At a meeting with landowner Brighton & Hove City Council, the club conceded that the seafront sprint event on Madeira Drive – which was first held in 1905 – was no longer financially viable.
Reduced revenue, ranged against steeply rising costs, were blamed for the event’s axing. The reduction in paying spectator attendance since the terraces above the course and arches were closed in 2013 hit council and club accounts, while the worsening road surface and necessity to install and remove costly safety barrier infrastructure for one day has resulted in entries dwindling.
“For some it was the only event they participated in,” said a BHMC spokesperson. “For others, it was a focal part of their motoring year, entering high-powered vehicles which roared along the seafront to the enjoyment of the crowds.
“Its appeal to young and old alike was intimacy. Spectators could get up close to the cars waiting in the paddock, talk to the drivers, take wonderful pictures and feel very involved.
“Despite Brighton & Hove Council’s help, the new road layouts, the closing of the terraces, and the enormous cost involved in providing required safety measures, the committee had to make the heartbreaking decision that the 2023 event was the last.
“The club has [run it] at a loss for a number of years and cannot continue to do so.”
Source: Autosport