RALLY SET TO BURST BACK INTO ENGLISH FORESTS
Review response strong enough to herald new partnership with Forestry England going forward
The forests of England will once again be alive to the sight and sounds of rally cars as Forestry England has concluded its review into the use of motorsport on its land.
The 1700 responses to that review, which was launched in September 2020, have gone a long way to convincing Forestry England that English forests and motorsport go hand-in-hand.
A long-term plan will now be devised where Forestry England will work with its stakeholders, such as Motorsport UK, to create a more sustainable future.
Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers said: “For decades the nation’s forests have hosted a wide variety of motorsport, from international rallies to grassroots entry-level club events, and everything in between. Our members have a deep respect for the unique nature of the forest stages and we are committed to playing our part in their preservation.
“We are fully dedicated to ensuring the long-term future of motorsport on the nation’s forestry estate through this crucial partnership.”
Rallying can now head into the English forests again subject to coronavirus restrictions, but BTRDA president Mike Broad has warned the discipline “mustn’t relax” after this positive news.
Forestry England commissioned an independent review of motorsport in English forests in September 2020 and received
1700 individual responses, which Motorsport News understands impressed the reviewers. Throughout the consultation period motorsport was suspended from using government-owned forests – something that hampered organisers of the Malcolm Wilson Rally in their 2021 planning – but the review highlighted a number of areas of mutual interest between motorsport and Forestry England.
MN understands Motorsport UK was informed of the outcome in January, and it will now work with Forestry England to conclude a new long-term deal and plan to sustain motorsport in the forests.
Mike Seddon, Forestry England chief executive, said: “The nation’s forests have in the past found themselves at the leading edge of motorsports in England. Our review has made it clear to me that we must take the opportunity to become leaders again.
“Together, this is our chance to reduce the environmental footprint of motorsport and improve its financial support for the forests and local businesses. We’ll better understand what the right event in the right place looks like, the true costs and how we deal with them. Perhaps we can bring some new audiences too.”
Event organiser Colin Heppenstall told MN the news is what organisers had been waiting for”. He said:
“It’s very positive news that they’ve acknowledged the input motorsport brings into the forest estate and into the local economies around the forests. I’m looking forward to the next release as regards to what’s going to happen between Motorsport UK and Forestry England in rates and new agreements to start rallying in the forest estate.”
BTRDA president Broad is similarly enthused, describing the news as welcome, but he doesn’t want the rallying’s stakeholders to rest on their laurels. He said: “It keeps us as a sport on our mettle.
“We mustn’t relax because they’re happy for us to continue because we need to innovate and change to accommodate it [new sustainability measures], definitely. We must evolve to what they require.
“It’s something that I’ve always banged on about that not just rallying, but motorsport, we are really bad at valuing our sport. If we did it would be astronomical and very impressive, and it should be done. Things like these consultations that come out of the blue require us to do that.”
A nine-page report of the review’s findings estimated motorsport brings £2.2-2.4 million per annum to rural economies but also represents challenges to the environment. It concludes that a “deliberate move towards electric and alternative fuel vehicles” would work greatly in motorsport’s favour.