Charlie Martin has starred at the first-ever Watergate Bay Speed Hillclimb motorsport event, competing in her NGK-liveried Mini Cooper. The event was the first closed-road hillclimb to receive approval from the MSA, which governs four-wheeled motorsport in the UK, and the third closed-road event in all.

Competitors tried to record the fastest time along a section of the B3276, the coast road linking Padstow and Newquay, which was temporarily closed to normal road traffic for the duration of the event. The start of the course was Watergate Bay, one of Cornwall’s most popular tourist destinations, with the racers setting off in the direction of Newquay, with the breathtaking North Cornwall coastline to their right and crossing the finish line 720 metres further up the hill.

NGK-sponsored Charlie, who recorded a fastest run time of 29.21 seconds, said, “The MINI JCW went so well, punching above my weight against 4WD cars with double my power so fifth in class was pretty good.”

Mark Hallam, NGK Spark Plugs Marketing Manager, said, “It was great to see so many people attend this unique event and cheer on Charlie who is very popular with motorsport fans, many of whose own vehicles are fitted with NGK components.”