THE popular Corbeau Seats Rally in Clacton and Tendring has been axed, organisers have revealed.

The annual event was launched in 2018 and was the first to make use of new legislation which allowed closed-road motorsport in England.

The event, which attracted a field of more than 100 cars each April, initially took place across the Tendring countryside but expanded to included a seafront stage in Clacton

But Chelmsford Motor Club, which organised the event, has announced that it will not take place next year.

Rally spokesman Andrew Bisping said: “After careful review by the organising team and with our partners, there will be no Rally Tendring and Clacton in 2024.

“Since the inaugural rally in 2018, the rally has run annually using new ‘closed roads’ legislation, except for interruptions due to Covid-19.

“These events are a substantial undertaking, dependent on thousands of hours of time given by our volunteers and require significant funding to host.

“We are in a period of budget cuts, as costs rise for organisations and for our competitors too.

“We have therefore decided the rally will not continue at present.

“We are immensely proud of what we have achieved so far and repeat our gratitude to our sponsors, notably Corbeau Seats, who have been with us since the start of the journey.

“We also thank our partners, local communities, volunteer officials and marshals, plus our competitors for their encouragement and support over the past six years.

“Chelmsford Motor Club remains committed to organising closed road rallies.

“We have some exciting plans in development for a new format event in Essex.

“We will provide additional updates at an appropriate time.”

The rally included stages take in Little Bromley, Great Bromley, Mistley, Bradfield, Wix and Tendring and Great Bentley.