Governing Motor Sports in the UK The MSA is a member of the MSA fights Westminster for access to forests The Motor Sports Association is mobilising “It is vital that everyone involved in the FEBRUARY 2011 the UK motor sport community in opposition sport takes the trouble not only to fill in the General News to the coalition government’s plans to sell off consultation document, but also to make or lease the public forest estate in England. a personal approach to their local MP,” Night of Champions said MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton. “There seems to be a great deal of unease Regulations Update CMWI.net on both sides of the House about these MSA Academy proposals, so we need to add our weight to the argument. Firstly, we oppose the sell-off Go Motorsport in principle, but if it is to proceed, we need to protect not only access to the forests Profile for motor sport, but just as importantly cost-effective access, otherwise the sport risks being priced out of using them in the The proposed changes represent a very future.” Find us on Facebook real threat to the continuance of motor sport activity in the forests. Last year, out The MSA has already been invited to meet Follow us on of a total of 41 events held in UK forests, with the Minister of State, Rt Hon Jim 31 were Stage Rallies, of which 14 were Paice MP, and will take its case directly to Please send us your news. held in England. These events generated other relevant government departments Email: [email protected] revenue in excess of £820,000 for the to ensure that motor sport interests are Forestry Commission. championed and that ministers, advisors and civil servants are fully aware of the The government’s online consultation importance of forest access. process is requesting feedback about the proposals, but the MSA is also urging The MSA has compiled a draft letter motor sport competitors, businesses and together with a background briefing supporters to take up the issue with their document that can be downloaded from the local MP to illustrate the importance of MSA website (click here) and sent to your continued forest access to UK motor sport. local MP. 02 Best of British honoured at Night of Champions The 2010 MSA British title winners were crowned at the annual Night of Champions ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club in January. Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team Principal Ross Brawn and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team boss Malcolm Wilson were on hand to present the trophies, 03 while sports broadcaster Steve Rider acted Dom Romney – Modernpics.co.uk as Master of Ceremonies. Wilson said: “It was a great honour for me to receive an invitation to the Night of Champions to present trophies. It was fantastic to see so many motor sport disciplines recognised and I’d like to congratulate all of the winners on their successes.” See the 2010 MSA British Champions on page 7 >> 08 Issued on behalf of the Motor Sports Association, Motor Sports House, Riverside Park, Colnbrook, SL3 0HG. Tel: +44 (0)1753 765000 Email: [email protected] 2 General News MSA News - February 2011 MSA calls for closed road proposals The MSA has asked registered clubs Jakob Ebrey Photography to submit their proposals for suitable events to support the governing body’s campaign for closed road motor sport. The MSA is engaged in ongoing discussions with Westminster regarding an amendment to existing legislation that would grant local authorities the power to suspend the Road Traffic Act. “We’re making good progress with closed roads,” said MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton. “We now need to draw up more details of potential events to demonstrate the possibilities of the proposed legislation.” MSA Apprentices join there’s no beating around the bush, it’s going to be tough. Surround yourself An event proposal form is available by Mark Webber for pre- with people you trust and try to find clicking here; completed forms should season training someone that, in a commercial sense, be sent to [email protected] Six MSA Advanced Apprenticeship in can share the journey with you.” Sporting Excellence (AASE) students The Red Bull ace also suggested that joined Formula One star Mark Webber young drivers would be wise not to rely and the Porsche Human Performance solely on raw ability. “I believe that some Team for a pre-season training event at of the strong results I got in the junior - Kartpix.net Chris Walker Silverstone. categories came through preparation, The students – Jake Cook, Jack Dex, rather than because of my talent,” he Dan O’Brien, Louise Richardson, Ollie said. “Talent is certainly something you Varney and David Wagner – took part in need but it’s not the automatic card for Get Race Fit sessions focusing on vision success. You have to recognise your Shenington recognised & reaction, strength & conditioning, and weaknesses and work on them.” for National Motorsport body composition analysis. Following the training, Webber took Week support Webber observed the training and Wagner and Dex onto the circuit for Shenington Kart Club has been handed offered words of advice for aspiring some hot laps in a sports car. “It was a Motorsport Industry Association/ drivers, such as those on the AASE amazing; Mark was really pushing,” Motorsport Foundation award in programme. “We’ve seen many talented said 18-year-old Dex, who plans to recognition of its contribution to National people fail because they weren’t contest the Formula Renault BARC Motorsport Week 2010. committed or determined,” he said. Championship this year. “He showed Cub Secretary Graham Smith collected “Never be too shy to look in the mirror a real interest in us and was happy to the prize from MIA Chairman Alistair and say, ‘What am I really about?’. Only answer all of our questions. It was a Fergusson at Autosport International. you know how much you’re putting into great opportunity, and one I wouldn’t “The club is very honoured to it, and how much you really want it. And have had if it weren’t for AASE.” receive the award from the MIA and Motorsport Foundation,” said Smith. Hill Climb award for Lothian CC “It was completely unexpected but very gratifying to all our volunteers to Lothian Car Club has been awarded the Norrie Galbriath Trophy, which is presented recognise the club’s contribution to the annually to the club adjudged by MSA British Hill Climb Championship organisers to National Motorsport Week.” have run the best event of 2010. Shenington advertised its NMW activites Lothian CC received the award in recognition of its running of last June’s Doune in its local newspapers, staged a hill climb. Clerk of the Course Vernon Williamson said: “The team at Lothian is three-day display of its Let’s Go Karting very small and has worked very hard for this award. It is a just reward for such an equipment, and made a donation to the enormous effort.” Motorsport Foundation. Issued on behalf of the Motor Sports Association, Motor Sports House, Riverside Park, Colnbrook, SL3 0HG. Tel: +44 (0)1753 765000 Email: [email protected] MSA News - February 2011 General News 3 British F3 enters 60th season The Cooper Tires British F3 International Series celebrates its diamond anniversary this season, which gets underway at Silverstone on 8 March. Stéphane Ratel, the boss of series promoter SRO, said: “SRO is proud to promote the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series, which is still viewed as a crucial step in the development of a driver’s career. Becoming a winner in British Formula 3 gets you noticed by the most important people in motorsport; this was true 60 years ago and it is still true today.” The British F3 title was first won by Eric Brandon in 1951 and is currently held by Red Bull protégé Jean-Eric Vergne, who MSA stands popular at Autosport International collected his trophy from Ross Brawn at The MSA enjoyed a productive four days at Autosport International in January, with the Night of Champions. staff and drivers on hand to answer questions on licensing, regulations, the MSA Academy and the Go Motorsport campaign. British Rallycross The MSA stand featured the inaugural Reaction Race; nearly 1000 showgoers 2011 changes revealed took on the BATAK wall, with one winner each day claiming a Silverstone driving This year’s Quaife MSA British experience for their high scores. Rallycross Championship title will be Meanwhile, the Go Motorsport stand focused on ‘Maximum Thrills for Minimum fought out by Supercar class drivers Bills’, showcasing low-cost competition cars from various disciplines. only. “This year’s Autosport International was one of the best yet for the MSA,” said Chief As a result the Superfinal, which has Executive Colin Hilton. “We held several key industry meetings and welcomed traditionally featured Supercar and hundreds of visitors to the MSA and Go Motorsport stands over the course of the show. SuperModified runners battling for overall honours, has been dropped. A British karters new two-wheel-drive MSA Supernational Championship has also been introduced, crowned at CIK-FIA as have BMW MINI and 1600cc Hot © Photo CIK/KSP ceremony Hatch categories. Almost a third of the 19 Championship promoter Amy Doran international karting champions said: “Last year was the first that Lydden crowned at January’s CIK-FIA Hill Motorsport Club had control over awards ceremony in Paris the championship and these changes were Britons, with many more are as a result of what we learned and collecting runner-up and third- experienced, as well as addressing place accolades.