A return of Birmingham’s legendary Super Prix has taken a step closer with the Government set to change the law to give local authorities power to stage motor races on public roads.

Prime Minister David Cameron revealed a consultation had been launched on a visit to a new Williams F1 team engineering centre.

Speaking to the Post earlier this year, the organiser of the Birmingham Super Prix, which ran from 1986 to 1990, said a return would see crowds of more than 100,000 on the streets of the city, the original event’s organiser claims.

It is currently a criminal offence in England, Wales and Scotland to promote or take part in a motor race or trial of speed on a highway or public road without specific legislative approval.

The Super Prix relied on special Parliamentary bills to organise.

Speaking in March Martin Hone, who was behind bringing motorsport events to the city, said he would gladly be involved and urged the city’s leaders to show some “political will”.

Welcoming the prospect of its return, Mr Hone said: “It could happen if there is political will.

“I am well versed. If someone came and said: ‘Martin put a road race on tomorrow’, it would be done. I have still got the energy and vitality and would love to do it. I would love to see something like that happening in Birmingham.

“I am twiddling my thumbs and it is one of my biggest dreams.”

Birmingham remains the only UK city to have staged a major motor sport event on its streets and over the decades there have been repeated calls for its return.

The event saw the city centre transformed into a Monaco-style road race circuit with cars travelling at speeds of up to 200mph.

The flagship event was a Formula 3000 race, at that time the last step on the ladder before Formula One, and took place over the August bank holiday weekend.

A special Act of Parliament – the Birmingham Road Race Bill in 1985 – had to be passed in order for the race to take place.