Celebrating ‘National Inclusion Week’ across Motorsport UK

Monday 23 September 2024

Here at Motorsport UK, our mission is to inspire and enable more people to participate in our sport in a safe, fair, fun, inclusive and progressive environment. 

As an organisation, our commitment to our community remains at the very heart of what we do, as we continuously strive to break down barriers and misconceptions around motorsport in the UK. 

#RaceWithRespect 

Our Race with Respect code encourages a positive environment, both on and off the track, regardless of whether you are a competitor, a marshal, team manager or a spectator.  

Our Respect Code champions a high standard of behaviour from everyone within the motorsport community, underpinned by our commitment to make motorsport an inclusive and safe sport for everyone, across all levels and disciplines: 

  • Respect 
  • Integrity 
  • Fair Play 
  • Self-control 
  • Good Manners 

StreetCar 

StreetCar is the perfect way to get into motorsport, regardless of if you have any prior experience! 

Launched in 2022, StreetCar was created to demonstrate that motorsport is affordable and accessible to all, encouraging more people to get behind the wheel. There are now 75 clubs that are part of the StreetCar community across the country.  

The programme provides the opportunity to take part in a variety of disciplines, including Autotest, Rally and Trials and Cross Country events. From Treasure Hunts to Navigational Rally and Historic Rally events, all 12 disciplines can be enjoyed with a standard unmodified road car. A free valid RS Clubman licence is required and the standard vehicle must be unmodified.  

To get involved and join our vibrant grassroots motorsport community, you can find your local StreetCar club here. 

Race for Diversity 

Our Race for Diversity programme aims to increase awareness and participation of people from racially diverse and under-privileged backgrounds within the motorsport industry by creating and strengthening pathways to and within UK motorsport.  

Working with Mission 44, the charitable organisation established by Sir Lewis Hamilton, the programme continues to go from strength to strength, with groups of students attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Silverstone Formula Student during this summer.  

Race for Diversity will be holding a celebratory relaunch event on 11 October at Think Tank in Birmingham, with information on different skills and career guidance planned for the future. 

FIA Girls on Track UK 

FIA Girls on Track UK is an initiative to inspire girls and women into seeing and believing that there is a rightful and valuable place for them in the motorsports industry. Through events for girls, a community networking group and the opportunity to meet successful women in the motorsport industry through inspirational virtual events, girls can exchange ideas and ask industry experts. The programme has recently launched its own LinkedIn page. 

Girls on Track attended Extreme E in July, inviting along 40 young carers and members of the Scottish community hub to attend the event and took part in the race’s legacy event, focusing on environmental initiatives to combat the decline of Scottish salmon. 

The programme also had two webinars around the Motorsport UK Karting pathway as well as a community networking event for 75 community members at the British GT at Donington Park, with a further event held mid-September at HQ for 50 members with Un-Limited Motorsport, discussing and exchanging ideas for future talent exploring a career in motorsport. 

F1 Academy Discover your Drive 

F1 Academy Discover Your Drive Karting UK is a national programme to find and nurture the next generation of young female karters. 

Following the local finals of the 2024 British Indoor Karting Championships, 19 girls have qualified for the regional finals, an 850% increase on the 2023 results when only 2 drivers qualified. 

74% of our Discover your Drive cohort finished on the podium in their Local Finals.  

The drivers will now go forward to compete in Regional Finals, held during October.  

Into Speed 

This year saw the launch of the Into Speed programme, a new initiative launched by the British Women Racing Drivers’ Club (BWRDC) to encourage women to try motorsport for the first time. 

Into Speed centres around the hillclimbing discipline, during which drivers compete against the clock in their very own road car. Motorsport UK is supporting the programme as part of its ongoing commitment to increase female participation throughout the sport.  

Buoyed on by the success of this year, the programme will run again in 2025. Keep an eye on the BWRDC website for more details. 

LGBTQ+ 

Motorsport UK is an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, working closely with its experts in the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate Pride and provide community outreach opportunities.   

In 2023, Motorsport UK became first FIA national sporting authority to publish a Transgender Inclusion policy.  

Motorsport has always been considered a universal sport, open to all genders. This new policy acknowledges and respects the rich diversity of gender identities, stating clearly and unequivocally that all are welcome. We believe that this will create a meaningful, significant and important evolution for the UK motorsport community.