Closed-Road Motorsport Success
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MSA EXTRA THE NEWSLETTER FOR BRITISH MOTOR SPORT APRIL 2017 Closed-road motorsport success Pages 2-3 6 12 16 NEWS RALLY FUTURE MSA ACADEMY MSA relaunches MSA updates MSA Academy AASE 2017 Stage Rally Safety applications open British Kart Requirements Championships @msauk /msauk msa_motorsport www.msauk.org Cover MSA ACHIEVES CLOSED-ROAD MOTORSPORT FOR MAINLAND BRITAIN In one of the biggest developments in the history of UK motorsport, the Motor Sports Association’s long campaign to bring closed- road events to mainland Britain has been successful, with the enabling legislation commencing on Monday (10 April). Since 2010 the MSA has called for motorsport events from 10 April a change in the law to allow local onward. authorities to suspend the Road Rob Jones, MSA Chief Executive, Traffic Act for authorised motorsport said: “This is a seismic shift for UK events, without requiring individual motorsport, and one that the MSA Acts of Parliament. Independent and the wider motorsport community research commissioned by the have pursued determinedly for many MSA and conducted by the Sport years. We can now take motorsport Val des Terres Hill Climb, Guernsey Research Institute at Sheffield to the people, and in turn those Hallam University showed that local Credit Eddie Walder local hosting communities have communities across Britain could the opportunity to benefit from the generate up to £40m of additional economic boost that these events Andrew Jones MP, Transport revenue by closing roads to host a may provide. Minister, said: “Britain is a world limited number of motorsport events. leader in the motorsport industry “Many people have contributed Primary legislation providing the and this will further cement our to this long campaign and we framework for closed-road motorsport position. There are already races must first give special mention was passed in the 2015 Deregulation of this kind in some areas of the to my predecessor as MSA Chief Act. The MSA has since worked closely British Isles which are incredibly Executive, Colin Hilton, for starting with the Department for Transport popular, attracting thousands of down this road seven years ago. (DfT) on the secondary legislation spectators. New road races will boost Thanks also to our former Director required to make this framework local economies through increased of Communications, Ben Taylor, available to event organisers. This tourism and hospitality, and offer for his relentless lobbying, and to comprises an impact assessment with community opportunities such as our Rallies Executive, Ian Davis, the commencement order. volunteering.” for his invaluable contribution to The commencement order names the the required legislation. We owe Among those welcoming the news MSA and its sister governing body a further debt of gratitude to Ken was the all-electric FIA Formula for two-wheel UK motorsport, the Clarke MP and Ben Wallace MP E Championship, which stages Auto-Cycle Union (ACU), as the two and for their tireless support in events in capital cities across the authorising bodies for closed-road Westminster.” globe. It said: “The FIA Formula E 2 MSA Extra / April 2017 Cover Championship warmly welcomes the sport on the economy of the Isle of at all that hosting such an exciting news that the UK’s Road Traffic Act Man and Jersey, so this is a great event would be a massive draw has been amended, permitting the move forward for the sport and and bring people into our area to closure of roads and allowing for the will bring visitors and pride to boost the economy. Our talks are at possibility of regulated motor racing parts of the country that wish to a very early stage but we are very on closed highways. stage such events. I am delighted interested in the prospect and hope that this government is embracing that the idea can be developed with “We recognise the key role that the motorsport, which will assist the Tendring.” MSA, and its Chief Executive Rob UK’s world-leading position and Jones, have played in making this improve the sport’s ability to help happen. This move considerably “This is a seismic shift for provide opportunities and focus for helps the prospect of the London young people.” UK motorsport, and one ePrix returning to the streets of the British capital.” Meanwhile Tendring District Council that the MSA and the wider (TDC) has been in discussions about Nigel Mansell CBE, 1992 F1 world motorsport community have the possibility of bringing an event to champion, was equally enthusiastic. pursued determinedly for the District. Tanya Ferguson, TDC’s He said: “I have seen first-hand the Cabinet Member for Tourism and many years” very significant impact of motor Culture, said: “There is no doubt www.msauk.org 3 Insight Closed-road motorsport What has changed? Why is this so significant for UK Existing statutory provisions to close roads have simply motorsport? removed the rights of the public to access the road. UK motorsport comprises around 5,000 MSA-permitted All other statutory requirements, including vehicles’ four-wheel motorsport events per year. However most compliance with the Road Traffic Act, have remained in take place away from conurbations and require the place during closures. public to travel in order to spectate. Therefore previously, any event seeking to use a closed This new legislation allows event organisers to take public road for a regulated motorsport event has had to the sport to the people and host events much closer obtain an event-specific Act of Parliament to suspend to population centres. It also brings the UK into line the Road Traffic Act, which can be both costly and time with many countries in mainland Europe, where consuming. successful closed-road motorsport events are relatively Highway Authorities will now have the legal provision to commonplace. close roads for such an event without requiring an Act of Parliament, providing that the event has been approved by the MSA or ACU, as appropriate. 4 MSA Extra / April 2017 Insight Bouley Bay Hill Climb, Jersey Credit Eddie Walder Which types of motorsport are most likely When are we likely to see the first events to make use of this new legislation and and how many events can we expect to see why? per year? The cost of satisfying all organisational requirements, Currently the MSA is aware of – and working with – a including those of the Closure Orders, will mean that small number of event organisers who are well advanced medium- to large-scale events will be best placed with plans to use this new legislation. The MSA is not yet to realise the opportunities that this new legislation in a position to say which event will be the first to benefit provides. but it is likely to be a stage rally. The legislation offers particular scope for hill climbs, What will the basic process be for which are currently restricted to private estate roads and organisers? therefore limited in length compared to similar events on the continent, where courses are typically measured in Rigorous. Before an event organising club can apply to kilometres rather than yards. the local highway authority for a road closure, giving the minimum of six months’ notice, they must first Stage Rallies are also likely to benefit; this could have attained permission from the MSA (or ACU in the mean incorporating an urban stage into an existing case of a motorcycle event). The MSA will not be in a forest-based event, or joining existing stages currently position to give that permission until it has vetted the interrupted by lengths of highway, or even introducing route and the draft safety plan, and has liaised with the full closed-road rallies. other authorities stated in the legislation. Realistically, Finally there will be opportunities for regulated circuit a club will typically need to allow 12 months to go racing on closed public roads, not seen since the through this approval process, assuming that everything Birmingham SuperPrix in the 1980s. runs smoothly throughout. The MSA will publish more detailed information on this process in due course. www.msauk.org 5 News The latest briefing from your governing body MSA RELAUNCHES 2017 BRITISH KART CHAMPIONSHIPS The MSA has relaunched this year’s MSA British Junior and Senior Kart Championships with a revised calendar and a stunning new prize package. Promoted by Super One Series, the The two title winners will each the vice-champion. Vega will also six-round championship will take receive an OTK-sponsored, full supply a tyre voucher for the Junior place over three events, beginning on factory supported prize drive in the class, to be redeemed at any CIK-FIA 3-4 June at Clay Pigeon and ending CIK-FIA World Championships at event. on 8-10 September at PFI. In between PFI on 22-24 September (if the MSA A further six free entries (three per is a meeting on 26-27 August at British Junior Champion is eligible class) to the world title event at PFI Shenington. Competitors are able to for the OK class, he or she will be will be drawn randomly at regular hire Vortex engines from Strawberry permitted to enter that class). If intervals up to the end of round two Racing, or alternatively purchase either champion is unable to accept at Shenington. These will include them at a special discount price. this great prize, it will be offered to 6 MSA Extra / April 2017 News twitter feed “We believe will be the most Simon Blunt @MSAGenSec exciting, challenging and Mar 16 Have you told your indeed for several competitors, MP yet? Let’s the most rewarding, launch #savemotorsport pad for their racing careers" Dan Kirby @mrdankirby Apr 1 Can’t thank @MSAUK enough pulling out all the stops to get me on track this afternoon.