The FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX) is looking to hold an event on the Coventry ring road in 2025, which would be the first international-level street race in the UK in 35 years. The event would be part of the annual Coventry Motorfest, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend. The Motorfest combines static displays, demonstration runs, and a timed sprint event on a 1.1-mile course laid out on a section of the city’s Ringway circular.
Motorfest officials have drafted a proposed rallycross circuit with input from top rallycross driver Kevin Hansen and are in talks with Rallycross Promoter, the organization that runs WorldRX. Coventry City Council has supported a feasibility study on an FIA-certified 6R rallycross course, which would start on Greyfriars Road and include an anticlockwise loop on the Ringway before returning to Greyfriars Road. The proposed circuit would also feature a joker loop located under the junction of the Ringway and Croft Road.
The event organizers are seeking commercial partners to help with the infrastructure and finance, viewing it as a massive opportunity to position Coventry as a city at the forefront of transport innovation and development. James Noble, Motorfest event director, believes that staging an all-electric world championship event would make Motorfest the event at the heart of sustainable motorsport for the present and future. The top-level supercar category of WorldRX switched to an all-electric formula in 2022, and this year’s championship will feature the return of the 684bhp electric RX1e cars.
Rallycross Promoter boss Arne Dirks sees rallycross as having enormous potential to appeal to new audiences, as demonstrated by the success of the inaugural city-center event in Hong Kong last year. This year’s WorldRX calendar is set to include five double-header rounds, and the Coventry plans have the support of the FIA, which sees Coventry as an ideal location for an event due to its compact footprint and sustainability credentials.
If the Coventry street circuit project proceeds, it will be the first true closed-road motor race in the UK since the Birminham Superprix, which ran from 1986 to 1990. The Birminham Superprix was headlined by Formula 3000 and also hosted the British Touring Car Championship. The event was made possible through an Act of Parliament that suspended the Road Traffic Act, which hindered closed-road motorsport events. The laws were changed in 2017 to make it easier to suspend the road traffic act for motorsport events and demonstration runs, allowing events like Motorfest to take place.
Motorfest is estimated to attract around 200,000 spectators and contributes around £10 million to the local economy. This weekend’s event will feature competitive sprint, drift, and autotest events, as well as historic karting. Additionally, access to the Coventry Transport Museum will be free.
In addition to his role as Autocar’s acting magazine editor, James Noble has experience in motorsport journalism and has covered a range of events from club rallying to top-level international competitions. He also has knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets from running Move Electric, Haymarket’s e-mobility title.
Overall, the potential street race in Coventry is generating excitement in the motorsport community. With the support of the FIA and the city council, Coventry has the opportunity to establish itself as a hub for transport innovation and sustainable motorsport. If successful, the event would bring economic benefits to the city and provide thrilling racing action for fans.
