Bespoke Rallies to replace gloom with vroom vroom, courtesy of two exciting new post-lockdown events!

Leading classic rally specialist Bespoke Rallies has responded to the pent-up demand for classic events by creating two brand new rallies, and reshuffling its original 2021 calendar in order to take full advantage of the proposed lifting of restrictions. The result is the choice of no less than four enticing events between June 23 and November 2 – two in the UK and two overseas.

First up is the Pennine 1000, a brand new four-day regularity rally that will take place amidst the stunning scenery of the Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Cheviots and Southern Uplands of Scotland.

Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery, moves to 2022 dateline

The next outing of the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery, will now take place in March 2022.

The show was scheduled to take place on 11-13 June 2021 after moving from its usual March dateline. However, the recent announcement of Covid restrictions means that the show cannot be held at that time.

Event Director Lee Masters said: “We understand this will be as big of a disappointment to our exhibitors and visitors as it is to us. We have all been very much looking forward to getting back to some form of normality and ‘business as usual’.

“We are truly sorry that we have had to make this extremely difficult decision and thank all involved for their continued patience, understanding and support in these ever-changing times.”

Motorsport UK confirms motorsport will restart in England from 29 March

Motorsport UK is pleased to announce that organised Permitted motorsport can resume in England with effect from 29 March, subject to local restrictions and in accordance with its own Restart Guidance.

Motorsport UK Virtual Night of Champions celebrates British motorsport success

On Sunday evening (21 February), Motorsport UK hosted its first virtual Night of Champions to celebrate the 2020 season – a year like no other. Traditionally, the awards ceremony is held at the Royal Automobile Club in London, but this year the prize-giving was beamed to homes across the UK on Facebook and YouTube, with this virtual edition bringing the entire motorsport community together for the first time.

Motorsport UK hails Government plan to quash the EU ‘Vnuk’ motor insurance law a “significant victory”

Motorsport UK is delighted to announce to its community the news that its considerable efforts alongside the UK government to defeat the threat of the Vnuk insurance issue have been successful.

In a press release issued earlier today, the Department for Transport confirmed that it is taking the necessary steps to exempt the UK – and consequently UK motorsport – from the implications of the EU Motor Insurance Directive.

The news will be met with enormous support and relief by everyone in the UK motorsport community, as the sport will no longer be vulnerable to the requirement for insurance even on private land for a wide range of ‘vehicles’. The EU rules would have meant any motorsport collision in the UK involving vehicles from karting to F1 would have been treated as regular road traffic accidents requiring insurance. The financial implications would have posed an existential threat to motorsport, risking tens of thousands of jobs in the process.

Motorsport UK extends British GT Championship partnership with SRO Motorsports Group

Motorsport UK has today announced that its partnership with the SRO Motorsports Group, to organise and promote the Intelligent Money British GT Championship, has been extended for a further five seasons until at least 2025.

Since its inception in the early nineties, the British GT Championship has been one of Motorsport UK’s flagship British titles, with the best sports car drivers in the country going head-to-head in FIA specification super cars from the leading prestige manufacturers.

Reis Race Retro goes online for 2021

The organisers of Reis Race Retro are going online to mark the advent of the historic motorsport show with Reis Race Retro Revisited, held on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February on the event’s social media channels.

Unable to take place at Stoneleigh Park due to the current Covid restrictions, the two-day virtual event will ‘revisit’ some of the highlights of the past 18 years of the annual season opener.

The automotive future isn’t all-electric, says F1 champion team chief ahead of ASI Connect debate

* Net zero-carbon fuels could be a game-changer for many types of vehicle
* Synthetic petroleum has many advantages over electrification
* Former F1 team chief Paddy Lowe to join the ASI Connect debate

Throughout his career Paddy Lowe has delivered success at the pinnacle of motorsport. From leading the active suspension project that helped Nigel Mansell charge to his world championship 29 years ago through to taking Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to hybrid-era F1 domination at Mercedes-Benz, Lowe is an expert on turning innovation and forward thinking into victory. Now, he proposes synthetic fuels as part of the automotive industry’s cleaner future.

Lowe has embarked on a new challenge that could be transformational for the environment as well as the aviation, transport, agricultural and motorsport industries. His new venture, Zero Petroleum, focuses on the creation of synthetic fuel sources.

Wera Tools as British Kart Championships Title Partner

Motorsport UK are delighted to announce a new multi-year title partnership for the British Kart Championships with Wera Tools, one of Europe’s leading tool manufacturers, joining the series. Britain’s premier karting championships will now be known as the Wera Tools British Kart Championships.

Brown to mount British Rallycross campaign in 2021

After a successful debut season in the British Rallycross Championship in 2019, Rochdale driver Steve Brown will once again swap the rally stages for circuits as he makes a return to the popular BMW MINI series in 2021.