The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has confirmed that a bursary of up to £10,000 will be made available for all members of the MSA Team UK national squad this year.
As part of the governing body’s commitment to the newly unveiled programme, the four rally and six race drivers will be able to apply for the funding from the MSA to assist with their living costs and day to day expenses. “In the past five years, we have seen drivers on our schemes holding down full-time jobs while trying to become professional sportsmen,” explains Robert Reid, MSA Performance Director. “We have looked at the Olympic funding model and feel that this could have a significant impact on the ability of our drivers to focus on their career goals. But in return, we are demanding increased commitment and dedication from the drivers; if they don’t shape up, we will have no qualms this year about dropping them from the scheme.”
“This represents a further development of the MSA’s commitment to talent development,” advises Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive. “Thanks to the MSA Academy framework that forms part of the Whole Sport Plan, we are able to attract new partners to help us deliver a number of new initiatives at both grass roots and elite levels. We are grateful to the Racing Steps Foundation whose support as the first of our partners has enabled the MSA to enhance the current projects and extend their impact.”
“Without doubt the biggest cause of stress in my life is about money,” says Cooper Tires British F3 International Series driver and Team UK member James Calado. “It is easy to assume that because we have to find huge budgets to run the cars, we must have plenty of spare cash for daily life. But when you are worrying about finding a tenner to put fuel in the car to go training, that is obviously going to have an adverse effect on performance. I can’t begin to explain just what a difference this bursary will make and it will enable me to focus even harder on success this year.”
The Team UK drivers must make a formal application for the bursary funding and detail what it will be used for, so that the MSA can assess their individual needs. In order to qualify for the monthly payments, drivers will be required to satisfy several criteria that include the carrying of logos and decals, attendance at training events and full engagement with the Team UK scheme and coaches.
