“ I JUST THOUGHT‘ OH MY GOD THESE THINGS ARE GAME CHANGING, IT WAS SO QUICK; IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE”
Club Focus
Electric Motorsport
“ Our aim is to ensure that the type of vehicle someone owns is not, in itself, a barrier to getting involved in motorsport,” explains Ian Smith, Technical Director at Motorsport UK.“ Where it is appropriate to do so, we’ ve continued to evolve our regulations and guidance so that clubs can accommodate electric vehicles in a practical and proportionate way.”
“ For many grassroots disciplines, the process is now much simpler than people might expect. As organisers have gained experience, we’ ve refined the requirements while ensuring that competitors, officials and volunteers continue to have the appropriate procedures and equipment in place.”
“ The considerations for electric vehicles are different to those for conventional vehicles, rather than necessarily more complex. Risk assessments should reflect the nature of the event and venue, taking into account the differing recovery requirements of vehicles according to their powertrain.”
“ I JUST THOUGHT‘ OH MY GOD THESE THINGS ARE GAME CHANGING, IT WAS SO QUICK; IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE”
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EV EVOLUTION The first ever Formula E ePrix was 12 years ago, but EV competition in the UK has relied on the support of a few pioneers. The first appearance of an EV in a UK stage rally came in 2019, while the Electro Rallycross Championship and the first speed event with an EV class, the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, was in 2021.
The next year saw a 10-strong EV field of Teslas and Nissan Leafs entering an AutoSOLO at Brands Hatch. They were competing alongside internal combustion engine counterparts, with three-time AutoSOLO champion Alan Wakeman getting behind the wheel of an EV for the first time.
That event was run by Sevenoaks and District MC, one of the pioneers in this motorsport arena. John Chambers was one of the entrants and he recalls:“ I was very determined to get EVs moving. I got a few other Tesla Model 3 owners together, organised some trackdays then encouraged them to enter whatever events we could find.
“ We had to find organisers who had
Revolution Magazine
somebody championing the cause. A lot of organisers either don’ t like EVs or are put off by the extra things they think they need to do. AutoSOLO is one of the easiest ways into motorsport, so having an EV class really encouraged a lot of the owners I’ d been talking with to have a go.”
Many of those entrants continued to compete in their EVs, with other events offering the opportunity. In the speed world, the Watergate Bay Sprint, Borough 19’ s Ray Heal Memorial Sprint at Lydden Hill, and events at Shelsley Walsh expanded entries to EVs. Meanwhile, Motorsport UK worked with training providers and every registered rescue unit to ensure appropriate EV rescue capability was available as participation developed.
GROWING MARKET Despite obtaining an EV Passport being a straightforward process, requiring only basic information about a standard road vehicle and its high-voltage isolation arrangements, fewer than 30 vehicles have so far been registered