Racing Ahead - Keeping Britain at the front of global motor sport

• MSA and MIA launch new scheme to inspire the next generation of young drivers and engineers
• New National Motorsport Week website launched

A new initiative to promote the UK’s on-going position at the forefront of world motor sport has been announced today (Wednesday 14 March) at Goodwood.

Established by Motor Sports Association and Motorsport Industry Association – the two leading bodies in UK motor sport – as an integral part of National Motorsport Week 2012, the new scheme is titled ‘Racing Ahead – keeping Britain at the front of global motor sport’ and will reward and inspire a select band of this country’s most promising young drivers and engineers.

As the governing body of UK motor sport, the MSA will select six potential future world champions from junior karting, circuit racing and rallying. These will be joined by six of the brightest young engineers selected by the MIA, the world’s leading trade association representing the UK motor sport industry. The MSA’s group will be announced shortly while the MIA will be organising a special competition for gifted young engineers via the new National Motorsport Week website which also was launched today at Goodwood’s media preview event.

The 12 members of the Racing Ahead initiative will experience a full programme of activities during National Motorsport Week (30 June-8 July) including visits to both the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone. They will also enjoy exclusive tours of the UK’s premier Formula One factories and World Rally Championship teams aimed at providing invaluable insights into the sport and industry.

“National Motorsport Week is about raising awareness of the UK’s leading position in world motor sport, as well as giving people the chance to try our sport for the first time,” explained Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive. “We may have produced more Formula One World Champions than any other country, but we face increasingly strong competition from other nations, so we cannot afford to be complacent. The MSA is committed to investing in future champions because it is fundamental to our objective to lead and develop the sport at both international and grass roots levels.”

In 2011, the MSA joined forces with MIA to promote the annual National Motorsport Week and the creation of Racing Ahead is another product of this teamwork to promote the unrivalled status of UK motor sport.

“The UK motor sport industry is booming, during otherwise uncertain times,” said Chris Aylett, MIA CEO. “Customers, from all over the world, realising the exceptional quality, value and expertise of UK motor sport products and services, are spending their hard won budgets here in Motorsport Valley. Jobs are growing in engineering and the sport to meet this increased demand. We particularly need more young, well-trained, engineers and technicians so we stay ahead in this race for business. As part of National Motorsport Week, the MIA will shortly announce details of an exciting national competition for all young engineers looking to get into motor sport. The six selected winners will join this special Racing Ahead scheme and thus gain a great head start to their careers.”

Full details of the competition will be revealed on the new National Motorsport Week website which has been developed by web specialists mso.net and is launched simultaneously with Racing Ahead. The new look site includes information on how all involved in the sport can take full advantage of the promotional period and will also list all the special events taking place during NMW 2012. Appropriately the week commences with the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world’s greatest celebration of past and present automotive culture.

“We are delighted that the Festival of Speed will kick off this year’s National Motorsport Week – more so as the Racing Ahead initiative, which is being set up to highlight many of the next generation of drivers and engineers, ties in so well with our own ‘Young Guns – Born to Win’ theme that we are celebrating at the Festival in June,” confirmed Lord March, founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Editors’ notes: National Motorsport Week is jointly organised by the Motor Sports Association, governing body of UK motor sport, and the Motorsport Industry Association, the sport’s UK trade association.