The curtain is coming down on what has been an entertaining and hugely rewarding motorsport year on two and four wheels across the MSV venues. Whether you are a volunteer marshal, official, competitor or spectator, please take our best festive wishes into the final days of 2022 and enjoy your Christmas if you are celebrating.
After the enormous challenges we faced throughout the peaks of COVID-19 in the previous two years, this season marked a refreshing return to a more traditional normality. Our venues hosted a full calendar of national and international events from March until November, with live audiences present and trackside in full numbers throughout.
Beyond that, this has been a landmark year for MSV from a wider business viewpoint, following a significant overseas expansion. Circuito de Navarra in northern Spain joined the group in November and MSV has ambitious plans for the circuit which is located near beautiful cities like Pamplona and Logrono as well as the iconic Rioja region. Work is already well underway to help it realise its full potential.
This development followed the news earlier in the year that MSV was pressing ahead with plans to create a self-sufficient eco circuit at Couvron in France. And we remain committed to delivering ongoing improvements to all five UK circuits - Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park.
On the circuit, highlights this year included a stellar season-long performance from Bradley Ray in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, with MSV circuits hosting eight rounds. Tom Ingram sealed a thoroughly deserved maiden British Touring Car Championship title too, with both major domestic crowns being decided on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
Brands Hatch once again hosted the final rounds of the British Truck Racing Championship too, before the calendar of major events came to a close with a huge fireworks display in front of a sell-out crowd. There were displays at Oulton Park and Cadwell Park too accompanying popular winter stage rallies.
Donington Park was another venue to host major championship season finales, with Ian Loggie sealing his first British GT Championship title in the East Midlands. Luke Browning was crowned GB3 Champion the same weekend, before going on to claim the prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award, following in the footsteps of George Russell.
Another MSV-run single-seater series debuted this season, with the GB4 Championship making its bow as a cost-effective entry-level option. Nikolas Taylor was the inaugural champion, in a season which also featured multiple landmark victories from female drivers.
We also hosted MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi as a competitor at one of our venues for the first time this year. The multiple motorcycle racing world champion competed in the GT World Challenge Europe event back in May, impressing with a top-eight finish in front of thousands of his devoted fans. 'The Doctor' has confirmed that he'll be back in the category in 2023, this time in BMW machinery.
On top of all that there were a large selection of historic
meetings, themed family events, and club racing across all the
venues and we're looking forward to opening our gates to fans for
much more in 2023. We have a very strong calendar in place for next
year and many event tickets and season passes are available to
purchase now.
Trackdays, testing and driving experiences have all been hugely
popular throughout this year and a busy schedule is already in
place for the next 12 months. Our PalmerSport driving experience
will resume in the spring too, for another year of world-beating
on-track thrills featuring the all-new Ginetta G56 GTA.
We're closing for the festive break from 12.30 on Friday 23
December but we will be open for business once more on Tuesday 3
January. Please bear with us as any email or social media enquiries
sent between now and then will be responded to when we
return.
Until then, everyone at MSV would like to wish you a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year! Stay safe and we'll look forward to
seeing you in 2023.