Motor sports in the UK - Statistics & Facts
Motor sports is a term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events that involve the use of motorised vehicles. Within the United Kingdom (UK) motor sports are extremely popular, reflecting the centrality of the UK motorsports industry on a global scale. The UK hosts rounds of the Formula One World Championship, World Rally Championship and Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and many others.
Motorsport UK, formerly the Motor Sports Association, is the national membership organisation and governing body for four-wheel motorsport, representing competitors, volunteers, clubs and fans, and is recognised as the sole motor sport governing body for the UK by the world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Motorsport UK represents 720 affiliated motor clubs, 30,000 competition licence holders, 10,000 volunteer marshals, and 3,200 officials. In 2018, Motorsport UK declared a total group income of approximately 9.6 million British pounds.
Motorsport UK manages motorsport events that fall under either of 12 main categories of events taking place within the UK. These include, but are not limited to, autotest events, rallycross events, cross country events, race events, rally events, and trial events.
Autotest events involve drivers tackling a low-speed course without hitting any pre-placed markers. The number of autotest events being held has grown significantly in recent years, from 525 in 2003 to 888 in 2018.
Rallycross or autocross events are a form of sprint racing on mixed-surface circuits and are the least prevalent motorsport discipline in the UK.
Cross country events involve drivers navigating a low-speed all-terrain course without hitting any pre-placed markers. Despite a decrease in the number of cross country events in the UK since 2009, this discipline remains the most common of all motorsports event types managed by Motorsport UK.
Race events consist of a conventional timed competition between two or more competitors. The number of these events has shown little variation between 2002 and 2018, with 354 race Motorsport UK events in 2018.
Rally events differs from normal racing in that the route is made up of several interval stages rather than a single circuit. They are often held on public roads. From a maximum number of events of 1044 in 2003 the number of rally events has shown a consistent decline to a minimum of 704 events organised by Motorsport UK in 2018.
Trail events are a low speed, but highly challenging discipline, and are one of the most accessible forms of motorsport. As a result, the number of trail events that have taken place each year has increased slightly between 2003 and 2018.
Motorsport UK, formerly the Motor Sports Association, is the national membership organisation and governing body for four-wheel motorsport, representing competitors, volunteers, clubs and fans, and is recognised as the sole motor sport governing body for the UK by the world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Motorsport UK represents 720 affiliated motor clubs, 30,000 competition licence holders, 10,000 volunteer marshals, and 3,200 officials. In 2018, Motorsport UK declared a total group income of approximately 9.6 million British pounds.
Motorsport UK manages motorsport events that fall under either of 12 main categories of events taking place within the UK. These include, but are not limited to, autotest events, rallycross events, cross country events, race events, rally events, and trial events.
Autotest events involve drivers tackling a low-speed course without hitting any pre-placed markers. The number of autotest events being held has grown significantly in recent years, from 525 in 2003 to 888 in 2018.
Rallycross or autocross events are a form of sprint racing on mixed-surface circuits and are the least prevalent motorsport discipline in the UK.
Cross country events involve drivers navigating a low-speed all-terrain course without hitting any pre-placed markers. Despite a decrease in the number of cross country events in the UK since 2009, this discipline remains the most common of all motorsports event types managed by Motorsport UK.
Race events consist of a conventional timed competition between two or more competitors. The number of these events has shown little variation between 2002 and 2018, with 354 race Motorsport UK events in 2018.
Rally events differs from normal racing in that the route is made up of several interval stages rather than a single circuit. They are often held on public roads. From a maximum number of events of 1044 in 2003 the number of rally events has shown a consistent decline to a minimum of 704 events organised by Motorsport UK in 2018.
Trail events are a low speed, but highly challenging discipline, and are one of the most accessible forms of motorsport. As a result, the number of trail events that have taken place each year has increased slightly between 2003 and 2018.
