A new round of projects aimed at widening participation in grass roots motorsport, has been adopted by the Motorsport Development Board.
The industry-led Board has approved a proposal from the Motor Sports Association (MSA) to create a National Motorsport Training Plan that will support the recruitment, training and retention of volunteer marshals and officials for two- & four-wheeled motorsport. The plan will be produced on behalf of the MSA by Sue Sanders-Peppitt, who is also coordinating the FIA's worldwide volunteers training plan.
In addition, the Board agreed to augment the MSA's Club Development Fund for improving local venues and purchasing safety equipment, by the inclusion of an additional criterion to enable Clubs to fund recruitment initiatives.
The Board is also backing the formation of a Local Authority Support Unit by the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) to assist local authorities and landowners in providing facilities for off-road motorcycling and 4x4 vehicles. It will work with the Land Access & Recreation Association (LARA) to represent the interests of the sporting community with government.
Neil Hellings, chief executive of the ACU said “By encouraging and working with local authorities to make provision for off road sport, the new Unit will address the significant issues of social inclusion and illicit riding & driving in a way that will stimulate participation at all levels”.
The Board has also asked Graham Raphael of Motorsport Endeavour to develop its strategy to encourage participation in motorsport by people with disabilities, including the UK's 2.5 million “blue badge” holders.
Meanwhile, the Board gave the go ahead to the latest developments in the Motorsport Academy programme, with projects to catalogue existing motorsport skills programmes & providers and develop a quality assurance ratification programme for them, to establish the industry's work-based training requirements and to produce a web-based recruitment & career development portal.
It also endorsed a five-year strategy to develop the Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) programme, which will promote research, development and adoption of regulations governing fuel flow, energy efficient record breaking and racing in conjunction with governing bodies, industry and government.
Board chairman Bob Gilbert said, “It is good to see the progress being made across such a wide range of programmes that will improve access to the sport and increase the competitiveness of the industry”.
