The month of March is when everyone involved in British motorsport gets itchy feet. After a long winter the season of speed is upon us; teams and individuals are hoping their hard work and planning during the dark months has paid off. To blow away the cobwebs and catch up with everyone, us motoring writers attended the Autosport International Show in January and Race Retro last month.

Superb local motorsport venues and events
Locally we are truly spoilt with superb motorsport venues and events. For Track action there is Castle Combe Circuit, near Chippenham, which has its opening race meeting “Howard’s Day” on Monday 2nd April 2018, featuring action from its three home championships and also the Hot Hatch series. One of my favourite events at Combe is the Autumn Classic meet which takes place on 6th October and last year featured one of James Hunt’s Hesketh F1 cars lapping the circuit.

Prescott Hillclimb, near Cheltenham, celebrates a very special anniversary in 2018; it will be 80 years since the first event was held at Prescott back in May 1938. They kick off events with the Bike Fest on 15th April and then on the 28th and 29th April their motorsport calendar begins in earnest with the British & Midland Hillclimb championships. Motorbike comp-etition classes will be featuring on the Saturday. I competed there last year in a round of their New Barn Land Rover B-Licence championship and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.

If you enjoy watching some serious straight line speed then keep an eye out for events at Shakespeare County Raceway. This is based on Long Marston Airfield, fairly near to Stratford-Upon-Avon. It’s the sort of place you only know about if you follow motorsport, but they hold some fantastic drag racing events during the season.

For Rally fans a date for your 2018 diary should be Saturday 10th November 2018, as this is when the Wyedean Rally will be taking place, run by the Forest of Dean Motor Club. It’s always a spectacular event, with not only professional teams, but also amateurs running the course.

Formula 1 begins its season this month with action from Melbourne, Australia on the 25th. Many British fans are hoping the dominant Mercedes team has kept its advantage and Lewis Hamilton can drive his way to a fifth World Championship. If Lewis does win he will match the record of legendary driver, Juan Manuel Fangio; leaving him with only Michael Schumacher’s record to catch at seven World Championships.

There’s plenty on offer
Interesting news is that a German Grand Prix, at Hockenheim, is back in 2018 (22nd July) and for British supporters who fancy a change from Silverstone, a French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard circuit will take place on 24th June for the first time since 2008. The American owners have done well and listened to the fans.

If you haven’t yet sampled the delights of a motorsport day out, try it this year. There is plenty on offer and you never know, it might even encourage you to take part one day.