 900 metre course starts near Trevelgue along the B3276 road, towards Watergate Bay, with a fast and flowing section mixed with a technical element including a tight 90-left turn before the finish.
Charity
As in previous years, Watergate Bay Sprint will also continue to donate profits to local charities. From its inception, Watergate Bay Motorsport has ensured charities like the Cornwall Air Ambulance have benefited from over £30,000 since 2018.
2022 event
The 2022 event has been hailed as the "biggest and best yet", organised between Devon and Cornwall motor clubs, Truro and District motor club, Newquay Auto club, Plymouth Motor Club and Camel Vale Motor Club.
An extension of 80 metres from last year brought an additional twist for drivers. From standard road cars with basic safety features to full-blowing racing cars, 110 cars and drivers each day battled it out in everything from an ex-Petter Solberg World Rally Championship Subaru Impreza WRC, to a Series 1 classic Morgan.
- 2022 Report
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The fight for the coveted Fastest Time of the Day Award would see Mevagissey’s Andy Williams secure the accolade on both days, hurling his impressive Westfield SE through the course in spectacular fashion to be unbeaten over the weekend.
Williams soon got to grips with the new length course, setting an impressive pace from the outset, but sealing Saturday’s win with a time of 28.34s on his third and final run of the day. The second day time also came on the final run, with 28.42s good enough to claim the trophy on Sunday.
2021 event
With spectators taking advantage of views of the entire course, bumper crowds flocked to the venue to witness the racing.
Class honours and the coveted "Fasted Time of the Day" were both up for grabs. Undefeated champion from the 2019 event, Dorchester based Roney Thorne thundered his five-litre Pilbeam MP43 to the fastest time on both days. He again remains the man to beat for next year's event.
- 2021 report
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Class awards
Local drivers took the honours including Liskeard's Sam Perring with the Rally Car class victory, and Matt Ewer from St Austell scooped the Modified Production Car Class win.
High-speed spins
Several drivers were caught out by the tricky course layout. Richard Travail's BMW MINI came off the worst after impact with the protective bales during a high-speed spin in the "s" bend, with just cosmetic damage to the car as a result.
Local charities
All profits were donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Watergate Bay Surf Lifesaving Club. With £11,000 being donated to date, organisers will announce this year's addition to that total in the near future.
Deputy Event Director, Dave Brenton shares his thanks to all the sponsors and backers who make the event possible. Full results can be found below.
- 2019 report
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