ONUS ON FIA AND ASNS TO EXEMPT SPORT FROM RULE

THE FIA IS TO RESPOND to an EU consultation into a proposed insurance law that could ‘close down all motorsport’, according to one trade association.

The consultation, which closes tomorrow (Friday), is into the Vnuk ruling, which could dictate that all motor vehicles must have unlimited third-party liability insurance, even on private land.

That means anything from lawnmowers to single-seater and tin-top racers needing the insurance. It also means any crash would be treated as a road-traffic collision, meaning the police could be involved. That would make obtaining the insurance at a reasonable price difficult for many competitors due to the high premiums resulting from a sport where contact and collisions are regular.

Chris Aylett, chief executive officer of the Motorsport Industry Association, has called on any employer or business in European or UK motorsport to respond to the EU consultation and has provided guidelines to help them do so.

“This threat is real, make no mistake, it could close down all motorsport [in countries in the EU],” said Aylett. “If you want to protect your job in motorsport then make sure your employer responds before the deadline of October 20.

“The EU offers an option, known as

Option 3, where their insurance requirement applies ‘in traffic only’.

“If we succeed in getting this option supported then motorsport will be safe.”

The FIA issued a response to the statement in light of an increased spotlight on the subject given the October 20 deadline.

The statement read: “This is of course a matter that we have been following closely since the ECJ ruling on Vnuk. The public consultation being conducted by the European Commission covers a wider scope than only motorsport.

“Over the past months the FIA has consulted its European ASNS to determine a common position and will be replying officially to the Commission prior to the deadline.”

The findings of the consultation are expected soon, as the EU wants to make a decision on Vnuk before the end of 2017.

Because the implementation of the law is expected soon after the decision on whether to implement it, the position of the UK will be the same as other EU countries as the country will not leave the EU until 2019 at the earliest.