WORK is progressing rapidly towards the “finishing line” of returning Bradford’s most famous venue to its former glory.

Odsal Stadium has been out of action since main occupiers, Bradford Bulls, said goodbye to their fabled home on Sunday, September 1, 2019.

More than 7,000 fans turned up for that game against Sheffield Eagles, before the rugby league side made the move to Dewsbury.

The famous bowl has been silent ever since.

But the murmurs of rumour, and then the concrete evidence of a certain much-loved sport returning to the stadium after decades away, have now turned to the hum of machinery and the chitter-chatter of workers.

Startrax, the company which is bringing back stock car racing to Odsal for the first time since 1997, has had contractors on site for the past two weeks to prepare the ground for its first scheduled event at the start of April.

The first week was about getting the main infrastructure - the skeleton - of the track installed around the pitch, which included a ring of metal posts.

Last week, the contractors and teams on-site put in place and tightened the final ropes, while the circuit is being prepared for the next stage of development.

Everything remains on track, with the team refusing to be "beaten by the extreme Arctic snow and rain" last week, according to Startrax owner, Steve Rees.

 He said: "It's going very well.

"If I'm really honest, I hate to say this, it's going well to plan.

"We're working with Bradford Bulls, the RFL, and we've got big plans for the stadium itself.

"The stock cars is on plan and is due to be finished in the next week or so."

"After that, we're laying the shale track and we hope to be running on from April 3, if the Government allow us to."

It will be a momentous occasion witnessing stock cars racing around Odsal Stadium once again, after 23 years away.

Mr Rees promoted the sport when it was last held at the Bradford venue in 1997 and also still runs stock cars at Owlerton Stadium in Sheffield..

Tickets for the BriSCA F1 Stock Cars event on Saturday, April 3, went on sale in the early hours of New Year's Day and were limited to 2,000 due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Rees also introduced a Patrons of Odsal 140 VIP Club memberships, which offer guaranteed “best seats” and numerous other benefits over a five-year period for people who pledge their support.

The businessman, who is based in Lytham St Annes, admits he feels overjoyed at the way the public have responded.

He said: "What has been overwhelming has been the huge amount of local support for it, between the Bulls, stock cars and across the country.

"We put a post up and get about 300,000 views.

"Everybody wants it back.

"We look at it from the point of, I've got the idea to get it back for Bradford to be proud of.

"It's an amphitheatre.

"It's going to bring an awful lot of business.

"People are looking to book hotels, etc. etc.

"It's a big gamble, a big risk, at this time, there's lots going on, but it's got to be done.

"I'm spending my pension money.

"We're losing too many iconic stadiums to development."

Work will continue at Odsal over the coming weeks and Mr Rees hopes the team will be able to find somebody to professionally jet out all the drains and sumps at the end of the month, before laying down the track.

He said: "I really do look forward to the end of the month when visually the dream gets a huge step nearer and the 'ring of steel' visually brings Odsal a step closer.

"The passion has always been there from me/us at the top to make this dream happen, but without the phenomenal support from within our own sports, in all honesty, it would have probably been impossible.

"The aim is to build a venue that will be a legacy for the sport as we won't be around forever, but it's built and running as my own legacy."