After an absence of 48 years, motor sport will return to the grounds of the Chateau Impney hotel near Droitwich this summer with a hillclimb on a new 1000-yard course.

Set in 150 acres, the chateau was built in 1873 influenced by wealthy businessman John Corbett’s love of the chateaux in the Loire Valley. It was later abandoned and then used as accommodation during the Second World War

In 1949 it was renovated and opened as a hotel and motor sport started in September 1957 with the first of 11 annual sprints using a 550-yard course in front of the chateau.

Drivers like Phil Scragg, Patsy Burt, David Good and Reg Phillips set the pace and in 1964 Tony Griffiths set a record of 22.07s in his BRM P48 that stood until the course closed for motor sport in 1967 as the hotel management turned its attention to live music.

After several more changes of ownership, the Chateau was acquired by the Spollon family, all motor sport enthusiasts with cars like ERA R8C and the ex-Achille Varzi 1933 Monaco-winning Type 51 Bugatti.

“It was a family idea that started with my late grandfather Bruce,” said Rod Spollon. “We started planning for this in April 2013 and the plan is for it to be an annual event. The course is made from existing road networks on the site, but we’ve done quite drastic reprofiling of corners. The vast majority of the course has been completely resurfaced. So it is a significant investment.

“The original course was very short and we wanted to maximise the appeal to competitors.” In extending the course to 1000 yards, sufficient gradient has been introduced to earn hillclimb status.

The entry for 2015 will be 200 pre ’67 cars in 19 classes, with a target of attracting 10,000 spectators for the 11/12 July event.

For details visit http://www.chateau-impney.com/events/all/

Words: Paul Lawrence