MP’S report calls on support for motorsport

A leading Northern Ireland MP has called on motorsport insiders to lobby the government “to pick up the challenge” and open the country up to bigger events.

North Antrim MP Ian Paisley was asked to spearhead the Motorsport Taskforce, which was set up in 2017, to understand how motor racing and motorbike events can grow and prosper in the region.

Safety, infrastructure and talent development at grassroots level have also been explored with help from high-profile names such as Toyota World Rally driver Kris Meeke, and the Circuit of Ireland Rally’s event director, Bobby Willis.

Those involved with motorsport in Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland were also approached for the report, which was released last month and will be sent to the Houses of Parliament.

“Hopefully the publication of this report will inspire the government and sponsors to pick up the challenge that’s been thrown down to them: help make this sport fit for the 21st century,” Paisley said. “This is a significant economic driver to a small economy such as Northern Ireland’s.

“The contribution that twoand four-wheeled sport continues to make probably goes largely unnoticed, but we have now quantified it and I think it gives the government a platform on which to build and say, ‘logistically, legally and lawfully, we should be putting more into this’.

“This is not a begging letter but rather a challenge aimed at getting everyone in the industry to work together. We have had our glory days in the past but we have a glorious present, too, and there is a glorious future waiting for all of us if we can harness the talent, if we can train people. This is a fantastic opportunity for motorsport.”