Motorsport UK Presents Proposals To Restart Racing.

Motorsport UK, the national membership organisation and governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the UK, has presented its plans to restart track activities and racing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has brought much of global sport to a standstill over the past two months.

The organisation has consulted with stakeholders from across the sport to devise plans to restart motorsport at the appropriate time while adhering to government guidelines. Motorsport is currently suspended throughout the UK until June 30.

Motorsport UK has presented five separate proposals, covering the disciplines of circuit racing, rallying, club sport, karting and speed events such as hill climbs.

Throughout the five proposals, the underlying considerations include adhering to government legislation and respecting social distancing, providing a model of good corporate citizenship and ensuring that motorsport does not place an additional burden on public health resources. The guidelines also recognise that the devolved areas within the UK are not necessarily moving at the same pace in lifting restrictions and that not all of the 11 motorsport disciplines that Motorsport UK oversees can be reintroduced at the same time.

In its ‘Getting Back On Track – Q & A’ guidelines, Motorsport UK makes it clear that social distancing will form the foundation of how it will manage the reintroduction of motorsport within a safe environment. As a result, circuits and race organisers will need to consider their own requirements, with Motorsport UK looking to be as non-prescriptive as possible in guiding how race meetings will be conducted.

When the pandemic first broke out, there was concern that social distancing requirements would mandate significantly smaller grids. Motorsport UK, however, is not suggesting that this is inevitable and is leaving the decision to the venues. In its Q & A it states:

“At this time Motorsport UK will not be mandating the reduction of grid / competitor numbers. Each organiser / venue will need to consider the needs of the venue in order to identify whether they need to restrict grid numbers to allow for all the guidance requirements to be implemented.”

One piece of guidance that will be relevant to enthusiasts of GT racing is that concerning driver changes. Here Motorsport UK is proposing increasing the minimum time for a driver change to allow for the egressing driver to sanitise contact areas within the car.

Quite correctly, there has been concern for the safety of circuit marshals who, by definition, work in close proximity both to each other and also with drivers in the event of an incident. Motorsport UK’s proposals will see marshals posts limited to to two personnel, one in the marshals box and one to control flags or lights.

The detailed proposals will require careful thought and planning in their implication but they do provide a workable and practical blueprint to get UK motorsport back on its feet.

Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers was keen to stress the consultation that had taken place to provide the framework for its guidance.

“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,” said Hugh Chambers.

“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.”