Racetrack plan for Caithness
A RACETRACK is set to be established in Caithness within the next three years which could host a stage of motorsport's British Sprint Championship as well as motorcycle races.
It could also be used for a range of other activities, including kart racing, mountain biking and archery, as well as being a music venue.
Caithness Car Club and the Caithness Autocross Club have set up a steering group to drive the initiative forward. The group will oversee the completion of the Banniskirk Sports Complex. Its secretary, Sandy Duncan, says a track has been laid out but further work, including tarring the surface, has to be undertaken.
The cost of the work and incorporating other facilities at the complex, such as portable accommodation and toilets, is estimated to be around £250,000. "That would be a realistic figure," he said.
"We have made really good progress so far but now are needing funding to take the project to the next stage. We also have to look at a number of other matters, including disabled facilities and safety issues."
Mr Duncan thinks it will take between two and three years to get the project at Spittal Hill completed.
The complex – which would have a standing and covered area for spectators – has great potential, according to local businessman and racing enthusiast Colin Calder, who hopes that a round of the British Sprint Championship could be held in the county in the future.
At present, Knockhill in Fife is the only Scottish venue on the circuit – the others being in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr Calder is fully behind the scheme. "It would be absolutely fantastic to have something like that in the area," he said. "Caithness and Sutherland has a tremendous pool of talented drivers and this facility would support the up-and-coming ones as well. The track could also accommodate a number of other activities."
He said the track, which is 1000 metres long and eight metres wide, has been laid out but needs to be tarred.
The layout of the track has been paid for by donations as well as money from the Baillie Wind Farm fund. A lot of the stone was donated by farmer and businessman Tom Pottinger.