Revolution April 2020: Motorsport UK's monthly magazine

Revolution April 2020

The official magazine of

CLUB TOGETHER HOW MOTORSPORT UK’S £1M CLUB CONTINUITY FUND PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT FOR MOTOR CLUBS

COVID-19 LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS & ADVICE

FEATURE McRAE’S RALLY GB LEGACY

WHAT’S ON GET YOUR DIGITAL ESPORTS FIX

PLUS + NEWS + CLUB CORNER + INSIDE HQ + RESULTS

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CEO’s MESSAGE Hugh Chambers

“Our mission is to influence our government and lobby hard for the case that motorsport should be able to resume as quickly as possible” I very much hope that everyone is managing to stay safe and in good health in these most difficult times.

But we understand there may have been some personal tragedy and our thoughts are with anyone affected in such a way. I would also like to thank all in motorsport who are doing so much to help in this battle against the Coronavirus – from the engineers providing innovative solutions to the equipment shortages, to our own community members now fighting on the medical front line and volunteering in so many ways. We all owe you a great debt of gratitude.

For it is community that lies at the heart of sport. Despite the inherently competitive nature of the activity, there is a collective mission and shared passion that draws people together.

Motorsport is especially demanding on resources, human and otherwise, to even exist. And it is the convergence of so many elements, from the marshals, officials, volunteers, competitors, mechanics and support teams that week in week out work together, help each other out when things go wrong (and go right) and often make life-long friendships.

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At the centre of all of this is the club.

Motorsport revolves around our 720 clubs, and it is that infrastructure that allows our 45,000 drivers to compete and do so in a safe, fair and fun way. Each year we issue around 4,500 event permits, which start to crystalise in November and December of the year before. Gradually clubs begin to populate the calendar with old favourites and new creations. With eleven disciplines, both on road and off, at fixed venues and temporary, on closed roads and open hillsides, our playing field is varied in the extreme – and it is the expertise that sits in our clubs that know how to organise and manage events effectively.

I joined my first club in 1972, what was the Solihull and Shenington Kart Club, and that transformed my teenage life. I well remember the family atmosphere and camaraderie especially on a freezing morning in January for the monthly club meeting when everyone went around the track with spades to chip the ice off the tarmac! And when I get the chance to visit the same club now, there still remain some familiar faces that have been stalwarts of the club for decades.

That little story is repeated round the

country time and time again.

And that is the reason that we have created the Club Continuity Fund to support our clubs through this desperate Coronavirus crisis. The provision of £1 million, for a mixture of grants and interest free loans, is there to ensure that our clubs can manage to survive the economic impact from the suspension of all motorsport, and the overall effects that the crisis has on society. The crucial thing is that we can come back from this terrible period with renewed energy and with the structures that can create events swiftly and effectively. Full details of the Club Continuity Fund are on page 24.

For our own part as the governing body, Motorsport UK responded swiftly to the growing pandemic. We have furloughed a third of our staff and reduced all other staff salaries. We have taken all of the appropriate measures to freeze our expenditure until further notice and put on hold major projects including the planned move to Bicester. With only a fraction of our annual revenue achieved it is a time to batten down the hatches, and preserve our resources carefully, so that we may emerge in good shape to foster the renewal of motorsport.

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CEO’s MESSAGE But at the same time, we are committed to providing as full a range of services to our members as possible, with the remaining staff working from home and connected through Zoom and Microsoft Teams conferencing and remote working environments. If nothing else, I think we have all learnt some better ways of working and proven that it is not always essential to meet physically to have the communal exchanges of ideas and debate on a full agenda of items. Most committees have been meeting remotely and doing really valuable work.

Some of the important initiatives in the past month include the launch of the Learning Hub for Officials, and then a couple of weeks later for Clubs with modules on Event Stewarding, Safeguarding Awareness and Electric Vehicles. Additional materials will follow to cover guidance for Secretary of the Meeting, and an on-line version of the Club and Event Officials Seminars which were held at the start of the year but cut short by the Coronavirus issue. We will upload new “How to guides” for clubs at the same time, and some Competitor modules and videos by the end of the month.

Motorsport UK hosted three “COVID-19 Club Survival” Webinars attended by representatives of clubs from across the country, we are planning further onehour webinars, as well as longer format in-depth club planning workshops with a range of panellists to support our clubs through this period of Motorsport suspension. Other initiatives include: • Creation of COVID-19 resource centre with signposting to latest government advice, with Q&As and resource links • Tailored Member Benefits: focus on member benefits that can be accessed at home or help while away the hours from home Revolution - April 2020

“The provision of £1 million, for a mixture of grants and interest free loans, is there to ensure that our clubs can manage to survive the economic impact from the suspension of all motorsport” • Launched Esports competitions with the British Kart Championships and the British Rally Championships • Engaged with our community via initiatives such as the new Weekly Quiz on Facebook • Launched the #StayOnTrackChallenge with the Motorsport UK Academy members plus members of the motorsport community But what everyone wants to know is when we can resume motorsport? The simple answer is that we have to follow government policy and guidelines, as this will dictate what we can and cannot do. However, our mission is to influence our government and lobby hard for the case that motorsport should be able to resume as quickly as possible. To do that we are working closely with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and with them developing a policy for the criteria by which a sport may start to be active.

Some of these are generic, and some will be very specific to us. We are drawing up guidelines by individual disciplines to see what measures of safety can be taken according to the nature of the competition. One of the largest debates is on ‘closed doors’ competition, which for 95% of our events is not an issue as they are not reliant on spectators to fund the activity. But challenges lie ahead, including the essential work of the medical community and the emergency

services. Although our support teams are volunteers, we cannot place any pressure on the national infrastructure or be seen to do so. But please be assured we are doing all that we can to get us running again.

For a nation in lockdown, it is also a time for reminiscing as you occupy your time at home, and unbelievably it’s 25 years since Colin McRae won the World Rally Championship, which I am sure most of you will remember. I certainly do as it was my first year with the Subaru World Rally Team, and a dream finale that saw Colin beating Carlos by 36 seconds (after losing a minute on the first day with a puncture), and with future WRC champion Richard Burns completing the podium in blue and yellow it was extraordinary. We hope you enjoy the feature on page 36.

Finally, it was very sad to hear the news of Sir Stirling Moss passing away at Easter, and the end of an era. We will all miss his unique blend of gentlemanly conduct mixed with a supreme talent and fierce competitive spirit. I think we will always place him in our roll call of the greatest and regret that he was not our eleventh Formula One world champion, for surely, he deserved that accolade.

Please stay safe and keep well in these difficult times.

Kind regards, Hugh Chambers CEO, Motorsport UK

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CONTENTS This month’s cover story outlines the measures Motorsport UK is putting in place to ensure its 720 member clubs will be ready to restart the motorsport season. Elsewhere, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Colin McRae’s WRC title success.

Cover story:

By Your Side

Your #Stayontrack member benefits

32

24 36

McRae’s Rally GB legacy, 25 years on

45 Practice makes perfect

54 What’s On Esports

Motorsport UK COVID-19 updates

Latest News Revolution - April 2020

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08 +

Inside HQ + Member Directory + Results

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UP TO SPEED LATEST NEWS

COVID-19 UPDATES The latest news and updates from the Government and Motorsport UK regarding Coronavirus including: ÎÎ ÎÎ ÎÎ ÎÎ ÎÎ ÎÎ

Motorsport UK measures during COVID-19 Motorsport UK Q&A Government support for businesses How can I help safely?

Jean Todt’s praise for ‘Project Pitlane’ initiative Call for motorsport industry to support disaster response charity

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COVID-19 UPDATES

MOTORSPORT UK MEASURES DURING COVID-19 CRISIS The Club Continuity Fund is just one of a number of measures Motorsport UK has implemented to offset the economic impact that the pandemic has wrought across the sport.

Motorsport UK has placed approximately one third of its workforce on furlough, which is in line with a number of sports’ governing bodies, while remaining Motorsport UK employees have taken a 10% reduction in salary during this time. Motorsport UK staff have been working from home since 18th March and will continue to do so until further notice. The Membership Team is still contactable and staff have diverted office landlines to mobiles where possible. All further recruitment and investment in capital expenditure projects has been frozen.

All Motorsport UK licences issued remain valid for the full calendar year, and Motorsport UK will continue to service its club and member community throughout any hiatus of the sport being suspended. Motorsport UK has suspended the processing of postal licences that have been received at this time, and postal applications will be held in the office and processed at a later date, on the resumption of the season. Online licence applications are being processed, although RS Clubman licence applications are temporarily suspended at this time. As a notfor-profit sport national governing body, all of the organisation’s licence revenues are directly invested back into the sport across training and education, sport and development, elevating motorsport safety, developing technical standards, providing a governance and judicial framework and sport promotion. Our efforts in all these areas continue through the crisis.

“This is of course an entirely unprecedented time, and we have taken a number of steps both financially, and also in terms of adapting the way we work, to address the situation while the pandemic unfolds. You will have seen the Club Continuity Funding Package which is the cover story of this issue of Revolution, and alongside this we have a duty to continue to service our members, which we are committed to. However, it is appropriate that other restrictions are put in place and, with that in mind, we are freezing expenditure on non-essential projects, and around a third of our workforce has been placed on furlough, with others taking a temporary pay cut.

“We quickly made the move to working from home last month and we are still able to service all areas of our membership and clubs. One of the most important things is the welfare of our staff, but we have to ensure we remain functional and responsible as the guardians of motorsport.”

Hugh Chambers CEO, Motorsport UK

More details of the application process to access Club Continuity funds can be found at www.motorsportuk.org/clubcontinuityfunds Here you will find a link to the application form, a Q&A sheet, a finances template and a guide to the application process.

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Q&A

COVID-19 UPDATES

The whole motorsport community is affected by the Coronavirus outbreak, and Motorsport UK fully appreciates the challenges it has created for our members, clubs, venues, promoters, teams and all organisations within the industry.

We have had a wide range of questions as a result of the situation, and here we have provided answers to just a few of the core concerns.

Can I still contact Motorsport UK?

Are you still processing licence applications?

Yes. Motorsport UK is continuing to operate, with the Membership Team available to deal with general enquiries and they can direct specific calls to the right expert. Motorsport UK has established a fully operational remote home office network that allows us to maintain our service to the community. All emails are being picked up and the organisation’s phone numbers are on divert.

Online licence applications will be processed. We appreciate that people may be applying to maintain the status of their licence.

When will the motorsport season resume?

Motorsport UK organising permits have been suspended until at least 30th June. This is an evolving situation, and is subject to Government advice, and we will issue updates as soon as there is any change.

We understand that clubs and event organisers need as much notice as possible in order to assess whether their events are likely to go ahead.

Motorsport UK will take a responsible approach on the resumption of the motorsport calendar, following government advice and consulting various stakeholders in order to make the right decision. The safety, health and wellbeing of our community, and the whole of the country is paramount.

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Motorsport UK has suspended the processing of postal licences at this time; any applications that have been received but not processed are being dealt with directly with the applicant. Unless requested otherwise, postal applications will be held and processed at a later date, on the resumption of the season.

The RS Clubman licence application process is also temporarily suspended at this time.

are directly invested back into the sport across training and education, sport and development, elevating motorsport safety, developing technical standards, providing a governance and judicial framework and sport promotion. This affects future years as much as it does 2020.

Our efforts in all these areas continue through the crisis in order that we can resume as rapidly as possible, and that we secure the long-term sustainability of the sport. Our revenue is very largely derived from licence fees and assumes a full year of revenue to allow this level of resource for the sport.

The full Q&A can be accessed at www.motorsportuk.org/covid-19

Will I get a refund on my licence fee?

All Motorsport UK licences issued remain valid for the full calendar year.

Motorsport UK is optimistic the sport can continue in 2020, and therefore Motorsport UK is not refunding licence fees.

Motorsport UK will continue to service its club and member community throughout any hiatus when the sport is suspended. As a not-forprofit national governing body, all of the organisation’s licence revenues

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COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID-19: GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES The Government has launched initiatives to help businesses through the financial pressure created by COVID-19. Some may apply to businesses in the motorsport industry.

Business Rates Retail Discount has been increased to 100% and extended to include the leisure and hospitality sectors. This relief will apply to occupied retail, leisure and hospitality properties in the year 2020/21.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will provide government-backed loans of up to £5 million to small and medium businesses and is now available for applications. Businesses are able to access government support to keep operating in the face of the global economic emergency brought on by coronavirus.

A revamping of the Emergency Business Loans Scheme now makes it easier and less risky for struggling businesses to secure loans from banks.

A Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme will provide a grant to employers to keep their workers on, rather than make them redundant. Salaries will be paid at 80% of their current level up to a maximum of £2,500.

The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme supports those eligible with a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit over the last three years. This covers 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment. This brings parity with the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, previously announced by the Chancellor.

Temporary changes to insolvency rules will allow businesses greater flexibility as they face the challenges of the coronavirus crisis. The measures include a temporary suspension of “wrongful trading laws”, which protect company directors from prosecution for keeping a business going if it is insolvent or has no reasonable prospect of survival.

For more information, please visit www.motorsportuk.org/covid-19

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COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID-19: HOW CAN I HELP SAFELY? We all know that volunteering is crucial to making sport happen, and it is all the more important in wider society today as the UK battles COVID-19.

There are so many ways that you can volunteer and help support others during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are well, have no symptoms, and are not part of the most at-risk groups (over 70s, those who are pregnant and those with underlying health issues), you can help others. Here are some ways you can get involved:

GoodSam NHS Volunteer Responders NHS Volunteer Responders has been set-up to help support those who are working in the care sector at the front line, tackling the Coronavirus pandemic and caring for those who are seriously ill.

The NHS has temporarily paused recruitment to this scheme in order to process the initial 750,000 applications but is taking referrals from Health and local government professionals as follows: GPs / social prescribing link workers / practice nurses concerned about an at risk or vulnerable individual they have advised to self-isolate Hospital discharge teams Community pharmacists NHS 111 and ambulance trusts Community health trusts that need volunteer support for patients leaving hospital Local authorities Volunteers applying for the responders scheme must be over 18 and be fit and well and the majority of the roles can be carried out whilst maintaining safe social distancing. You can help by becoming a Community

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Response Volunteer (collecting shopping, medication and other essentials for those who are self-isolating), a Patient Transport Volunteer (supporting the NHS by transporting patients home, who have been discharged), a NHS Transport Volunteer (transporting vital equipment and medical supplies between NHS sites) or a Check-in and Chat Volunteer (short-term telephone support to those are most at risk of loneliness during the pandemic). www.goodsamapp.org/NHS

British Red Cross The British Red Cross has partnered with the National Emergencies Trust (NET) to help support vulnerable communities during the Coronavirus pandemic. The NET ensures people who need support can apply to do so with a simple application form and get financial aid quickly.

You can make donations to the National Emergencies Trust or register as Community Reserve Volunteer, where you can help your local community get back on track following the impact of the pandemic. www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/ukemergency-response/coronavirus

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COVID-19 UPDATES

Community Support Hubs Many local authorities have their own community projects that you can register to help with. Community projects can involve supporting those in self-isolation by delivering their food shop, picking up their prescriptions and delivering essential medication and donating to food banks, who have really felt the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

You can either search for your council online or visit the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) website where you can find your local NAVCA member and help support their community Coronavirus projects. navca.org.uk/find-a-member-1

Everymind Matters Working from home, self-isolation and social distancing can really impact your mental health. Everyone reacts in different ways.

Everymind Matters offers some great advice on how you can support someone who is struggling with their mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic and has some tips on how to maintain your mental wellbeing.

It also gives advice on how to cope with anxiety on the pandemic.

NHS Donations – PPE and other essential items The motorsport world is also doing its bit to help the NHS during this tough time. Various UK-based Formula 1 teams are helping by making ventilators and FormulaE driver Alexander Sims has started a relief aid project by asking for donations of face masks, goggles, gloves, shoe covers, aprons etc, and has organised a direct route to personnel who need this vital equipment.

The NHS is over-stretched and this equipment can help protect those on the front line and help save lives. You can find out more about Alexander’s project on his Twitter feed or at www.autosport.com/fe/ news/148802/sims-sets-up-relief-effort-to-help-nhsamid-pandemic

Other ways of volunteering Volunteering Matters – Registrations open for individuals to volunteer in their communities and for businesses who are able to offer their support National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) – Offers advice on how you can help your neighbours whilst keeping safe with links to other charities and community projects GOV.UK – Offers tips and advice on how you can help safely

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/helpingothers/

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COVID-19 UPDATES

FIA PRESIDENT’S LETTER TO THE FIA MEMBER CLUBS

Jean Todt has praised the F1 teams for their response to the UK government’s call for ventilators as part of ‘Project Pitlane’.

Dear friends, The crisis that we are living through today is unprecedented, and the consequences are being felt all around the world.

Having started in Asia, it spread to the entire planet, causing deep concern and anxiety everywhere. We have been forced to question not only our activities within motor sport, mobility and tourism, but also how our modern societies are evolving. The COVID-19 is causing an unparalleled upheaval of the world as we know it. Priorities will change. Economies have come to a standstill, and so have cities. This pandemic has shaken those beliefs that we thought were unshakeable.

This is not only a health crisis, but also a financial, social, political and human one. Together, we must face and resolve this immense challenge.

the measures that we are taking to deal with it. The Deputy President for Sport, Graham Stoker, the Deputy President for Automobile Mobility and Tourism, Thierry Willemarck, and the President of the Senate, Brian Gibbons, are also available and will assist you in any way that they can. Furthermore, an ad hoc working group chaired by Gérard Saillant is following the situation closely and is at your disposal should you have any questions.

Like you and more than three billion men, women and children, I am staying home, in line with governmental guidelines and those of the WHO. Nonetheless, I am at your side, here to provide support, and you can reach me at any time. It is of utmost importance that we stay in contact whilst protecting ourselves. I am convinced that through our willpower, discipline and determination, we will win this battle.

As you are aware, the global Motorsports calendar has been greatly disrupted. Other Sports events including the Toyko Olympic Games have been cancelled or postponed. For our part, we hope to be able to reschedule as many races as possible before the end of the year, but there are still too many unknowns to make any announcements yet, and the safety of our clubs, teams and fans is our top priority. In F1, the WMSC has decided the replacement of the August break by a spring one lasting at least three weeks, which is already underway, and the postponement of the implementation of the new F1 regulations from 2021 to 2022.

During this difficult period, I have decided to write to you twice a month in order to keep you regularly updated on the effects that this pandemic is having on our activities and

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All FIA staff members have been working from home since the lockdown began, and I would like to express my gratitude to them for the responsiveness and flexibility that they have shown.

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COVID-19 UPDATES

For the past two weeks, I have had the opportunity to talk to Club Presidents and to see how much the FIA family has been affected by what the world is going through right now. Every one of our members is a victim, both due to the cancellation of events and the repercussions on their various activities, revenue sources and incomes, without taking into account the complexities involved in setting up home working for those whose jobs require them to be in the field. We are fully aware of the difficulties that you are encountering and are ready to help you.

It is for this reason that, after consulting with the Leadership Team and FIA senior management, we have decided to defer the due date for all FIA membership subscription payments until the end of September. We understand that for many Member Clubs cash flow is a key concern and there is no reason for member Clubs to be writing cheques to the FIA at this time.

The FIA can also provide a useful service, helping its members to stay in touch and to share experiences in response to the crisis that we all face. I am pleased to say that we have been able to respond quickly, launching the free-of-charge Stay Tuned initiative, providing an online forum for learning and exchange open to all FIA members.

Starting 6 April, sessions will combine academic content and experience-sharing for up to 200 participants. There is already strong interest, so I urge you to respond quickly and encourage the relevant members of your team to register now.

Lastly, I would like to commend the actions that are taking shape across all continents led by a number of FIA Member Clubs. There are endless examples of support being given to local populations and medical teams, whether in the form of financial help or the manufacture of masks like in Vietnam, or helping develop breathing aids like the F1 teams in the United Kingdom (Project Pitlane), or even assisting medical staff like many Clubs are doing.

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Naturally, I encourage you to add to these stories of camaraderie and respond to the “Call to Clubs” that you received at the beginning of the week, inviting you to let us know about any actions that you might be able to take. It is important to share them with one another. They are proof that you are all committed and acting responsibly, and that the FIA knows how to adapt to the most complicated and unexpected of situations.

Incidentally, our Federation has put in place a platform for exchanging information between the 150 doctors and 290 hospitals approved by the FIA, to enable the identification and dispatch of emergency medical equipment in the areas that are most in need of it.

We have also created the hashtag #RaceAgainstCovid to bring together and promote the automotive family’s initiatives against the Coronavirus pandemic.

We will overcome this crisis and unite in taking on the challenges of tomorrow – of that I am certain. We must preserve as best we can what ties us all together, within both Motor Sport and Mobility, namely our core values of endurance, resilience, the quest for excellence, courage and solidarity.

And, so that this challenge is not futile, we must learn from it as well: we must let ourselves think outside the box, act differently. We must find new ways of achieving goals, in regards to road safety for example, or to our championships’ sustainability when budgets might be reduced post COVID-19.

I very much hope that we will come out of this stronger than ever. I would like to express, once again, my solidarity during these difficult times.

Take care of yourselves and your families, Yours sincerely, Jean Todt FIA President

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COVID-19 UPDATES

TEAM BRIT CALLS ON THE MOTORSPORT INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT DISASTER RESPONSE CHARITY An all-disabled racing team has pledged its support of a major disaster response charity and is calling on the motorsport industry to do the same.

Team BRIT is offering help to national charity, Team Rubicon UK, as it works to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Rubicon UK offers voluntary services, expertise and resources to people and areas affected by disaster, with many of its team members being highly-skilled exmilitary personnel.

Team Rubicon UK has launched Op RE:ACT in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working alongside the UK Government, British Armed Forces and the UK voluntary and community sector to set up a national cell to organise and coordinate volunteers.

Founder of Team BRIT, Dave Player, an ex-Royal Engineer in the Army, saw the work Team Rubicon UK is undertaking and immediately got in touch to see how the team could help.

Team BRIT, which has many military connections, aims to be the first British all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 hour and supports people with

Revolution - April 2020

physical and psychological challenges in accessing motorsport. It is offering Team Rubicon UK access to transport, vehicles and mechanics to support its work.

Any motorsport teams or individuals keen to get involved should visit www. teamrubiconuk.org/opre-act/signup/

Dave and the team are now introducing Team Rubicon UK to contacts across the motorsport industry, in the hope that Team Rubicon UK can form a database of volunteers offering man power, transport, expertise and vehicles.Â

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LATESTNEWS

Obituary

SIR STIRLING MOSS – 1929-2020 On Sunday 12 April, the sporting world lost a true icon, legend and a gentleman of the sport – Sir Stirling Moss. ‘Mr Motor Racing’, as he became known, was a benchmark driver in F1, sports cars, touring cars and just about anything else he turned his hand to.

But perhaps his most famous win came in the 1955 Mille Miglia. With Journalist Denis Jenkinson sat alongside, the British pairing set off into 1000 miles on the public roads - snaking their way through Italy.

Moss and Jenkinson won by over half an hour and their success was awarded to not only an outstanding drive by the young Englishman, but also revolutionary use of descriptive directions, or pacenotes as they are more commonly known. That famous win, and even more famous iconic post-race photos, projected him into a household name around the world.

Moss’ remarkable success continued as the quintessentially British driver raced between 1948 and 1962, winning 212 of the 529 races he competed in.

Beyond circuit racing, Moss started his decorated career as a teenager competing in hillclimbs across the British Isles – where he instantly made an impact in his CooperJAP 500cc machine. He was a man of many firsts as the English driver became the first Brit to win his home grand prix in the world championship era, at Aintree in 1955, the first British driver to win his home grand prix in a British car, with Vanwall in 1957, first to win in a rear-engined F1 car in Argentina in 1958 and he clinched the first grand prix win for Lotus, in Monaco in 1960. In sports cars, Stirling with Tommy Wisdom won the first event in a car with disk brakes – the 50-lap sportscar race at Reims in 1952 in a Jaguar C-Type’.

Upon joining Mercedes in 1955, Moss formed a formidable partnership with Juan Manuel Fangio, who had already won the Drivers’ Championship twice. Moss’ first F1 world championship success came shortly after, winning the 1955 British Grand Prix. He finished runnerup in the championship to Fangio that year and twice more subsequently. He came closest to claiming the F1 world title in 1958, losing out to Mike Hawthorn by a single point. Moss won 16 Grands Prix during his career, including victories in Monaco and Germany in 1961.

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In 1962, Moss suffered a dramatic accident at a meeting at Goodwood, and, once he recovered, he announced his formal retirement from top-line competition. The racing bug never left, as Sir Stirling contested celebrity races, historic meetings and British Touring Car rounds – showing his amazing versatility in the process.

In 1990, Moss was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, and 10 years later the Londonbased driver was knighted in the New Year Honours list for his services to motor racing. His illustrious career was acknowledged by being awarded the Segrave Trophy in 2005 for his lifetime achievement in all forms of motorsport, and his service to the sports. In 2006 he received the FIA gold medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to motorsport.

Sadly, at the age of 90, Sir Stirling Moss passed away at his home in London after suffering a long illness.

David Richards, Chairman of Motorsport UK commented, “The Motorsport UK family has lost a very dear friend.

Stirling was a tremendous role model, inspiring many young drivers throughout the decades with his contribution to the sport, that will long be remembered.

He was an active supporter of motorsport at all levels and, until more recently, regularly attended events. Our thoughts are with Susie, his wife, and family, as we reflect on his extraordinary life.”

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LATESTNEWS

In memory

JOHN CONBOY Motorsport UK was saddened to hear of the passing of a former employee and Go Motorsport Regional Development Officer, John Conboy.

John was well known in our East Region and his self-less contribution and enthusiasm for our sport helped inspire countless people to get involved in grassroots motorsport on many different levels. We extend our sincere condolences to John’s family and friends at this time.

Jim Bowie, Chairman of Chelmsford Motor Club, a close friend of John, has shared the following tribute: It is with great sadness that I piece these words together about John Conboy, and so hard to believe that we won’t hear that distinctive South Lancashire burr from him again. I have received countless messages from

friends, both inside and outside of the club, saying “he’s the first person that talked to me about getting involved, or taught me to navigate, or simply encouraged me”.

I remember the very first club night he arrived at with his wife Sally, in around 2005. He’d done a bit of rallying in his Lancashire youth, and was looking to get out again, and indicated a willingness to get involved at an organisational level. I latched on to that straightaway and sensed that Sally quite liked the idea of him having a busy hobby of his own - manna from heaven to a car club committee!

eventually filling the role of Club Chief Marshal (who-ever wants that job!) and latterly as a Training & Development Officer. Along the way he got involved in equipment management, stage set up, 12 car organising and clerking Targas.

He once navigated Daytona 24-hour Class Winner Robin Liddell on The Preston in 2007, and often stepped in to nav at the last minute whenever asked.

We sure are going to miss him.

I loved teasing him about his Accrington Stanley accent (he played for the reserves once!) which 25 years in Essex did nothing to soften.

Well, we certainly got him “stuck in” and soon had him on the committee,

DRIVERS RAISE £30K FOR NHS A group of 49 British Racing Drivers have raised over £32,000 for the National Health Service by running a half marathon distance (21.1km) in their local areas.

The drivers swapped their race suits for running shoes and set off for their individual runs at 10:00 on Saturday 18 April.

Among the leading names taking part were multiple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx, multiple British GT Champion Jonny Adam, Indycar and former F1 driver Max Chilton, former British GT Champion Seb Morris,

Revolution - April 2020

and BTCC star Josh Cook. The group were also joined by ‘honorary drivers’ Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas MBE, and Sporting Director for Aston Martin Racing, Jonathan Wheatley.

The Motorsport UK Academy was well represented with Performance Coach Andy Meyrick, and Team UK members Jamie Chadwick, Daniel Harper, Callum Ilott, Kiern Jewiss, and multiple Academy Squad members all taking part.

Formula E star Sam Bird set up the fundraising initiative: “Please help and donate anything you can afford towards our amazing National Health Service, we are all in this together and we will beat this together!”

The group is still accepting donations for the NHS Charities Together Fund. Click here to donate. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sambird15%E2%80%AC

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LATESTNEWS

Esports

BRITISH TITLE UP FOR GRABS WITH NEW MOTORSPORT UK ESPORTS BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Motorsport UK has just announced the Esports British Rally Championship (eBRC) where Rally drivers and Esports stars will contest the inaugural series with a British Championship title up for grabs. The first season will consist of four rounds on the hugely popular DiRT Rally 2.0.

The four-round series, with an equal split of asphalt and gravel will be open to all members who hold a Motorsport UK licence or Trackside membership and, like the real-life BRC, the Esports version will see close competition with the Ford Fiesta R2T from M-Sport, the weapon of choice on the PC, PlayStation and Xbox game.

Points will be awarded for each round and the overall Champion – providing they hold a valid, full driving licence will step from the virtual world into reality, as they will test the turbo-charged front-wheel-drive rocket ship with EDSL Sport, one of the leading teams in the BRC. Other prizes will also be available including a behind the scenes tour at M-Sport in Cumbria, while the best social media clips will win merchandise from the BRC and associated partners.

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The cast of the 2020 British Rally Championship will contest the Motorsport UK eBRC Invitational series as the likes of Matt Edwards, Rhys Yates, Josh McErlean and James Williams are set to renew rivalry in the virtual world.

This series will be streamed live onto the British Rally Championship and Motorsport UK social media channels, with viewers being treated to four-bouts of drama from the BRC protagonists.

Motorsport UK eBRC Championship Calendar – Using the Ford Fiesta R2T – DiRT Rally 2.0 Round 1: Wales (Gravel) – Week Commencing - 27 April Round 2: Spain (Asphalt) – Week Commencing 18 May Round 3: Germany (Asphalt) – Week Commencing 7 June Round 4: Scotland (Gravel) – Week Commencing 22 June Get more information and register your entry at britishrallychampionship.co.uk

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LATESTNEWS

MOTORSPORT UK HOSTS CLUB WEBINARS

On 9th, 13th and 17th April Motorsport UK was delighted to host 3 excellent webinars led by Rupert Hine (an Action Coach plus a Rescue Crew Chief, a Motorsport UK Trainer and the Training Officer for the Scottish Association of Motor Racing Clubs). These webinars were directly targeted at our clubs to help them plan their way through and out of the COVID-19 situation.

The sessions were opened by Sue Sanders, Director of Learning and Development, and introduced by Hugh Chambers, Chief Executive, via welcome video. Rupert then took us through the 11 steps our clubs need to take in order to help them both survive AND thrive. These steps guided us through a series of actions from the importance of communication, cashflow management, options and business models to what the new normal might look like. The

webinar continued by covering aspects of marketing, sales, customer service and concluded by asking clubs to consider their own members, develop a strong mindset and make a plan for the next 90 days.

A further series of webinars is being planned to include a four-hour version for clubs who want to take forward and implement the ideas they have learnt in this initial series.

Each webinar took an hour and included polls, questionnaires, chat box talk and a Q&A. In total over 65 participants were involved and have provided excellent feedback to all concerned.

MOTORSPORT UK ACADEMYÂ #StayOnTrackChallenge Have you got what it takes to stay on track?

The Motorsport UK Academy is challenging you to take part in its #StayOnTrackChallenge.

Simply create a home video of a skill-based task that you can link back to driver development - this could be a reaction/co-ordination/accuracy challenge or any other. You can be as creative and imaginative as you wish!

Upload your video on to your preferred social media platform, ensuring you tag @ourmotorsportuk and use the hashtag #StayOnTrackChallenge.

Please also email a copy to academy@motorsportuk.org so we can post online!

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ADVERTORIAL

Fuelling safely Following the Government’s recent announcement, we understand the importance of keeping the service stations open for essential journeys at this difficult time for us all. Key workers, including NHS staff, teachers, carers and delivery drivers still require fuel to get to the critical work they are doing so keeping key workers moving is vital for the services we all need.

In these uncertain times and with the advice from the health service, we know you may have additional hygiene concerns. We would like to reassure you that the health and safety of customers and staff at our service stations is the highest priority. Whilst the situation is evolving daily, we recognise you may still need to travel by car, and stations across the nation need to provide a safe environment at their forecourts. To this end, forecourts are being encouraged to take the following actions: More regular cleaning Maintaining availability of gloves/towels at the site Providing hand washing facilities inside the store

Here are some recommendations to help keep you safe when fuelling: 1. Try to reduce the number of times you refuel, by filling a full tank of fuel in a visit 2. Ensure you use the gloves provided to refuel, to prevent any direct contact with surfaces, especially the fuel nozzle. Bring a spare pair of gloves, just in case the station has run out.

3. Avoid fuelling during midday and weekends. Instead, refuel at quieter times during the week.

4. Use anti-bacterial cleaning items, such as wipes, to ensure all touchpoints in car are clean 5. Ensure you are always 2 metres away from anyone else, especially when queueing to pay for fuel or purchase goods 6. Throw your gloves away after fuelling and ensure you use hand sanitiser to cleanse your hands, as a safety precaution We are proud of the operational teams running the service stations that serve the local community. Our goal is (now, more than ever) to do that responsibly, to keep everyone safe and well.

We would like to use this opportunity to thank you for your custom and wish you and your family well during this unprecedented time. Take care!

LATESTNEWS

INTRODUCING THE MOTORSPORT UK LEARNING HUB Motorsport UK is delighted to introduce The Learning Hub – the new, online learning platform for Motorsport UK members.

Whether you are an Official, Competitor, Marshal or Event Organiser, The Learning Hub aims to provide an easy to use and time-efficient online learning experience which will help you enhance your skills and prepare you for the role you have chosen to undertake.

The new platform will enable you to read articles, watch videos, complete knowledge exercises, interactive modules and much more.

We recognise that learning and development is key to our members’ enjoyment of the Sport – and it is imperative that we provide you with the appropriate knowledge and skills in order to

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carry out your role to the best of your ability. The Learning Hub is just one way in which we are committed to this.

The first phase has launched with content aimed at Officials and further content will be added each month, including specific content for Marshals, Event Organisers and Competitors.

Simply log in to your Member Area on the Motorsport UK website and follow the instructions from there.

If any members have any questions, please email training@motorsportuk.org

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LATESTNEWS

Revolution is your magazine, so if you have an interesting feature or topic you would like covered in a future edition of Revolution, please get in touch with us at revolution@motorsportuk.org

Invitation

SUPERKART WORKING GROUP INVITATION Motorsport UK is seeking applications for a small working group to advise on matters concerning Long Circuit Karting.

The group will report to the Kart Technical Sub-Committee and Kart Committee, recommending new rules and rule changes consistent with the development of the sport. Long Circuit Kart participation is in decline and one of the key roles of the group will be to discuss how numbers in the class can grow again by offering ideas and discussion topics in a constructive and positive group environment.

Applicants should send a brief description of their experience and their reasons for wanting to be part of the group.

Please send applications to kart@motorsportuk.org

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COVER STORY

BY YOUR SIDE Motorsport UK’s £1m Club Continuity Fund provides much-needed support for motor clubs during the COVID-19 crisis, writes Dan Prosser

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COVER STORY

The global COVID-19 pandemic is putting a great deal of pressure on Britain’s 720 motor clubs, but Motorsport UK is pushing back. With all motorsport event permits suspended until the end of June in line with government restrictions, many clubs have found themselves with outgoings far in excess of money coming in. Motorsport UK’s unprecedented funding package, the £1m Club Continuity Fund, has been put in place to support them.

“Motor clubs in this country are the backbone of our sport; the fabric of it,” comments David Richards, Chairman of Motorsport UK. “Our community looks to us to provide leadership and help protect motorsport from the financial fallout of this pandemic. We have launched a series of financial measures that member clubs can access in order to try and mitigate some of the hardship they are inevitably suffering.”

As has been proven time and again, in moments of great stress the UK’s motorsport community unites.

“There is a spirit that we are all in this together,” adds Richards, “be it the volunteers who have been helping the NHS or Formula 1 teams manufacturing medical equipment.

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“It is only right that Motorsport UK takes practical measures to reduce expenditure while launching these funds to preserve those responsible for organising events, without whom there can be no motorsport. We are custodians of motorsport in the UK and have a responsibility to our clubs to do all that we realistically can to sustain their operations at this uniquely challenging time.”

The purpose of the Club Continuity Fund, adds Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers, is to ensure that the motorsport sector can rebound as soon as possible. “The fund has been created to support clubs that are most at risk due to the pandemic,” he says.

“We are absolutely determined to keep up our role in supporting all of our members and making sure we are well prepared to restart motorsport as quickly as we can.”

“There is a spirit that we are all in this together, be it volunteers helping the NHS or Formula 1 teams manufacturing medical equipment” David Richards

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COVER STORY

“The purpose of the Club Continuity Fund is to ensure the motorsport sector can rebound as soon as possible” Accordingly, the suspension of event permits is under rolling review. The fund is just one of a number of extraordinary measures Motorsport UK has implemented to offset the economic impact that the pandemic has wrought across the sport.

The £1m fund has been divided into two equal parts: the Motorsport UK Club Continuity Loan Fund and the Motorsport UK Club Continuity Grant Fund. Member clubs can apply for support and a panel will review each application and decide the amount to be awarded, as well as the funding mechanism. Those clubs that are most at risk will receive either a grant up to a value Revolution - April 2020

of £10,000, or an interest free loan up to a maximum value of £25,000.

Clubs are expected to use all government guidance and support available to them before applying. The Club Continuity Fund should therefore be considered a last resort for clubs who are able to demonstrate that, after taking all reasonable steps and without a level of intervention, they will struggle to resume activities as a direct result of COVID-19. The application form and further information can be found on Motorsport UK’s website (www.motorsportuk.org/covid-19/).

Although motorsport activities have been suspended for the time being, many of the UK’s clubs have found creative ways to adapt.

A Scottish club, for instance, has begun using video conferencing tools such as Zoom to prop up the social aspect of motorsport, while another in the southwest of England has created a virtual racing series to enable its members (and others besides) to get their racing fix from their own living rooms.

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COVER STORY

In his role as Chair of the Motorsport UK Regional Committee, Peter Weall has been in regular contact with many motor clubs over recent weeks. “The mood is mixed,” he says.

“Many of the clubs I have spoken to across the country are worried just now. It varies depending on the size of club. Some are very small, only running one or two events a year, so they have low overheads and shutting down for the time being isn’t difficult for them. On the other hand, those clubs that have facilities such as a track or clubhouse – and so have overheads with no revenue coming in – are clearly more at threat.

“This isn’t only a problem for bigger clubs, though. Many of those are well-structured and can call on cash reserves. But the vast majority of the 720 clubs are small, volunteer-run organisations, often run by a tiny handful of people, and they can’t do so. In addition to the Club Continuity Fund, Motorsport UK has also put in place a series of webinars to impart practical advice to clubs of all sizes.”

The clubs facing the most immediate threat, suggests Weall, are those with events cancelled at very short notice. In one case, a Scottish club had paid £6000 in venue hire fees for an event that couldn’t go ahead. The venue in question is now working with the club to find a new date.

“Many of the clubs I’ve spoken to are taking some time out to look at themselves, which is something I would recommend to every club in the country. They’re looking at themselves strategically to prepare a short-term exit plan for when the government restrictions are lifted, as well as thinking longer-term about their own sustainability.

“Meanwhile, others are finding new outlets for their energy. For example, the Scottish Motorsport Marshals Club has set up virtual coffee mornings so that people who are used to seeing one another week in, week out, but now aren’t doing so, can stay in touch. I would encourage all clubs to keep in touch with their members during this time – some are proving to be better than others in that regard.”

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The Bristol Motor Club has taken a particularly proactive approach not only to staying in contact with its members, but also giving them an outlet for their competitive urges. “The first event of our MX5 Challenge was scheduled for May, which meant it had to be cancelled,” comments Andrew O’Malley.

“We wanted to give all the guys and girls involved in that championship something properly competitive to do to help them through this lockdown period – but it had to be something that could get their families involved as well.”

O’Malley and his Bristol Motor Club colleague Andy Laurence came up with the idea of an Esports racing series, using the PlayStation 4 game Gran Turismo Sport. “Lots of our

“Many clubs are taking some time out to look at themselves, which is something I would recommend to every club in the country” Peter Weall

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COVER STORY

members had the console already,” says O’Malley, “but we figured those who didn’t, but were getting refunds for events that were cancelled, could use the money to buy one.

“We tried to make the virtual racing challenge relevant to what we as a club stand for – affordable motorsport. That’s why expensive racing simulator setups are banned and everybody has to use the basic PlayStation hand controller. That creates a level playing field, making the challenge even more competitive.”

From standalone week-long time trials, during which the competitors could spend as much or as little time as they liked putting down a marker, the club then progressed to live sprint events at weekends. “These are streamed over various social media platforms and they’re really enjoyable to watch. We release one competitor at a time around a lap of a given circuit and the fastest time wins. We regulate the type of car they’re

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allowed to use to keep it fair and accessible for all.” The virtual racing challenge is an ongoing championship and there’ll even be a trophy awarded to the winner at the club’s awards night later in the year.

Upwards of 30 people have been taking part in each event and, crucially, not all of them are existing Bristol Motor Club members.

“Everybody’s welcome,” says O’Malley. “We want to get new people involved in the club.

Hopefully they’ll realise what we’re all about and become paid-up members once real-life motorsport is back underway.”

“We tried to make the virtual racing challenge relevant to what we as a club stand for – affordable motorsport” Andrew O’Malley

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COVER STORY

Just like the MX5 Challenge itself, the club’s virtual championship has proven to be extremely competitive. “The fastest people have been knocking on the door of the top-ten times worldwide,” says Laurence. “But it’s also a really good social occasion and everybody taking part has lots of fun doing so.”

Nevertheless, the threat posed to motor clubs up and down the land at this time is a very real one. With measures like the Club Continuity Fund, Motorsport UK is doing all it can to ensure the UK’s 720 motor clubs emerge from the COVID-19 crisis fit, operational and well-prepared to get motorsport back underway in this country just as soon as it’s safe and proper to do so.

More details of the application process to access Club Continuity funds can be found at www.motorsportuk.org/clubcontinuityfunds Here you will find a link to the application form, a Q&A sheet, a finances template and a guide to the application process.

Revolution - April 2020

Check out What’s On to find out about the Bristol Motor Club’s next virtual racing event, or visit the website www.mx5challenge.co.uk/index.php/virtualmx5-challenge/

29

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNERS OPEN FOR BUSINESS MAKE SURE YOU STILL GET YOUR MOTORSPORT FIX Partner Offer

Status

Adrian Flux

15% off road car policies

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£25 off a spend of £250+

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Save 30% and free delivery

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Office currently closed until June 30th

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Discount on noise measurement equipment

Still open online

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15% discount online and in-store

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Bookings closed until June 30th at earliest

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Save up to 25% off cross-channel ferries

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Discount on Officials' clothing

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Free fuel card worth £25 with discount on petrol and diesel

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Office still open for calls & emails

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Up to ÂŁ100 cash back on road tyres

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www.motorsportuk.org/stay-on-track

MEMBER BENEFITS

#StayOnTrack With Motorsport UK

Make the most of your membership benefits to get your motorsport fix Despite being stuck indoors, there is a whole host of activities available to get your motorsport fix. Motorsport UK and its partners have a range of discounted benefits and activities to help while away the hours and keep you on the pace.

Are you an F1 or WRC fan? F1 TV offers full race replays and highlights as well as over 650+ historic races and exclusive F1 shows. WRC+ puts you right in the heart of the action with multiple camera onboards from every round of the globe-trotting series. The online platform also has a range of historic footage and programmes including the recently released Richard Burns documentary.

There is plenty of other fun-filled content to keep you amused at home.

If reading is your thing, then look no further than Motor Sport magazine and Autosport Magazine, where you can access online features as well as comprehensive archives.

Further magazines can be read on the Readly App with the likes of Motorsport News, GP Racing, Race Car Engineering and Top Gear Magazine all at your fingertips. And the best bit, if you sign up before the end of April, you get the first two months FREE!�

Check back regularly to www.motorsportuk.org/stay-on-track

Revolution - April 2020

32

MEMBER BENEFITS

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Access over 4,000 magazines including a back catalogue of all of your motoring favourites such as Evo, Octane, Autosport and Motorsport News. Sign up before the end of April and get two months FREE

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Access the F1 archive with highlights from every F1 season as well as on-demand coverage from F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup with 30 days FREE access

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How do I get access to my Motorsport UK member benefits portal?

To log in, simply follow the steps below: 1. Click ‘Login’ in the top right corner of the Motorsportuk.org homepage 2. Select your respective membership from the three options available 3. Enter your username and password 4. Once into the member area, select ‘member Benefits’ from the menu at the top of the page. For Trackside members, these will automatically be displayed once you log in.

5. You can click into each of the individual partner pages to see what the offers are and how they are redeemed If you have any queries, please contact membership@motorsportuk.org Revolution - April 2020

33

COMPETITION LATESTNEWS

WIN ONE OF TWO HARDBACK MOTORING BOOKS COURTESY OF PORTER PRESS INTERNATIONAL

MEMBEREXCLUSIVE PRIZE

Porter Press International is firmly established as a leading motoring publisher of a wide range of titles including the ‘Great Cars’, ‘Exceptional Cars’ and ‘Ultimate’ series and is proud to have worked closely with motoring icons Murray Walker, Martin Brundle, Derek Bell, Gordon Murray and the late Sir Stirling Moss.

Motorsport UK members get a 10% discount on the vast majority of titles in the library including the award-winning Self Preservation Society, celebrating 50 years of The Italian Job film, and Gordon Murray – One Formula – 50 years of car design, a stunning tribute to one of our generation’s greatest automotive designers.

Now you can be in with a chance of owning one of these top-quality motoring books as we have two to give away: Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe – The autobiography of CSX2300, the latest in the Great Car series which tells the fascinating history of the Daytona Coupe version of Carroll Shelby’s fabled Cobra with special focus on one of the six cars built (£60 RRP) Derek Bell’s All my Porsche races, which documents every race Derek Bell drove for Porsche, offering a fascinating – and very personal – insight into a golden era for the marque and for sportscar racing in general (£45 RRP)

HOW TO WIN How many times did Derek Bell win the Daytona 24 Hours?

Send your entries to Revolution@motorsportuk.org by 23.59 on Thursday 30 April with the subject line ‘Porter Press International’.

Winners will be notified by email.

For full terms and conditions visit: www.motorsportuk.org/competition-terms-conditions

Revolution - April 2020

35

FEATURE

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36

COVERSTORY FEATURE

McRAE’S RALLY GB LEGACY, A QUARTER OF A CENTURY ON How Rally GB has proven British champions on a world stage and set the scene for homegrown WRC success

By Dan Trent

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FEATURE

Colin’s performance in 1990 was enough to merit the attention of Prodrive and offer a path to the WRC. Whether he could have dreamed this would have resulted in a title within four years is another matter.

As we all know the ride there was far from smooth. And, in some ways, McRae’s home win in 1994 was of near-equal significance, marking as it did a turnaround in fortune in a season where his future on the Subaru team was very much in the balance. Paired with a driver of Carlos Sainz’s stature and talent on a full factory team McRae was always going Prodrive

We’re obviously biased but it’s pretty safe to say Rally GB in its various guises has hosted some of the sport’s more dramatic and significant moments over the years, not least for domestic talent. The punishing nature of the forest stages combined with often challenging weather make it a tough test for the drivers, while its traditional late-season billing means it’s often been the place where championships have been settled. Few more dramatic than the one 25 years ago this year when Colin McRae demonstrated his combination of grit, raw speed and burning ambition was about more than spectacular one-off wins.

The significance of this achievement was a huge one for McRae personally, of course, but also for the sport in this country and the culture, community and industry supporting it, given this was a British driver winning his home event in a car prepared by a British team using British expertise. Rallying has always been popular in the UK but, before McRae’s victory in the event the previous year, the last local driver to win the home world championship event was Roger Clark back in 1976.

“The significance of this achievement was a huge one for McRae personally of course but also for the sport in this country and the culture, community and industry supporting it” This was the perfect stage for McRae’s talents to shine on too. The sixth place he scored in a privately entered Group A Sierra in 1990 might not have registered too highly in the championship battle but coming home ahead of the factory Fords demonstrated he had the talent to compete at the highest level.

As Colin’s father Jimmy would have known only too well, it’s one thing to be a multiple national champion and another to make the leap onto the world stage. He’ll have realised

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FEATURE

to be under scrutiny and, by mid-season, his

“McRae’s style erratic form was a cause for serious concern. style has since been celebrated for has since been McRae’s its win or bust drama but there was a more and mature side to his character celebrated for focused too, evidence of this coming as he knuckled its win or bust down with a repeat of the previous year’s maiden WRC win in New Zealand, victory drama but in the non-WRC Australian rally and sealed a triumphant finale in the Network Q there was a with RAC Rally of Great Britain, as it was then. more focused Still only 26 years old, 1994 marked the point McRae’s youthful exuberance evolved and mature into the maturity necessary to mount a challenge against the best drivers of side to his title his generation. Even so, few would have this to have played out within just character too” expected 12 months.

1995 was, of course, an incredible year in the WRC. The field was packed with multiple champions like Kankkunen, Sainz and Auriol but also featured up and coming names who would dominate the next 10 years, including McRae, Mäkinen, Grönholm and Burns.

Nowhere was this overlap – indeed, conflict – between youth and experience more evident than on the Subaru team.

Validated by his late-season surge and fame his home win attracted, McRae entered 1995

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with a point to prove. Meanwhile Sainz, after coming second to Auriol in 1994, had scores to settle and Subaru’s ambitions to satisfy.

And, with two titles to his name, a sense of entitlement he would be supported in his pursuit of both.

In what looked like a repeat of the previous year McRae’s early stumbles and bad luck appeared to validate Sainz’s position and, by mid-season, it looked like the Spaniard was on course to achieve the titles both he and Subaru craved. What happened in the penultimate round in Catalunya has become part of rallying legend of course, McRae petulantly ceding to team orders to gift Sainz a home win, but not before demonstrating he was the faster driver on the day.

With Toyota embroiled in scandal, both drivers reached Britain on equal points and it seemed certain Subaru was on for both manufacturer and driver titles. But which driver?

In any other circumstances, the absence of Toyota and drivers of the quality of Kankkunen and Auriol from the final round of the championship might have tainted the achievements of whomever prevailed. It’s a measure of McRae’s charisma and the style in which he took the win that nobody ever

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FEATURE

raises that question. Diminished field or not, McRae’s most fearsome competitors 25 years ago were both his own impetuousness and the formidable resolve and determination of one of rallying’s most consistent performers, on equal points and in identical machinery. It may have been effectively a two-man fight by this point. But what a fight.

With McRae’s performance in Catalunya in his mind and a contract to drive for Toyota next year in his back pocket (the team had yet to be disqualified at this point), Sainz will have calculated victory and a third title were no longer his by right. He was going to have to unleash that matador spirit and fight for it.

And his Scottish teammate was going to make every brutal mile ahead a battle to the end.

McRae will have known he had a home advantage, both in support from the hardy fans lining the stages and in an appreciation for the unique demands of British forest stages across Northumberland, the Lakes and Wales. He’d made his name driving on terrain – and in conditions – like this. But could his temperament handle the pressure?

By the end of day two it looked like Sainz’s experience was going to win the day, having mitigated the impact of radiator damage on the first day and capitalised on

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McRae’s puncture on the punishing 37-mile Pundershaw stage on the second to build a 39-second lead. Proof that the manner of victory can be as important as the win itself was to come in the Welsh forests the next day, the fact McRae ended it having taken the best part of a minute out of a driver of Sainz’s quality the icing on the cake. “I was up against one of the toughest competitors you could get,” said McRae in a characteristically reserved finish line interview. “It was never a certainty,” he admitted, before saying, “It seems a bit strange, I think it’ll take a couple of days to sink in.” For all that apparent humility out of the car, McRae didn’t just win the rally and the WRC title in 1995, he dominated it and the iconic combination of a British winner in a Prodrive prepared Subaru would become as evocative to fans and the wider public as the successes of Clark and his Escort two decades previously.

There was, of course, another British driver in blue and yellow overalls on the podium that day. Sealing that Subaru 1-2-3 alongside Sainz was a fresh-faced Richard Burns, an even younger talent who would himself find glory on the same podium. With his smooth, studied style and analytical approach to pace notes, Burns was a very different character inside the car to McRae, though his

“With his smooth, studied style and analytical approach to pace notes Burns was a very different character inside the car to McRae, though his determination to win was no less strong”

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determination to win was no less strong.

“Like McRae Following McRae’s third British win in 1997, with Sainz at Burns took the first of three successive wins here the following year, sealing the Subaru and homegrown domination of the event the 90s. Third place in 2001 was Burns with throughout meanwhile enough to seal the championship that year and make him the first Mäkinen for for Englishman to win the WRC. In both life and Mitsubishi, death Rally GB held particular significance for Burns, his tragic early demise coming four Evans proved years to the day after he took that title in and simply underlining what a terrible himself here Cardiff loss that was to British rallying and the wider against a motorsport community. forward, there’s hope the event’s multiple Looking proven ability to launch homegrown talent champion as a into the big time may well play out again.

Welshman Phil Mills was a four-time podium teammate” topper as Petter Solberg’s co-driver in the

a previous success here in WRC2. Like McRae with Sainz at Subaru and Burns with Mäkinen for Mitsubishi, Evans proved himself here against a multiple champion as a teammate, beating that season’s title winner Sebastien Ogier into third place in the process.

They’re now reunited on the Toyota team, where Evans has signalled his speed and intent with a second place in Monte Carlo, a win in Sweden and strong fourth in Mexico.

Once again victory on home soil proves our domestic talent has what it takes to take on the world’s best in the WRC and any British driver who wins in Wales should be viewed as a potential future champion. 2020 will be remembered for different reasons and Evans has a long way to go yet. But if he can triumph here again and carry that momentum forward we could once again see British rallying as springboard to global success.

early 2000s and that achievement should not go unrecognised but it took until 2017 before another local driver was to taste success, Elfyn Evans taking a proud victory on his home soil and his first in WRC to repeat

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REMOTE COACHING progrAmme With the start of the season now put back, iZone have created a remote training package designed to support drivers who have home simulators and want to take this down time to further develop their skills and resilience. The package includes:

SETTING UP YOUR SIMULATOR 1) Our Engineer will need to book an hour (free of charge) with you to gain remote access to your simulator’s computer. He will check the Internet connection and install the software that will enable us to coach remotely by seeing a live stream of your simulator whilst you are driving.

2) At this time we will also send you a link to our training forms on Google Sheets (see below) for you to log into

STARTING A SESSION 1) We call you to discuss the track, objective and the drills that we are going to run during the session.

2) We start live streaming of your simulator for us to see 3) You log into Google Sheets to access our Training Drills and Assessments.

COACHING COMMENCES 1) The session will consist of an agreed number of runs during which we will be coaching live.

2) After each run you complete the Driver Assessment on Google Sheets (we can see this live).

3) This is followed by a detailed de-brief and lap review.

4) This process is then repeated throughout the session – training runs followed by de-briefs.

POST SESSION ANALYSIS 1) After the session you will complete the Post Session Analysis on Google Sheets.

2) We will discuss this over the phone highlighting exactly what has been learned.

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FEATURE

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Even during the lockdown period, Motorsport UK Driver Academy member Molly Dodd is finding that remote simulator training is sharpening her skills At the current time, a lot of uncertainty surrounds not just motorsport but all areas of the world. Due to closures of multiple facilities, many athletes are in the process of finding ways to adapt to their new circumstances. Examples of this include Motorsport UK’s #StayOnTrackChallenge, which aims to encourage racing drivers to keep in touch via various social media platforms and show people what they are doing to pass the time practically and keep up with their training.

An Online iZone training session, offered to me and my fellow classmates at the Motorsport UK Driver Academy, was another such opportunity. My name is Molly Dodd, I am a driver currently racing in the Junior Saloon Car Championship and also enjoying life on the Enhanced DiSE Programme at Loughborough College.

When the email came through from my coaches and leaders at Loughborough informing me about the Remote Training options that iZone was offering, I jumped at the chance and emailed to ask for a place on the schedule. iZone offered two options to potential candidates: one for drivers with their

Revolution - April 2020

own home-based simulator, and one for drivers without – this was described as a 1-2-1 personal assessment review. As I am lucky enough to have my own home-based simulator, I took the first option.

Once set up remotely online, and after a video chat link with Neil Riddiford, my coach for the session, I began my remote training. Neil could see what I was doing on track by watching a live stream of my performance and gave me practical advice at the same time via video call.

At first, I had five laps to give him an idea of the level I was at on my own simulator, before he provided me with feedback.

After these five laps, Neil stopped me and asked me what I thought of the session.

He decided that, based on my responses, I was to work on two things within the next five laps: looking into the corner apex earlier and looking up at the exit earlier. I graded myself on both based on how well I thought I had done on each count, with the aim of improving this grade over the session.

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FEATURE

These two points are very important over the course of the lap. One of iZone’s most stressed points throughout its training is the importance of correct process and technique rather than just trying harder. Looking into the corner gives the driver more time to plan their entry, braking point and to spot their apex – which is a crucial point of any corner. And it was this vital knowledge that Neil was trying to instill in me by my second five-lap test.

The most important thing that I learned from this session was patience. Once introducing a new point into my already long list of things to keep an eye out for on track, I soon began to feel a little pressure from the inbuilt desire to produce ‘the perfect lap’. However, after taking a step back and pacing myself, I realised that the longer I spent building myself up to these important changes, the easier they came to me. Soon after, my lap times started to steadily decrease as a result, and I became more and more confident.

“Despite the current situation it is still possible for me to stay on track with my learning and my progression as a racing driver” By the fourth session, I’d shaved a fair amount off of my original time and attempted a fifth session which served as a mock qualifying. My task from Neil in the final session was a target time that was a tenth below my current fastest lap on the Silverstone National Circuit.

With his help from the previous hour, I had little trouble completing this task. I was so glad to have had this opportunity to continue some of my training at home with an instructor – even if it was remotely. I wasn’t certain how this would play out at first, considering any potential connection issues, or whether or not my instructor Neil would be able to determine enough from what he could see. As it turned out, the session ran extremely well and the video call was brilliant for the 1-2-1 side of the training, when Neil was giving me feedback on what he had seen. What this proved to me is that despite the current situation – which may have previously been seen as a restriction – it is still possible for me to stay on track not only with my training, but with my learning and my progression as a racing driver.

As a part of the Motorsport UK college course, young racers such as myself and my classmates are provided with several days of training at the iZone facility at Silverstone Circuit.

This online session was an innovative way of testing remote training options for racing drivers who want the support but find that a drive to iZone is a bit out of their way for a regular schedule.

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There are many differences between my simulator – which is a Symdeck GCR1000 Motion Platform, a brilliantly designed gaming and performance simulator – and the hi-tech facilities that iZone offers for drivers to train on at their base, and one of those is the lack of data that I am currently provided with at home, but that didn’t stop us from taking a mighty good go at tackling some of my larger hinderances on track.

I found that it was a very informative and highly practical session, and since ending my call with Neil, only continued to decrease my lap times. I made sure to write down anything that Neil told me, and any constructive feedback that I must continue to work on so that I can keep track of my progress and make absolutely certain that I get everything I possibly can out of the opportunity. The notes that I made during the session will hopefully serve me well into what remains of this season’s racing and the ones after.

Both the sim training and the 1-2-1 assessment review serve as an example that there are many ways that we can overcome the training issues that we are facing and continue to focus on our goals.

I would like to thank both the Motorsport UK Academy coaches and leaders, and iZone Driver Performance for this fruitful opportunity and hope that this report reflects my enthusiasm for the work that they have put into making sure that we all stay on track.

46

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INSIDE HQ

NATIONAL COURT On 11 November 1997, Michael Schumacher elbowed his way through a media scrum to get through the front door of Motor Sports House in Colnbrook (home at the time to the Motor Sports Association and now known as Motorsport UK House in reflection of the organisation’s current name).

Once inside, he moved through to the Tribunal Room for one of the most infamous disciplinary hearings in the history of Formula 1. Press interest was at fever pitch. The court heard what Schumacher had to say in his own defence, considered the facts, then disqualified him from that season’s championship.

Although that was an FIA hearing, the very same room is used to this day by the highest court in UK motorsport. As an FIA member club, Motorsport UK is bound by the International Sporting Code, which requires all National Sporting Authorities to have a National Court. In accordance with that code, the

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National Court is a separate body to Motorsport UK and it normally sits once a month.

Its main objective is to protect competitors at all levels and ensure that the rules and regulations governing the sport are upheld. Indeed, without such a robust, independent judicial system, motorsport in this country would cease to operate fairly. In fact, it would cease to operate at all.

Jamie Champkin, Motorsport UK Regulatory Counsel and Disciplinary Officer, is as familiar with the inner workings of the National Court as anybody.

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“Transparency is every bit as important as a fair hearing. That’s why reports are published in full for all National Court cases, both on Motorsport UK’s website and in the pages of this magazine” “The panel of permanent judges is headed by three barristers, all of whom have experience of competing in motorsport, and they’re led by Mark Heywood QC,” explains Champkin. “The fourth member of the panel is an extremely experienced international motorsport steward and also a lay magistrate. Therefore, the chairmen of the court are all experienced in delivering the administration of justice and have between them approximately 150 years of experience.” Additionally, depending on the nature of the case, the judges can call on the guidance of experienced motorsport officials such as race stewards to advise on driving standards.

“The independence of the court is absolutely vital,” says Champkin, explaining that despite being funded

by Motorsport UK the National Court is a separate body. “If it was not independent then it could not possibly exercise its function ‘judicially’. To act

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judicially literally means to sit in judgment fairly, taking into account all the available evidence; in other words, the principle of the fair hearing that we are used to in our everyday existence is mirrored in the judicial structure of our sport.”

A hearing is only ‘fair’ if all relevant parties have the opportunity to present all admissible evidence, be that witness testimony or documents and images.

Crucially, the court upholds the right to cross-examine witnesses, just as any proper court should. “These are basic human rights and are essentially enshrined in the function of the National Court,” says Champkin.

Transparency, meanwhile, is every bit as important as a fair hearing. That’s why reports are published in full for all National Court cases, both on Motorsport UK’s website and in the pages of this magazine.

While clerks of the course and race stewards typically do an excellent job during race meetings, the National Court can often be better placed to reach a fair verdict – not least because a case will be heard a significant time after the fact, allowing new evidence to come to light. “A recent example of this involved judicial proceedings taken against a competitor in a race that determined the outcome of a championship,” says Champkin. Written reports and limited moving images had been made available to race officials on the day of the event, and they reached their conclusions accordingly.

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“The Tribunal Room at Motorsport UK House has been witness to an enormous number of cases over the years, be they technical, disciplinary or investigatory in nature. None has been more prominent than Michael Schumacher’s hearing in 1997” “When the case came to appeal in the National Court, however, it transpired there was a considerable body of additional moving image evidence available, which gave an entirely different factual perspective on the events that had and, importantly, had not taken place.

When all of that evidence was taken into account by the court, the conviction of the competitor was overturned and he was reinstated in the results with consequential effect.” Justice, in other words, had been done.

An important function of the court is to sit as the appeal body for technical cases. If a competitor has been disqualified on technical grounds and chooses to appeal, for instance, the case will be heard in the National Court. “In these cases, the procedure is entirely by written submissions which are exchanged for comment. The UK court is fortunate to have access to technical and legal expertise of the highest calibre to determine such detailed cases involving the interpretation of regulations in a practical context.”

Technical infringements, however, make up only a small proportion of the National Court’s work.

More common are appeals, plus investigatory and disciplinary cases. The term Champkin uses to describe the latter is “an excess of passion for the sport”. That might concern parents of a young competitor causing problems in parc fermé, for instance, feeling that some slight has been directed towards their child. Or it might be a driver effectively using his or her vehicle as a weapon on track. Understandably, such cases must be heard by a fair and independent judiciary so that other competitors can be protected and the highest behavioural standards be upheld. “By the time cases are heard,” adds Champkin, “it is true to say the heat has gone out of a situation and therefore the person appearing before the court is presenting in a different light altogether. That is where the judicial ability of the court to strike a balance between maintaining the regulations and arriving at a just outcome is critical Revolution - April 2020

and in turn is the justification for the composition of the court.”

In recent years, Champkin has noticed a significant rise in the level of abuse being directed towards competitors and officials on social media. In response, Champkin and his colleagues have worked closely with Motorsport UK’s safeguarding team to refine their regulations and policies to help manage such situations. The intention is to deal with problems on social media in a proportionate manner, but with a zero-tolerance approach. Where necessary, Champkin says he “will have not the slightest hesitation in putting the conduct before the National Court.”

Occasionally, technical infringements and disciplinary hearings are one and the same – the common term in this instance is, of course, cheating. Champkin recalls one particular case: “Some years ago, a very significant case of what can only be described as deliberate and persistent cheating arose involving kart engines with a fully established machine shop having been set up for the purpose. The miscreants were banned from the sport and fined what was then the maximum of £26,500.”

The maximum fine today is £58,195 and can be enforced, if necessary, by means of the County Court debt mechanism. After all, by taking out a competition licence, a motorsport competitor is contractually agreeing to be fined in case of any wrongdoing.

The Tribunal Room at Motorsport UK House has been witness to an enormous number of cases over the years, be they technical, disciplinary or investigatory in nature. None has been more prominent than Michael Schumacher’s hearing in 1997. The FIA court found that the then two-time world champion had intentionally hit Jacques Villeneuve’s car at Jerez, Spain, six weeks earlier in an effort to end the Canadian’s race and claim a third title. The German became the first F1 driver to be disqualified from an entire season. That case underlined the importance of a fair and independent judiciary in motorsport – at all its levels.

QUIZ TIME! Can you remember why Michael Schumacher’s hearing took place at Motor Sports House, Colnbrook, instead of in Paris or Jerez?

Visit www.motorsportuk.org/revolution to log your answer and see if you’re correct!

50

CLUB

CORNER

ClubRacingUK What do you get when you mix two rollercoaster engineers and a love a motorsport? Founded by two colleagues in 2016, ClubRacingUK is one of the most prolific communities on the grassroots racing scene.

A motorsport fan since a young age, Nick Holmes cofounded ClubRacingUK after attending the Autosport International Show one year.

“I wanted to take my passion a step further and find a way into competing. I did some research and left the Autosport International Show feeling that there wasn’t an easy transition into the sport. Clubs were promoting their race series, and there were multiple stalls selling equipment, but there was no one to guide you through the process of getting started, advising on what to buy, what race series to consider etc.

“I asked lots of questions and began racing a Vauxhall Vectra challenge car in BARC’s Classic Touring Cars Championship. My colleague Stefan would attend race meetings with me as a mechanic and from there we decided to create ClubRacingUK.”

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Open to any keen motorsport enthusiast, the club counts fans, media, competitors, volunteers, mechanics and officials among its 1,600 members.

“If you’re on the outside, motorsport can seem like a closed, exclusive world. We offer members advice and guide them to where they’d like to be, whether that’s competing themselves, working as a mechanic, taking photographs or even cleaning wheels. We’re often approached by students wanting to work in race teams who don’t realise how easy it is to get involved. All it takes is one phone call or email to your local team and you could be at the next round making the tea, cleaning the wheels and working your way up.”

As well as an active social media community and support network, ClubRacingUK offers members a discount scheme with over 40 motorsport companies, to lower the costs associated with getting started in the sport.

“People approach us thinking racing is prohibitively expensive. I’ll admit it’s not as cheap as picking up a

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CLUBCORNER

tennis racket, but it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you might think. Our discount scheme could save someone £400 off their essential equipment; helmet, race suit etc. The cost of these necessary items alone is enough to put some people off getting behind the wheel.

“We exist to offer everything you need to start racing in one place. Over the past four years we’ve built a brilliant community of club racers. You see some of the best racing in club championships, yet there’s never anyone there to watch!

“I’m a dad of four and last year myself and a couple of mates survived an eight-hour EnduroKA race and ended up standing on the podium with a Le Mans winner! That’s what is so brilliant about club racing. If my motorsport career ended here, I really can’t complain.”

Annual membership to ClubRacingUK costs £20.

For more information on ClubRacingUK visit www.clubracinguk.co.uk or find them on Facebook.

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WHAT’S ON

May 2020

3 May (Netherlands), 10 May (Spain), 24 May (Monaco) F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix series (Official Formula 1 YouTube, Facebook and Twitch plus Sky and other broadcast channels) With the first eight races of the F1 season cancelled or postponed fans can still watch their favourite drivers in action via the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix series. Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi, Lando Norris, Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi are among the F1 drivers taking part, joined by former drivers like Jenson Button and Johnny Herbert plus celebrities and stars of other sports. All races will be streamed on the official F1 YouTube, Twitch and Facebook and on broadcast channels, including Sky.

Throughout May SRO E-Sport GT Series (PC) ‘The Official GT World Challenge Game’, Asseto Corsa Competizione is a serious racing game used by professionals in both real and sim racing.

There are six rounds for these Pro and Silver races, with two (Spa and the Nürburgring) taking place in May. There’s also an ‘Am’ series with rounds at Silverstone (1 May), Spa (23 May) and the Nürburgring (30 May) open all Asseto Corsa Competizione players with entries decided by open hot-lap qualifying running until 10 May. Register at sro-esport.com.

Ongoing FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships (Gran Turismo Sport, PS4) Gran Turismo holds its own FIA Certified championships, accessed through the ‘Sport’ online portal within the game. The Nations Cup invites gamers to represent their country in regional and then global finals whereas the Manufacturer Series lets you sign up with your favourite car brand and follow a similar path. Stage two of both comprises 10 rounds running until early June, the fastest drivers representing their country or manufacturer at live World Tour events before being whittled down for the World Finals in December.

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WHAT’S ON

Ongoing HERO Virtual Table Top Championship Not into videogames? HERO’s Virtual Table Top Championship sets five regularities each week, with a conversion table supplied on the Friday to help deduce the car or rally themed answer. The winner is drawn at random from correct answers emailed before midnight on the final Sunday of each round.

Instructions, handouts and map excerpts are included in the entry with all proceeds going to the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. See heroevents.eu for more.

Week commencing 4 May and 25 May (DiRT Rally 2.0 on PS4, Xbox or PC with livestreamed events) Esports British Rally Championship Rallying is also joining the Esports party with a four-round eBRC series on DiRT Rally 2.0.

The championship is open to anyone with a Motorsport UK licence or Trackside Membership and the winner will get a drive in the real version of the M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2T they’ll be using in the game, courtesy of EDSL Sport. An invitational series for real-world BRC competitors will run alongside, streamed with commentary on Motorsport UK social media channels. See britishrallychampionship.co.uk for details.

Throughout May Bristol Motor Club Vincenzo & Sons vMX5 Challenge (GT Sport, PS4) See our cover story for more but for a truly grassroots and accessible entry point into Esports club events like Bristol Motor Club’s vMX5 Challenge are the perfect virtual realisation of what they do in the real world. Playing fields are levelled with the insistence everyone uses the standard joystick controller and the club encourages participation from all the family, kids included. Take your pick from a structured weekly championship or one-off livestreamed sprint-style time attack events and get stuck in – full details on BMC’s Facebook page.

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Results

Latest results across the different types of motor sport governed by Motorsport UK

Motorsport UK British Sporting Trials Championship Yorkshire Sporting Trial, 14 March Richard Sharp fittingly won the Stuart Butterfield Sporting Trial as a fellow Yorkshireman following a tie break with Josh Veale, his first of the season. Ian Veale let a few points slip away during the final round but managed to snatch the final podium place from John Fack, also on a tie break.

McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship Bishopscourt Stages, 7 March Glengormley’s McGarrity led the Ballynahinch and District Motor Club organised event from start to finish with Draperstown’s father and son Mini WRC crew, Derek and Mark McGeehan, arriving home in second. Another all-family crew claimed third with Kieron Graffin and his 16-year-old daughter, Amy, who was competing in her first rally, nabbing the position after the final stage.

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Motorsport UK Karting Esports Championship After thousands of hot laps and two demanding semi-finals, the virtual PF International circuit hosted the finals for the Motorsport UK and Motorsport UK under 12 classes and the Motorsport UK Open category – open to non-licence holders, with several drivers from around Europe taking part.

fast train. Nathan Tye and Henry Joslyn enjoyed a good scrap for the win with Tye slipping past Joslyn in the final few corners of the 15-lap race. Blake Ticehurst rounded out the rostrum while a big shout out must also go to Chase Fernandez who came from the back row to eighth overall.

In the Motorsport UK Under 12 Repechage race, Chase Fernandez and Max Horlor beat a field of 18 hopefuls to join the back of the main final.

In the Motorsport UK class Lewis Bickers reaped the rewards of a first lap collision between the leading pair and enjoyed a mature controlled drive to take the flag, with Ted Bradbury in hot pursuit.

Brandon Williams steered clear of the drama to take the final position on the inaugural podium to seal a fine finish in the Easter Series.

The final itself was to be the highlight of the meeting as the drivers under 12 would all be in the same rental kart on the Kart Sim game. This was to produce exciting racing as the field produced a

Like the Motorsport UK Licence holders class, the Open category would also use the rapid X30 Kart around the challenging virtual PF International venue. A chaotic start saw a crash under the bridge on the opening lap, taking out several competitors. Kieran Shanks avoided all the carnage and was on a mission as he eked out an advantage to win the race by the best part of five seconds. While Shanks scampered away, there were plenty of battles behind, with exciting wheel-to-wheel action.

Brandon Williams took a superb second, his second podium of the night, while Ryan Elliott rounded out the rostrum positions. Keeping the best part of a thousand viewers online enthralled was the dice between Max Tadd and Ryan Elliott who fought tooth and nail for fourth. Tadd made a superb move under the bridge to slip past Tyler in the closing stages of the race – but both can be pleased with a top five in the first British Esports competition for karting.

Motorsport UK would like to thank Alpha Live, Kart Sim and Motorsport Games for hosting the Easter Series.

After the success of the first meeting, it is hoped a full season will follow in the coming weeks.

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SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

Motorsport UK Supplier Directory AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES

Power Maxed Unit 3B, Wellington Road, Waterloo Park, Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, B50 4JH, UK Phone: 01789330668 www.powermaxed.com

BATTERIES

CIRCUITS Castle Combe Castle Combe Circuit Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 7EY Phone: 01249 782417 www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk

Anglo American Oil (Control Fuels) Knockhill Knockhill Racing Circuit,

by Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 9TF Phone: 01383 723337 www.knockhill.co.uk

BREAKDOWN

58 Holton Road, Holton Heath Trading Park, Poole, Dorset BH16 6LT Phone: 01929 551557 www.aaoil.co.uk

Haltermann Carless UK Ltd (Control Fuels)

DMS Technologies Belbins Business Park, Cupernham Lane, Romsey, Hampshire, S051 7JF www.dmstech.co.uk

CONTROL FUELS

Silverstone Silverstone Circuit Towcester, NN12 8TN Phone: 08443 750740 www.silverstone.co.uk

Grove House, Guildford Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 9DF Phone: 07966 437566 www.haltermann-carless.com

CONTROL SYSTEMS Moog

RAC

Three Sisters Circuit

Phone: 0330 159 8719 www.rac.co.uk

Three Sisters Road, Ashton-inMakerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 8DD Tel: 01942 719030 Email: info@threesisterscircuit.co.uk Web: www.threesisterscircuit.co.uk

CAR RENTAL

Avis Believe that car rental is about more than getting from A to B. It’s about the journey itself. Rent a car with Avis and enjoy quality service anywhere you go. http://www.avis.co.uk/

Revolution - April 2020

Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 8TU Phone: 01684 858000 www.moog.co.uk

DATA LOGGING

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

Racelogic – VBOX Motorsport

Tower Communications

Unit 10, Swan Business Centre, Osier Way, Buckingham, MK18 1TB Phone: +44 1280 823803 www.vboxmotorsport.co.uk

12 The Rampart, Haddenham, Cambs, CB6 3ST Phone: 01353 749859 www.towercomms.co.uk

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SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

FABRICATION

AH Fabrications Unit 5G Ramsden Road, Rotherwas Ind Est, Hereford, HR2 6LR Phone: 01432 354 704 www.ahfabrications.com

FUELS

HOTELS

Anglo American Oil (Fuels Sunoco)

Hilton

58 Holton Road, Holton Heath Trading Park, Poole, Dorset BH16 6LT Phone: 01929 551557 www.aaoil.co.uk

Motorsport UK is delighted to offer members preferential rates at hotels within the Hilton Group. Members can access best available rates at Hilton, Doubletree, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Hotels around the country. www.hilton.com

VP Racing Fuels Ltd

IGNITION LEADS

Official UK importers: Racing fuels Race Fuel Logistics www.racefuel.online info@racefuel.online Phone: +44 (0) 207 458 4219

Magnecor Europe Limited

FINANCE

Classic & Sports Finance Building B, 6 Kirtlington Business Centre, Kirtlington, OX5 3JA Phone: 01869 351512 www.classicandsportsfinance.com

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Consumer Products Old Hall Performance www.oldhallperformance.com sales@oldhallperformance.com Phone: +44 (0) 2476 717 100

Fire Extinguisher Valve Co

HANS SYSTEM

Unit 10, Ford Lane Business Park Ford, Nr Arundel, West Sussex BN18 0UZ Phone: 0044 (0)1243 555566 www.f-e-v.co.uk

SCHROTH Racing www.schroth.com

Unit 12, Jubilee Business Park, Snarestone Road, Appleby Magna, Derbyshire DE12 7AJ Phone: +44 (0) 1530 274 975 www.magnecor.co.uk

INSTRUMENTS ACES 26 Gainsborough Drive, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 2JU Phone: 01206 395324 www.aceserve.co.uk

INSURANCE

HELMETS Adrian Flux Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems Ltd Falkland Close, Coventry, CV4 8AU UK Phone: +44 (0)24 7671 2999 www.lifeline-fire.co.uk

Phone: 03443 816502 www.adrianflux.co.uk

ARAI Motor Sport Helmets www.whyarai.co.uk

Bluefin Sport Bluefin Sport, The Paragon, 32-36 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BX Phone: 0345 872 5060 Email: motorsport@bluefinsport.co.uk www.bluefinsport.co.uk

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COVERSTORY SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

Grove & Dean Motorsport Insurance 96 Market Place Romford, Essex, RM1 3ER Phone: +44 (0)1708 606768 www.grove-dean-motorsport.com

RACEWEAR Motorsport News Motorsport News, Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL www.motorsport-news.co.uk/

Reis Motorsport

MOTORSPORT PRODUCTS

Unit 4 Wheatcroft Business Park, Landmere Lane, Edwalton, Nottingham NG12 4DG Phone: 0115 965 1040 www.reis.co.uk

Grandstand Merchandise

Ryan Motorsport Insurance 150 Minories, Suite 609, London, EC3N 1LS Phone: +44 (0)1799 524202 www.ryanmi.com

MAGAZINES

Unit 4, Chalker Way, Banbury Oxfordshire, OX16 4XD Phone: 01869 337554 www.grandstandmerchandise.com/

Demon Tweeks Motorsport 75 Ash Road South, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham, LL13 9UG. Phone: 01978 664466 E mail: sales@demon-tweeks.com www.demon-tweeks.com

Grand Prix Racewear Unit 1, Silverstone Technology Park Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN Phone: 01327 855585 www.gprdirect.com

RALLY PLATES/SIGNS Halfords

Event Signs

Phone: 0345 504 53 53 www.halfords.com

Unit 6 Poplar Drive, Witton, Birmingham B6 7AD Phone: 0121 344 3141 www.eventsigns.co.uk

LMA Autoparts Ltd Autosport 1 Eton Street, Richmond, TW9 1AG Phone: 0203 405 8100 www.autosport.com

The Green Barn, Antlands Lane East, Shipley Bridge, Surrey RH6 9TE Phone: 01933 778335 www.lmaautoparts.com

NOISE MEASUREMENT

Macro Motorsport Phone: 0800 567 7381 www.macromotorsport.net

RALLY SCHOOLS

GP Racing 1 Eton Street, Richmond, TW9 1AG www.gpracing.com

Motor Sport magazine 18-20 Rosemont Road, London NW3 6NE Phone: 020 7349 8484 www.motorsportmagazine.com/

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Cirrus Research Tel: 01723 891655 Email: sales@cirrusresearch.com www.cirrusresearch.co.uk

Bill Gwynne Rallyschool International Turweston Aerodrome, Brackley, Northants NN13 5YD Phone: 01280 705570 www.billgwynne.com

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SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

TRANSPORT Pirelli Tyres Ltd Phil Price Rally School Coed Harbour, Llangunllo, Knighton, Powys, LD7 1TD Phone: 01547 550300 www.philprice.co.uk

DFDS Phone: 08715 211531

ROLL BARS/CAGES Caged Laser Engineering (SW) Ltd Unit 12, Ash Farm Business Park, Radstock. BA3 5EX Phone: 01761 239133 www.cagedlaser.co.uk

Protyre Motorsport Nutt Travel in partnership with Stena Line Tel: 028 7035 1199 Web: www.nutttravel.com

Safety Devices International Ltd TYRE COMPANIES Cambridge House, Holborn Avenue, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7AN Phone: 01638 713606

SEATS Corbeau Seats Ltd 17 Wainwright Close, East Sussex, TN38 9PP Phone: 01424 854499 www.corbeau-seats.com

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Europe Ltd Bath Road, Melksham, SN12 8AA www.avontyres.com www.coopertire.co.uk/motorsport-tires avonmotorsport@coopertire.com coopermotorsport@coopertire.com Tel: 01225 35 7855

SEATS/HARNESSES Longstone Tyres GSM Performance Ltd Unit 5, High Hazles Road, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, NG12 3GZ Phone: +44 (0)115 9893488 www.gsmperformance.co.uk

TRACK DAYS OpenTrack Events Ltd 45 Jeavons Lane, Great Cambourne Cambridge, CB23 6AF Phone: 01954 202588 www.opentrack.co.uk Revolution - April 2020

Derby Road, Burton-on-Trent, DE13 0BH Tel: 01283 525252 www.pirelli.co.uk

Govan Road, Fenton Industrial Estate, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST4 2RS Phone: 01782 411 001 www.protyre.co.uk/motorsport

TYRE WARMERS M. A. Horne Ltd Unit 9, Enterprise Park, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, Dorset, BH31 6YS Phone: 01202 822770 www.m-a-horne.co.uk

WELDING Electron Beam Processes Ltd Unit 4, Octimum, Forsyth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5SF Phone: 01483 215400 www.ebpglobal.com

WHEELS

Doncaster Road, Bawtry, DN10 6NX Phone: 01302 711123 www.longstonetyres.co.uk

Revolution Wheels International Ltd

Michelin Tyre PLC

Phone: +44 (0) 1623 860000 www.revolutionwheels.com

2 Eco Court, Latimer Way, Sherwood Energy Village, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire NG22 9QW. UK

Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EY Phone: 0845 366 1535 www.michelin.co.uk/about/michelinin-the-uk

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SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

Speedline SL Corse Ltd Haybrook Industrial Estate, Telford TF7 4QW UK Phone: 01952 582825 www.speedlinecorse.net

WIRE WHEELS

ENQUIRIES Borrani Doncaster Road, Bawtry, DN10 6NX Phone: 01302 711123 www.borrani.com

For partnership and supplier enquiries, email commercial@motorsportuk.org

SEAT BELT SAFETY CHECK A small number of TRS Magnum SH.038.16-T-6, Pro SH.050.16-T-6 and Pro SH.051.16-T 6 harnesses with 2023 and 2024 expiry validation labels have been released into the market place with a buckle lever length that exceeds the permitted 10mm length by up to 0.25mm.

This +0.25mm manufacturing tolerance is contrary to 8853:2016 FIA rule 6.5.1.

Drivers can measure their levers as depicted above and if you think your harness may be affected, please contact TRS to arrange a free inspection and where necessary, replacement.

TRS Motorsport Unit 21 Beck Road Huddersfield West Yorkshire. HD1 5DG Tel: +44 1256 224670 Email : sales@trs-motorsport.com

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The Parting Shot