Motorsport UK announces plans to ‘get back on track’

Motorsport UK has detailed its plans for restarting motorsport in its eleven sporting disciplines. UK motorsport is currently suspended until 30 June, though the UK body acknowledges the need to take into account continuing restrictions and social distancing after this date. It has issued guidance to each code about restarting within government and healthcare authority guidelines via separate documents, available on its website.

The organistaion stated that it had undertaken “significant planning”, having consulted sport stakeholders and Motorsport UK’s specialist committees. It makes the point that “motorsport, unlike many other sports, takes place in large outdoor environments, so that with practical measures in place, much of motorsport should be able to resume, provided modifications are made to many of the sport’s established protocols.”

Motorsport UK CEO, Hugh Chambers said: “This project has involved a wide representation of the motorsport community coming together and examining how each aspect of every discipline can be adapted to respect government advice on social distancing, and the broader needs of the community. As ever with Motorsport, our responsibility is to the safety of both our community and the wider public. It is important that when we do restart motorsport that we do so in a safe and responsible fashion that respects the broader public health agenda and mood of the nation.

“We will all need to modify the way we have worked in the past and accept these changes in a collaborative and constructive way. Motorsport has always thrived on innovation and adaptability to overcome problems, and it has been enormously encouraging to see the community come together and freely contributing to re-imagine every part of our sport, and the practicalities of each event.”

Motorsport UK continues to collaborate with government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and will update its guidance, accordingly, should there be substantial changes in government advice or restrictions.

In addition to Motorsport UK’s ‘Getting Back on Track’ guidance for event organisers, the body has provided an accompanying Q&A and updated event declaration documentation on its website.