Santa Pod Raceway has unveiled a full 2021 season of events running from March to December and embracing its usual array of championship drag races, modified car shows, specialist and family events, together with public track days (Run What Ya Brung) and regular mid-week dates (Drift What Ya Brung).
In a normal year, 400,000 people pass through Santa Pod’s gates to attend more than 75 events. 2020’s planned programme was halted abruptly by the pandemic’s arrival.
From July, however, Santa Pod began staging reduced-scale events and developed Covid-safe protocols which allowed spectators to attend in limited, socially-distanced numbers under strict local authority supervision, at a time when most other sports venues across the country were shuttered. Supported by this experience, Santa Pod offers a 2021 programme of full-scale events with the proven ability to ‘downsize’ again should necessity demand.
Santa Pod’s CEO, Keith Bartlett, said: “Last summer, Santa Pod worked hard to become a truly Covid-secure venue and successfully operated many events throughout the continuous changes in government guidelines. Despite spiralling costs, Santa Pod offered a full action programme on and around the track. Grandstand viewing, show-car displays, catering and trade stands, and even our popular camping provision, were all executed in an approved, Covid-secure manner. This year we are pushing ahead with a full season of events and adding some new ones too.”
2021 highlights will include the opening and closing rounds of the FIA/FIM European Drag Racing Championships, in May and September, and national championship rounds throughout the season, all featuring competition on two and four wheels. STP Oil & Fuel Additives returns to Santa Pod to present the STP Sportsman Series, comprising four of the national championship rounds. July’s Dragstalgia will headline a trio of historic ‘Nostalgia’ drag races.
On the festival front, summer weekends will host Bug Jam, the Volkswagen headliner, and USC (Ultimate Street Car). Along with regular marque-specific occasions, celebrations of national car culture – as exemplified by Japanese events and the recent German addition, Das Auto Show – will be joined by newcomers Le French Fest (voulez-vous voiture avec moi, ce soir?) and, honouring the products and inventions of our own, sovereign sceptred isle, the Best of British Show.
At all times, Santa Pod will observe current Covid restrictions and regulations to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all in attendance.
Key events:
Championship drag races:
2-4 Apr: Festival of Power (Rnd.1, Motorsport UK and national championships)28-31 May: The Main Event (Rnd.1, FIA/FIM European Championships)9-12 Sep: FIA/FIM European Finals
STP Sportsman Series:
24-25 Apr: STP Springspeed Nationals17-18 Jul: STP Summer Nationals21-22 Aug: STP Greenlight Nationals25-26 Sep: STP National Finals
‘Nostalgia’ drag races:
7-9 May: NSRA Nostalgia Nationals9-11 Jul: Dragstalgia17-19 Sep: NSRA Hot Rod Drags
Festival events:
28 Mar: Best of British Show (new)2 May: Le French Fest (new)23-25 Jul: Bug Jam6-8 Aug: USC (Ultimate Street Car)
Tickets go on sale on Monday 1st March, supported by a new ticket insurance scheme provided by TicketPlan, a leading provider of event ticket insurance. The full event calendar and comprehensive information about Santa Pod are available at www.santapod.co.uk.