Organisers of the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival have spoken of the "roaring success" of the inaugural event.

With the "great platform" of this year's event to build on, attention is already turning to creating an even bigger and better event next year.

The three-day extravaganza near Holmfirth, Kirklees, attracted a healthy number of visitors - albeit with numbers limited to 4,000 per day - and provided plenty of thrilling action.

Michael McErlain, the festival's chief executive, told the Telegraph & Argus: "People have had a fantastic time – we've had lots of extremely positive feedback.

"The hillclimb was a great success and all the attractions on the event field seemed to go really well."

Mr McErlain added: "Everyone enjoyed it despite the Covid restrictions and it's a great platform for next year. It's a long-term future for the event, with contracts in place.

"It was very important that we got this year out of the way successfully. You are always going to get one or two who complain, but it was such minor issues. It was a roaring success and everyone was well behaved, respected the guidance that's in place and there were no major incidents whatsoever."

Asked what it was like trying to put together a three-day festival amid ever-changing Government guidelines, Mr McErlain said: "Everyone has been amazing. We've had great support from Kirklees Council, our sponsors, landowners, stallholders and a big thank you to the public for backing the festival."

He said that, by Monday lunchtime, the fields forming the showground had been largely cleared.

Looking to next year, Mr McErlain said: "We will have a three-day event again but – with us hopefully back out of Covid – it can be even bigger and better with the concourse, lawn mower races and the other things we couldn't do this year."

After a wet and miserable start to the festival on Friday, sizeable crowds turned up to enjoy the action amid brighter weather on Saturday and Sunday - although numbers were limited to 4,000 per day due to Covid restrictions.

As the event reached a spectacular conclusion, there were a couple of crashes on the Wolfstones Hill Climb on the Sunday afternoon. Both drivers were quickly out of their cars, apparently unscathed, to receive applause from the crowd

Several demonstration laps from vintage F1 stock cars proved a hit with spectators, as did the appearance of a number of iconic vintage rally cars.

On the huge showground, festivalgoers were able to view millions of pounds worth of vehicles, including McLarens and Aston Martins.

Dodgems, a sheep shearing demonstration and a stunt show kept families entertained, while a wide range of food and drink stalls did a brisk trade.

The Bradford district was well represented at the event, with JCT600 sponsoring the festival and having a large display of impressive vehicles on the showground.

Meanwhile, a classic stock car once driven by Silsden's Frankie Wainman Senior was also in action.

A number of drivers remarked on how they had enjoyed the 0.8-mile hillclimb route, held on closed roads between the villages of Upperthong and Wilshaw, with some stating that the camber on one part of the course had provided an extra challenge.

Spectators watched from two main viewing points - one from a hillside looking down on the start line and the other being a field across the road from the main showground.

The county's tourist body, Welcome to Yorkshire, was quick to congratulate organisers on the event.

A Welcome to Yorkshire spokesperson said: "Congratulations to everyone involved in organising the first Yorkshire Motorsport Festival this weekend.

"A stunning location in Holmfirth and exciting classic car racing action."