UK MOTORSPORT “FRUSTRATED” AS GOVERNMENT CASH FALLS THROUGH
“Severely impacted” UK circuits prove ineligible for UK government’s announced £6m loan Covid help
UK motorsport figures have expressed frustration after circuits proved ineligible for the government’s Covid support cash announced last November.
The UK government’s package included £6 million earmarked for circuit operators, but it transpired to be a loan of last resort more geared to football and rugby clubs fulfilling ongoing fixture obligations.
Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers told Motorsport News: “The whole exercise has been somewhat frustrating because there was a big headline made. The announcement preceded any real analysis of the qualification to receive that support.
“As the government fine-tuned their approach, it [was] designed for sports organisations that have run out of any other options and are staring bankruptcy in the face.
“The venue operators broadly are severely impacted, it’s going to take many years to recover their balance sheets, but they are not at the very limit of options.
“It’s frustrating because the [motorsport] community looked at it and thought the circuit owners are going to have that lifeline but it’s a bit harder than it appears.”
Ben Taylor, group CEO of the British Automobile Racing Club that runs several circuits, told MN: “I’d be very surprised if any of them [circuit operators] are going to be in a position to utilise it. The government made a big show of it and nothing has come to pass. But it’s much better that motorsport was on that list rather than not.”