Porsche customers could be jetted from around the UK to a corner of Fife to test drive high-performance cars.
The owner of Crail Airfield wants the green light for the high-end manufacturer and others, such as Ferrari, to use its track to put their luxury motors through their paces.
However, some locals are attempting to put the brakes on the proposal to use the former military base as a supercar test circuit, claiming the noise will drive them up the wall.
The airfield already hosts the regular Crail Thrash, Glenrothes Motor Rally Club events and the annual Supercars for Kidz charity day, as well as regular car boot sales.
It is also used informally by motor firms for test drives and by learner drivers, but Victoria Robertson wants planning permission to regulate its use and hire out the venue for motoring events and other activities on more than 28 days each year.
A typical diary submitted to Fife Council showed it in use daily for 244 days and suggested Porsche could bring buyers to the track from St Andrews and Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports. It also suggested up to 26 high-powered motors including Aston Martins and Ferraris could be brought to the track 12 days annually for supercar experiences run by Supercar Scotland.
Ms Robertson’s planning consultant, Emelda Maclean, told The Courier events including the Crail Thrash, which attract crowds of young motorists, operated without the need for planning permission as they occurred on fewer than 28 days each year.
She said: “This application seeks permission for additional, much smaller-scale events to take place at the airfield for a two-year, temporary period for, say, Crail Museum Tours, driving lessons and driver experience days, Porsche as an example only.”
The typical calendar of events was drawn up to illustrate these would operate on different days to the Thrash, she said. “The purpose of this application is to provide clarity to the community on the ongoing use of the airfield.
“These additional events will be very low key, particularly compared with the larger events already taking place, and, we trust, can be supported by the community and council.”
Crail Preservation Trust is among several objectors to the proposal.
Member Hugh Dykes claimed that approval would allow car events to be held every day of the year, barring sale days.
He said: “The serious problems of noise, traffic congestion, speeding and, at times, anti-social behaviour created in Crail by the Thrash events are well known and have been reported to Fife Council on many occasions.
“These ‘minor activities’ will include car events involving up to 30 cars, some of which will be very high-powered vehicles, being driven, presumably, at high speed to test their handling and performance.
“We are very concerned that there will be considerable noise generated because of this.”
Ken Nisbet, who lives 800 metres from the airfield, in Middlefield, said noise at the weekend can be extremely intrusive and that 26 Ferraris, Porsches and other motors roaring round a track for up to seven hours could hardly be described as a minor event.
He said: “The nature of the weekly events outlined will extend what we already consider to be an uncomfortable noise level from weekends only to a full seven days a week with no respite.”