CEO’ s Message
Every Formula 1 driver has travelled a pathway that began years earlier through local clubs, kart circuits and junior championships. Every race meeting, whether it attracts dozens of competitors or hundreds of thousands of spectators, depends upon people giving their time because they believe in the sport. Without that foundation there is no pyramid, and without the pyramid there is no pinnacle.
One answer came at the start of National Motorsport Week with the launch of the BRDC Driver Academy powered by Motorsport UK. By bringing together Motorsport UK’ s Driver Academy with the BRDC’ s Rising Stars and SuperStars programmes, we have created a single pathway to support some of Britain’ s most promising young drivers as they progress through the sport. Talent can never be manufactured, but it can certainly be nurtured, and providing the right coaching, mentoring and
London ExCeL and the venue for the FIA Formula E World Championship finale. I remember going to the first season’ s final race that was held in Battersea Park in July 2016, and how the entire concept had turned the world of motorsport upside down – with inner city temporary tracks, bringing the show to the people, while the cars in that first year required a swap of machinery as the battery capacity was so limited. Just ten years on the GEN3 cars are seriously quick and provide a fast-paced actionpacked show.
For next year there is a new allwheel drive GEN4 car that is said to be transformative, both in terms of speed and battery capacity. This has allowed for at least some of the events to migrate to permanent racetracks such as Zandvoort, and in the UK a new home at Brands Hatch. I am sure that this change has been the subject of huge internal
Hugh Chambers, with Susie debate, as the championship Wolff, Andy Meyrick shifts, George from its original urban Russell backdrop, and Derek to Warwick more at the launchOf the BRDC familiar territory Driver, but Academy commercially powered by I am sure that the cost effectiveness Motorsport UK of dropping into an established
opportunities gives young competitors the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential.
Later that day, I joined David Richards to present, for the second year in a row, the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy to Lando Norris following his FIA Formula 1 World Championshipwinning season. Created in 1959, the trophy is awarded each year to the most successful British or Commonwealth Formula 1 driver and is named after Mike Hawthorn, Britain’ s first Formula 1 World Champion.
On the roof of McLaren’ s Team Hub in the Formula 1 paddock, after the photographs had been taken, Lando spent several minutes reading the names engraved around the base of the trophy, counting how many times Lewis Hamilton’ s name appeared.
That roll call of names reflects more than six decades of British success in Formula 1. The Academy is one part
JEP infrastructure instead of creating a of huge ensuring temporary that construction Britain continues must to be develop compelling drivers, and capable that financial of adding gain their can be own invested names in to other it. innovations and We promotions finished the. As day a hard-core with a walk race through fan, I welcome the marshals the sight’ campsite of the GEN4. David cars fighting and I spent it out time round talking Tarzan with at volunteers Zandvoort and who Paddock had travelled Hill bend from at all over Brands the – UK something, and some we can cases all relate much further to. afield, to be part of the event. Their As for enthusiasm the race, it for came the sport down, and to the pride wire, and they with took four in playing laps to their go it part looked, was like unmistakable Jake Dennis. might scoop a second That sense world of title commitment, but the perils was recognised of street racing just before took their toll British, and Grand Pascal Prix Wehrlein on the was Sunday the one when that George doubled Russell his title presented count. It was the Pirelli great British to see Taylor Grand Barnard Prix Marshal winning of the the Year race and Award becoming to Dorothy the Uwota youngest, our Chief driver Pit ever Lane to do Marshal so. The. Dorothy Brit has has had volunteered a stellar rise at through 26 consecutive karting and British the Grand junior formulae Prix., and maybe he will be Her another award UK recognised driver to lift an the world exceptional title. individual contribution, but it also reflected the work of thousands COMMUNITY of volunteers RESILIENCE across the country I should. Every also acknowledge weekend they the are marshalling challenges that rallies the, staffing weather rescue has units placed, scrutineering on the whole cars community, running, signing-on especially our, organising marshals paddocks who have, and carrying been obliged out dozens to stand of in other searing roles heat that for hours most on competitors end to keep and the spectators show on never the road notice. Our. thanks go out to you for your Investment perseverance in the and future hard extends work. Also, well commiserations beyond elite to drivers those. clubs Britain that’ s motorsport have been forced industry to cancel contributes events – around often at £ the 16 billion last minute to the – UK due economy to the and risk of supports wildfires approximately. Groups of volunteers 50,000 highly will work skilled for months jobs. It is on recognised an event and around to see it the evaporate world for at its the expertise final stage in engineering must be heart, advanced breaking manufacturing – but your, technology civil duty is and commendable innovation., Thank with you. knowledge that increasingly transfers into Wishing sectors you a far safe beyond and enjoyable motorsport itself month such of motorsport as the defence ahead. industry.
It was therefore particularly encouraging Hugh Chambers to welcome the Secretary CEO, Motorsport of State UKfor Business and Trade, Peter Kyle MP, to Motorsport UK’ s headquarters at Bicester Motion. Our discussions ranged from Formula the E visted contribution ExCeL in the motorsport
London Docklands for the final race of 2026, makes where Hugh to the presented UK economy the trophy to through Jaguar, the to championship skills, engineering winning teamand
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