Motorsport UK Attracting new Drivers in Bold Licence Shake-up

Motorsport UK, formerly MSA, have announced their Investment Strategy for 2020. The document, lays out changes to their grassroots system, which include a new Entry-Level licence called the RS Clubman licence which will be free of charge.

In exchange for this, other licences will have a slight price increase, which will vary. Also included in the changes will be a Members Benefits scheme, offering savings on branded products and services.

No medical tests are required for racers under 60 years old (previously under 45), only needing to pass an eye test once a year. This reduces costs to drivers by around £100, resulting in a £1500 saving over a drivers career.

MUK say they consulted members over the changes; “We’ve done a lot of surveying and gathering feedback from clubs and members over the last year to understand where we should focus our efforts and investments.”

Motorsport UK identified four main areas of investment, including; Sport Promotion; Member and Club development; Education and Training; Sport Development and Innovation. These will help competitor and officials’ education pathways and appeal to younger and diverse audiences.

The organisation remains commited to reducing hidden costs and accessability. Included in this is;

• No more expensive medicals for those competitors aged between the ages of 45 and 60
• Removing licence fees for all Officials who volunteer their time to keep the sport fair and safe
• Track day personal accident insurance now included with Motorsport UK competition licence (up to five times p.a.)
• No more charges for the novice Starter Pack, now it is just the cost of the licence
• Improvements to members’ personal accident insurance, in addition to significantly increased public liability insurance of over £100m

The new RS Clubman licence includes, reduced cost fuel, reduced cost tyres, free eye tests, discounts at Halfords and reduced insurance premiums with competitors on a pay-as-you-play system.

It will make new drivers eligible to compete in various Rally types including Hill, Road, Navigation and Trials, as well as Autotests, Autocross and Clubcross, though notably does exclude circuit racing, where a national licence is still required.

Hugh Chambers, Motorsport UK CEO said:

“We studied the challenges very carefully, and concluded that we need a fresh approach and a five-year plan to reinvest in the sport. This will involve a rebalancing of the economics, and in time, the diversification of revenues away from our current reliance on the competitors.

In the short term we have new initiatives that will bring money into the sport and ease that burden right away. We have a fantastic and committed community, and based on the feedback we have to these changes, I am sure that we can all work together to build a stronger future for the sport. I would like to thank everyone for the part they play and the contribution that they make”. – Hugh Chambers.

Permit costs will also go up by £5 for clubs as a result of increased insurance prices. PLI for clubs will now sit at £100million.

Motorsport UK hope to increase revenue streams through consultency services with the FIA, partnership schemes and the introduction of the Trackside Membership for fans. In turn this will also allow them to spend more on training for officials and marshals.

As part of their ‘Sport Development and Innovation’ they also hope to introduce new Formula’s and forms of competition in the coming years.

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