The huge variety of motor sport available to those still too young to drive on the UK’s public roads is showcased on the Go Motorsport display stand at this year’s Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC (14-17 January).
The special ‘Under 17 Motor Sport’ showcase (Hall no. 7; stand no: 7450) has been designed to highlight many of the exciting opportunities open to those keen to compete at a young age. Those opportunities include karting, rallying and circuit racing as well as less well known junior disciplines such as autotesting, trials, rallycross and drag racing.
Established by the Motor Sports Association, governing body of UK motor sport, and supported by a wealth of the sport’s top stars including World Champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, the Go Motorsport initiative has been set up to encourage newcomers of all ages into the sport. Particular emphasis is focused on youth. Go Motorsport introduced a nationwide School Visits programme in 2009 with its Regional Development Officers promoting the sport in classrooms and school assemblies right across the UK. Now the dedicated display at the Autosport International Show further highlights the wide choice available to those too young to qualify for a UK driving licence.
“It’s incredibly important that we show children and teenagers everything motor sport has to offer,” explains MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton. “Lewis and Jenson have helped us to put our sport on the radar; now it’s up to us to help all those inspired by them to fulfil their dreams. While anyone can buy a ball and play rugby, cricket or football, it’s much trickier for a keen child to go karting or rallying – more so if they haven’t a close family member already involved in the sport. Other sports – particularly Olympic sports with lottery and government funding – are engaged in similar campaigns, so it’s even more important that we maximise the current opportunity to encourage future competitors to start having fun on four wheels in safe and well-organised environments.”
Like most of today’s F1 drivers, both Button and Hamilton started out in junior kart racing from a very young age and the MSA’s highly-praised Let’s Go Karting scheme offers the next generation of potential F1 champions the perfect launch pad. Let’s Go Karting operates at 20 nationwide venues and enables those aged between eight and 16 to have an introductory taste of the action for just £5.
Karting, of course, provides plenty of excitement and family fun at dozens of tracks around the country with race meetings almost every weekend of the year, but there are other ways for youngsters to get into motor sport. In circuit racing the 750 Motor Club’s well established SaxMax series plus the equally formative Ginetta Junior Championship are open to those aged over 14… and, today, there is a similar opportunity for those of the same age with their hearts set on rallying. The new Junior 1000 Championship featuring one-litre engined hatchbacks is already proving a major success and, hopefully, will start producing a new era of British-born World Rally Champions to emulate the achievements of Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
As ever, though, there is far more to MSA-governed motor sport than just racing and rallying. Electrically powered Junior Dragsters are available for those seeking some straight-line speed thrills from the age of eight while there is a wide selection of other relatively inexpensive starting points for those who have turned 14 – these include autotests, autosolos and rallycross. For some of these activities participants do not even need their own car or special clothes.
Competition vehicles representing all of these disciplines will be displayed on the unique Go Motorsport ‘Under 17 Motorsport’ stand at the NEC; moreover, competitors and representatives from all areas will be present to provide first hand information and expert advice to show-goers.
And to support the Go Motorsport message, the MSA is organising a free seminar at 2.45pm on Saturday afternoon at the MSA Members’ Lounge in Hall 8 dedicated to explaining the vast array of opportunities on offer to those yet to qualify for a road licence.
Adding to the interest on the display stand, the Go Motorsport showcase will feature several schools-based motor sport initiatives including Greenpower electric racers and the British Schools Karting Championship, while for visitors wanting to test their skills the stand will also boast a pair of mini racing simulators kindly loaned by Williams F1 partner RBS.
