Maps reveal the route of new motor rally’s stages through the villages of Tendring

The Corbeau Seats race, on Sunday, April 22, has special stages spread out across the district, which have now been approved by Essex Highways.

The event, organised by Chelmsford Motor Club, and the title sponsor, Corbeau Seats, will be the first to make use of new legislation which allows closed road motorsport in England.

The event will allow road legal cars, with safety and performance modifications, to compete. 

Map - Overview of the five routes in red around Tendring 

Drivers will be started one at a time at about 30-second intervals and will be timed over the course.

The race will consist of three loops of five different stages totalling about 45 stage miles and 100 road link miles.

Tony Clements, event director, said: “We wanted roads which are twisted and narrow to keep the average speed down by drivers. We have chosen roads with a combination of bends and as fewer houses on them as possible.”

The winner will be the driver with the least combined time across all the stages.

Stages - Stage one, six and 11

The first special stage is in Tendring, from Tendring Green to Stones Green, the second is in Bradfield from Spinnel’s Lane to Heath Road, and the third stage is in Lawford from Grange Road to Little Bromley Road.

The fourth is in Great Bromley from Barlon Road to Stone Road and the final stage is in Great Bentley from St Mary’s Road to Dead Lane.

The base for the event will be in Clacton, on the Western Esplanade where drivers will start before making their way to the special routes.

Mr Clements said the event is set to bring in hundreds of thousands of pound to the Tendring area.

Route - Stage two, seven and 12

He said: “There will be 120 competing teams with each team having a driver, co-driver and support team of three of four people.

“We probably have 50 senior organisers and between 500 and 1,000 marshals coming in, spending money and maybe staying overnight.

“Just from the organisers side of things, we have calculated that the spend will be £150,000 to £250,000. In addition, our best guess is that we will have 5,000 to 10,000 spectators coming.”

Tendring - Stage three, eight and 13

He said they could bring in about £250,000 to £350,000 through paying for parking, food, drinks and accommodation over the weekend of the rally.

He added: “Because there has been so much interest in the rally we expect to have 120 teams enter the rally within an hour.

Rally - Stage four, nine and 14

“I think it is going to fill up instantly and we have been inundated with inquiries from across the country.”

He said the event has gathered interest as it is the first of its kind for England. Teams can enter the rally when the entrance part of website goes live on Sunday.

Final - Stage five, ten and 15

For more information, visit corbeauseatsrally.co.uk.