CROWDS and drivers alike flocked to the Chateau Impney over the weekend to celebrate the return of the Hill Climb racing event.

Nearly 10,000 spectators packed into the grounds of the Chateau Impney to watch a stunning array of vintage cars speed their way around the Hill Climb’s 1,000 yard course, almost 50 years after the event was last staged near Droitwich.

More than 200 cars, all dating back to before 1967 and the heyday of the Hill Climb, came to the chateau from across the UK, making the event both a sporting and a heritage occasion.

Rod Spollon, chairman of the Chateau Impney Hill Climb Club, said: “What a weekend. When we decided to bring motorsport back to Chateau Impney, we knew the event had great potential, but we have been taken aback by the support and enthusiasm of the people who came through the gates over the last two days.”

The event, which ran on July 11 and 12, featured cars from the Fiat S76, best known as the Beast of Turin, pre-war Grand Prix Bugatti Type 35s, a historic Monaco-winning Alfa Romeo P3 Tipo B, over half of the world’s remaining ERAs, and a number of 1950s sports cars, including C-Type and D-Type Jaguars.

The weekend also featured a crowd-pleasing air display, a trade village with more than 60 exhibitors, and a Concours d’Elegance, with the winner chosen by public vote.

The busiest area of the event was the open paddock, where spectators could take a closer look at all of the cars taking part in the Hill Climb, and meet the competitors and mechanics. There was even a specialist auction on Sunday hosted by event sponsors H&H Auctions, where visitors had the opportunity to purchase a classic of their own.

25-year-old Bromsgrove man Jack Woodhouse set the fastest time of the day, and the love of petrol clearly runs in the family as his father Mark also won his class.

Mark said “I am obviously delighted to win my class but I am absolutely thrilled that Jack’s driven so well over the weekend and secured the fastest time of the day – what an honour. It’s a nice local event, just down the road for us, and it’s been a fantastic venue to have a hill climb on. We couldn’t have planned it better – apart from the rain, but that affected me more than Jack. It’s been absolutely wonderful – we couldn’t praise the event any higher.”

Mr Spollon added: “This event wouldn’t have happened without the support of local people and local businesses. To have so many people turn out in our first year is just fantastic, and it has given us great footing to be able to look at bringing the event back bigger and better next year.”

For more on the winners and times at the Hill Climb, visit our sports section.