Ingliston Circuit reopens for 50th anniversary

CARS are returning to a famous racetrack once driven by Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark to mark its 50th anniversary.

Jim Clark talks to Jackie Stewart at the Ingliston car show in 1961. Picture: TSPL

The Ingliston Circuit near Edinburgh Airport will reopen this weekend for a series of events involving classic and modern cars.

Built in 1965 as a project by the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, the original track was home to regular race meetings but has been closed for 20 years.

Titled the Ingliston Revival, this weekend will see supercars, stunt drivers and classic rallies return to the track.

There will also be demonstrations by Aston Martin, Jaguar and McLaren, and guests including former Stig Ben Collins and BBC F1 reporter Lee McKenzie.

Event director Sandy Bloomer said he is expecting a crowd of around 10,000 over the weekend.

He said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating the 50th anniversary by reinstating the track once used by some of the country’s iconic world champion drivers.

“I started doing supercar driving events here, I didn’t know that a racing circuit existed in Edinburgh and I stumbled upon it on Google Maps.

“I spoke to a lot of people who remember old Ingliston and the stories and the passion for it was so strong that we wanted to recreate some of it, and as this is the 50th anniversary it’s a great time to bring fans back here.”

Organisers plan to make the revival an annual event that will grow every year.

“The track is tight, it’s fast and good fun. It was fairly infamous in the past but we’ve put in a lot of safety.

“There will be no racing here this weekend, it’s a demonstration event with the public able to drive the course over the weekend.

“It’s a fantastic chance to let people see some of Scotland’s top vintage and modern day cars where visitors can drive them or watch from the track-side.”