THE HILLS will be alive with the sound of motorsport this weekend in a picturesque corner of West Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Motorsport Festival – first staged last year amid Covid restrictions – returns for a second year, and promises to be "even bigger and greener" than 2021.
Organisers say they have created a safe three-day event for all the family, not just petrolheads, near Holmfirth, Kirklees – less than an hour's drive from central Bradford.
In terms of motorsport action, the centrepiece of the event will be the 0.8 mile Wolfstones Hill Climb – a steep and twisty section of closed road that will play host to three days of competition covering a wide range of different vehicle classes.
The action gets underway on Friday and runs through Saturday and Sunday.
Michael McErlain, the festival's CEO, said: "This year we’re pulling out all the stops to create an even bigger festival that not only celebrates all that’s great about British motorsport, but creates three amazing days out for all the family with a wide range of events and entertainment.”
Organised by the Mid-Derbyshire Motor Club, under licence from UK Motorsport UK, the closed road hill climb will see the return of cars from across the decades, competing against the clock on a challenging course through stunning 'Last of the Summer Wine' countryside.
Organisers are promising a trio of legendary local cars – dubbed 'The Famous Three' – to open the hillclimb course on the Friday and Saturday morning.
A total of 75 cars will compete over three days of spectacular fun, including an Austin Seven Cambridge Special, a wide selection of Jaguars, such as Mark 1 and Mark 2, Talbot Sunbeams and Mini Coopers.
A special treat for Lamborghini and supercar lovers will keep fans happy on the Friday morning, when an amazing lineup of Lambos owned by customers of Park Group Leeds will be paraded on the hill climb.
A spokesperson said: "It's probably the best and biggest collection of privately-owned Lamborghinis to come together in one location, this epic event will be a feast for the eyes. Don’t touch, but just look and marvel at these stunning Italian thoroughbreds."
Away from the hill climb action, visitors can enjoy events in the fields on a 25-acre site, with children's entertainment such as a family fun fair.
A series of vehicle displays will include NASCAR Trucks, stock cars and tractors. Meanwhile, a number of supercars and luxury marques will be on show for visitors to view.
The Yorkshire Shopping Village, located on the showground, will celebrate the very best of handmade Yorkshire-made crafts and gifts.
In the Palmer Foundation Engineering Village, a F1 in Schools workshop will be running to inspire young people between 11 and 19 to try their hand at designing an F1 car using CAD/CAM design tools.
For music lovers, the festival has put together a lineup of live music acts on the Main Stage on Friday and Saturday, featuring Huddersfield-based Fiery Biscuit, Abba tribute band Abbarella, Sass and The Groove and the Tone Junkies. There’s also live music in the fields on Sunday from Sheffield songster Adrian Paris.
Organisers say they are deeply conscious of the impact of the combustion engine on the environment, and remain committed to a wide range of green initiatives.
These include the investment of £20,000 in improvements to the festival site, and the exploration with Holme Valley Parish Council’s Climate Emergency Committee of plans to plant a carbon offset YMSF orchard.
The land for the orchard has been donated by a local landowner and the initial planting programme is now planned.
"We are fully engaged with both the Woodland Trust and local contractors, one of whom is donating extra topsoil, to start the preparation of the ground after the festival this year," said a spokesperson.
"The Yorkshire Motorsport Festival takes place in the beautiful surroundings of the Holme Valley and the YMSF orchard will help mitigate the impact of the Hill Climb. This is why we we want to encourage members of the local community to join us in creating this orchard when it comes to planting, maintaining and harvesting the fruits of this special community project," added the spokesperson.
This year’s Festival, between the villages of Upperthong and Wilshaw on the outskirts of Holmfirth, takes place on June 24, 25 and 26. Tickets can be bought online at ymsf.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
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