A STOCK car expert claims hosting the World Championship Final of the BriSCA F1 at Odsal Stadium later this year will bring in "a few hundred thousands of pounds" to Bradford.

Startrax - the promotion company bringing stock car racing back to the city - announced over the weekend that the World Final would take place at the famous bowl on September 11.

The annual competition began in the 1950s, and can feature drivers from across the world - with a large number of competitors coming from the Netherlands.

Last year's event was earmarked for King's Lynn Stadium, in Norfolk, before the pandemic forced it to be cancelled.

There were 500 tickets sold for that event which can be carried over to this year's meet.

Steve Rees, who runs Startrax and was in charge when stock car racing last appeared at Odsal in 1997, admitted the decision to move the venue for the World Final was the "hardest" he has made in the last 27 years.

He said: "It was a hard decision because obviously it was originally intended to be King’s Lynn.

“We tried to work out what was in the best interests, what’s best for everybody."

The promoter discussed the decision with "many people", including the British Stock Car Drivers Association (BSCDA), drivers, clients in Holland, colleagues and fans of the sport.

Mr Rees admitted it was a case of trying to "make an omelette without breaking eggs" and ultimately felt a newly transformed Odsal would be the ideal place for the World Final, as "one of the best venues in the UK".

There has already been a lot of interest in the event now an official venue has been announced.

Mr Rees said: “The F1 is fully booked up, with 75 cars.

“Our clients in Holland, there’s a lot of interest.

“It’s bringing a lot of new people back to the sport and it’s an impressive arena for it.”

The decision to select Odsal was also influenced by lingering pessimism surrounding the pandemic.

Mr Rees explains that a 50 per cent full Odsal would allow around 10,000 people to enjoy the spectacle, whereas King's Lynn would be much more limited.

He said: “That was one of the criteria, if it’s restricted capacity, more people have the opportunity to watch at Odsal than Kings Lynn.

“Whilst tickets haven’t gone on sale yet, we sold quite a few yesterday with people ringing up.

“Six Dutch people have EasyJet flights booked already, hotels, they said the rates have gone up, they’ve started booking hotels."

With such enthusiasm, Startrax has been working to ensure Odsal - and the city - is fit for purpose.

Mr Rees outlined he is already in dialogue with Bradford Council, has secured a "park and ride" site with 5,000 spaces and wants to get local campsites involved.

He said: “I think you’ll find that in Bradford it will be difficult to get hotel rooms at that time, which is what city needs.”

A lot of enquiries have come from the sport's Dutch contingent, who are eager to get over for the event.

Mr Rees said: “I think you’ll see two to 2,500 from mainland Europe here.

“They will need hotels, 1,500 to 2000 hotel rooms, work that out what that’s worth, £100 a night, times two.

“Then food and drink, using Maccie Ds, visiting places.

“A lot come on the Friday and are going round the city on the Saturday before the racing.

“It could be a few hundred thousand pounds.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale on Monday, April 26.