TWICE world champion rally driving legend Miki Biasion has given his endorsement to what has turned out to be a successful first Sandown Sprint.
The event, co-organised by Solent and the Isle of Wight Car Club, was held on Sandown seafront over the weekend and which attracted drivers — and their mean machines — from around the Isle of Wight, the southern region and beyond.
In all, there were 96 cars on the grid competing in two days of speed trials, which was won by Will Nicholls, who owns the event's main sponsor company, the Island Car Centre.
The leader on day one by just a 15th of a second, he knew he had to raise his game to maintain his lofty position — and just about made it, winning overall by one tenth of a second. It really couldn't have been much closer.
Event promoter, Tim Addison, was delighted by how well the weeken had gone.
He said: "Overall, I’m very pleased with the first Island Car Centre Sandown Sprint. We enjoyed two days of exciting motor racing in almost uninterrupted sunshine — a huge relief given the talk of snow a couple of days earlier.
"I've learnt that organising a motor sport event on public roads is far from straightforward. I'm grateful to the work undertaken by Island Roads and the support of the Isle of Wight Council and Sandown Town Council.
"The Isle of Wight Car Club did a great job organising the competitors, together with Farnborough District and Southsea Motor Clubs. John Peck and his team built us a tremendous track and of course they were back again on Monday with us to get everything cleared away, with crews from Crown Park and Reynolds and Read.
"We are, of course, indebted to the hard work of our volunteer officials and marshals, on and off the track, that make events like this possible.
"There was something very different about this spectacle happening near the town centre, rather than at a specialist circuit like Brands Hatch or Thruxton.
"We hosted a really enthusiastic crowd of spectators — many of whom had never been to watch motor racing before. There was a great family atmosphere which the competitors all picked up on and enjoyed.
"The paddock was also full of smiling faces, with the drivers happily showing off their cars and letting young fans have a picture taken sitting behind the wheel.
"We already have a long list of things we know we could have done better. We’re looking forward to a proper debrief with everyone involved and to look at how the Sprint could be improved in future.
"I’ve been delighted at the number of people over the weekend who have been asking if it will be repeated next year. That has to be a good thing."
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