The British Hillclimb Championship gets underway at Prescott this weekend (25/26 April). It’s a championship that pre-dates Formula 1 and counts Andy Priaulx among its successful alumni. Hill climbing is a discipline for all, with classes ranging from standard road cars right up to the super-fast single seaters that are the pinnacle of the championship.
Drivers race against the clock up narrow-laned courses that are short, technical and bordered by unforgiving grass banks. There are 26 individual ‘runoffs’ across the season that shape the title race, making consistency of performance a crucial factor.
Each hill presents its own character – some fast and flowing, others tight and relentlessly technical – and clocking the fastest time demands precise positioning to maintain momentum all the way up the course.
Matthew Ryder returns as champion, sharing the Gould GR59 Judd with established winner Sean Gould. Four-time champion Wallace Menzies remains a constant challenger, while Will Hall and Alex Summers are two who could also take the title.
The season will start and finish at the prestigious Prescott Hill Climb in the Cotswolds. Running until September it visits a total of 10 different venues across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Hill climbing is both spectacular and accessible, with events all around the country to attend. Those who want to get involved can either try out club-based competitions or join the national circuit in one of its many different classes.
This weekend’s event is also being streamed live here. It is one of many events happening in the UK, use our interactive map here to search by your postcode and get out there and enjoy some motorsport!
Head here for the British Hillclimb Championship website and here for more about hill climbing.