12 hours of action and thrilling driving skills - lawn mower racing returns

It’s 38 years since Sir Stirling Moss won the inaugural event and with more than 40 teams competing for honours the action will be as fast and furious as ever, guaranteeing thrills, spills and great family viewing.

For the uninitiated, the mowers are lined up in a traditional Le Mans grid formation with the drivers running to their machines as the flag is dropped at 8pm.

The teams of three drivers (male and female) compete throughout the night at speeds approaching 50mph – and without any form of suspension other than a padded seat.

The pace remains unrelenting for the full 12 hours and it’s not unknown for the first three mowers to be on the same lap when the chequered flag falls.

As darkness descends, the race takes on a totally different atmosphere as the pit lane becomes a sea of light and the night is punctuated by mower headlamps streaking past.

Last year’s event saw a new distance record of 354 miles established – despite misty conditions through the night - so the leading teams will be keen to raise that benchmark still further.

There is a definite international flavour to the line-up this year. with teams from Belgium and Luxembourg joining the cream of racing mowers from the British Lawn Mower Racing Association and its sister club, the North West Lawn Mower Racing Association (NWLMRA).

A NWLMRA team has now taken the victor’s laurels three years in a row, so local teams will be doing their utmost to put an end to that winning streak.

The event is being supported by Phoenix Motorcycle Training, with centres across the south of England, and The Winner Group of companies, who offer a national service for the hire of event, plant, equipment, tools and aerial platforms.

All profits from the event are being donated to Ingfield Manor School, in Five Oaks, for children with cerebral palsy.

Entry to the event is £6, children free, and there is no charge for parking. There will be full trackside catering and race commentary throughout, or you can listen in on Radio Le Mow on 87.7 FM.

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