The Motor Sports Association's Race Championship Control Panel (RCCP)met last week to consider applications from organising clubs for 2005championship permits.
The RCCP - made up of representatives from the organising clubs and thegoverning body - is responsible for scrutinising applications forpermits for both new and existing championships.
A total of 116 applications have been given outline approval, of whichseven have been asked to provide evidence of grid sizes from 2004. Fivenew series that officially expressed an interest in being awarded achampionship permit for 2005 have been asked to submit full details oftheir proposed activity before the end of August.
"It was a very positive meeting," explains Colin Hilton, Chief Executiveof the MSA and Chairman of the RCCP. "We have asked for more informationfrom a number of applicants and we have set tight deadlines for thisinformation to be returned to us. It was unanimously agreed that noexceptions will be made this year, either in terms of criteria ortiming, as it creates uncertainty for all concerned. We tried todemonstrate some flexibility last year, but ultimately it made thesituation worse, not better.
"It was widely anticipated that we would have significant issues withsmall entry numbers," continues Hilton. "However, having talked with theclubs it seems that the situation at club level is much stronger thanperhaps many people realise. Financial considerations have alreadyencouraged clubs to rationalise their grids and championship entries,and the RCCP has only had to ask for further information from a handfulof applicants.
"Club race meetings do not come under the control of the RCCP, butduring the meeting it was observed that, contrary to current opinion,there has been a noticeable improvement in 2004. It appears that thecommercial considerations of organising clubs and venue owners havelargely addressed the issue of small grids and numbers are actually veryencouraging."
As well as evaluating each application against a strict set ofperformance criteria, the RCCP has to take additional factors intoconsideration, such as the local needs of organising clubs, when makingits judgements.
"If the cancellation of a championship with low grids would effectivelywipe out competitive motor sport in a region or at a particular circuit,it cannot be considered to be in the best interests of motor sport todecline the application. We have a duty to clubs, participants andvenues to deliver the best possible solution for UK motor sport and I amconfident that the RCCP is meeting this objective," concludes Hilton.
Full details of the 2005 championships will be confirmed in the Autumn.
