All motorsport is under threat from the European Court, and your action today can help save it, writes Guild of Motoring Writers committee member Laura Platman.
This is a serious threat not just to competitors and the motorsport industry but also to journalists and media organisations producing coverage of the sport and EU consultation closes tomorrow, 20 October.
In 2014 the European Court ruled that any use of a vehicle required compulsory insurance cover, so long as that use was consistent with the normal function of the vehicle.
This would require all EU Member States to enact laws requiring compulsory and unlimited third-party liability insurance to cover personal injury between motorsport competitors and car-to-car damage during any competition, at any level, whether regulated by the FIA or FIM or not.
Insurance of this kind is not currently available and looks unlikely to be available in future – which would mean motorsport would not be able to continue in the EU because it would be illegal and anyone taking part could be arrested, charged and face court penalties.
The Guild is supporting the efforts made by the Motor Sports Association and the Motorsport Industry Association in responding to this issue.
“We can work together to make the European Commission fully aware of the economic importance of motorsport and the employment which our sport and industry provides across the European Union by responding to an EU consultation which closes tomorrow, 20 October,” wrote Ms Platman.
For more information see the the MIA’s call to action and the MSA’s response to a Department for Transport consultation.