Students at St. Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan, as well as St. Michael’s Primary School in Finnis, near Dromara, received visits from the MSA’s N.I. Go Motorsport Regional Development Officer (RDO) on Wednesday. Despite the heavy rain, students didn’t allow their enthusiasm to be dampened as they discovered  all about the world of motorsport. RDO Jonathan MacDonald delivered a strong safety message and also gave students the opportunity to see his Evo 1 rally car.

Jonathan is travelling across Northern Ireland to deliver Go Motorsport presentations to students. If your school would be interested in receiving a visit (free of charge), Jonathan can be contacted on 07895 007555.

The Motor Sports Association is delighted to announce Go Motorsport Live! – a special open day to be staged at Silverstone on Sunday 7 July as an integral part of the governing body’s drive to help more people to get involved in all areas of motor sport.

Coming just one week after the British Grand Prix and at the culmination of National Motorsport Week 2013 (29 June-7July), Go Motorsport Live! will showcase all the sport has to offer from local motor club events to future careers within a top Formula One team.

The public will be admitted free of charge and will have the chance to experience a wide variety of different disciplines… even some from the passenger seat. The MSA is inviting local motor clubs to participate and showcase their grassroots activities, and is also encouraging teams and championships to set up informative displays.

To provide all those attending Go Motorsport Live! with a real insight into the kind of affordable fun they can have, often in their own road car, passenger rides in entry-level disciplines such as autosolos and production car trials will be on offer.

Highlighting the MSA’s ‘Year of the Volunteer’ initiative, marshals’ clubs will be offering advice to potential recruits while, as an introduction to both circuit racing and rallying, Silverstone will be providing hot laps and rally rides as well as tours of its world famous facilities. Visitors will even be offered the chance to stand on the F1 podium.

As co-promoters of National Motorsport Week, the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) and its members will be offering careers advice for those seeking employment within the world leading UK motor sport industry. Young engineers will also enjoy special access to the Formula Student finals that are being staged at Silverstone over that weekend.

“Go Motorsport Live! has all the ingredients to become an effective Open Day that showcases many aspects of our sport,” says Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the MSA. “The timing is perfect, too. Those watching the British Grand Prix can, just seven days later, come to Silverstone and discover just how easy it is for them to get involved in the sport they’ve been following.”

Richard Phillips, Managing Director, Silverstone Circuit Limited, said: “Silverstone are delighted to be supporting the Go Motorsport initiative by hosting this event. This open day is a great opportunity to demonstrate the number of different forms of motor sport that are available in the UK at various different budgets whether you are spectating, participating or even looking for a career in the sport.”

Championships, event organisers, motor clubs, teams and others wishing to promote their activities with displays at Go Motorsport Live! should contact Jess Fack, Development Officer at the MSA (jess.fack@msauk.org or +44 (0)7568 105 887). Public admittance – including parking – is entirely free on the day and no tickets are required.

The Motor Sports Association, the governing body of UK motor sport, launched its ‘Year of the Volunteer’ at the Autosport International show (10-13 January).

Introducing the initiative on the event’s high profile Central Stage, the MSA’s Chief Executive Colin Hilton was joined by reigning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden and Richard Egger, Go Motorsport’s Regional Development Officer in the East Midlands.

“We are celebrating the invaluable work carried out by these all-too-often ‘unsung heroes’ without whom motor sport wouldn’t function, as well as showing others how they can get involved,” explained Hilton. “Every year there are more than 5,000 motor sport events staged all over the UK and, whether a 12-car rally organised by a local motor club or an international race meeting at Silverstone, they all need volunteers.”

To help launch the campaign, Egger helped to set up a special Go Motorsport display stand at the NEC showcasing all the exciting opportunities open to volunteers ranging from trackside marshals to technical scrutineers – he was keen to emphasise the desire to attract newcomers.

“There’s always a need to attract more young people and that’s why it’s important to have this ‘Year of the Volunteer’,” said Egger who regularly marshals on regional rallies and motor club events. “I know from personal experience just how much job satisfaction you get – you go home with a real buzz having played your part in the successful running of an exciting event.”

“They really are a key part of the action and it really is a great way to be involved in this sport,” agreed Shedden… and the newly crowned BTCC champion knows just how valuable volunteers are to the safety and well being of competitors following a fiery incident at Snetterton last season that almost cost him his first touring car title.

“My car was a bonfire and, if it hadn’t been for the swift action of some fire marshals, my season would have been over there and then,” he recalled. “Whether I won the championship or not came down to those ten seconds.”

The Motor Sports Association, governing body of UK motor sport, is launching its ‘Year of the Volunteer’ at this week’s Autosport International show (NEC, Birmingham from 10-13 January 2013) as well as giving show-goers an exciting opportunity to participate in a live motor sport event.

Celebrating the invaluable work carried out by volunteers and encouraging others to get involved, the MSA’s ‘Go Motorsport’ display stand highlights the many opportunities open to volunteers ranging from trackside marshalling and timekeeping to technical scrutineers and event officials.

“It is often said that without volunteers there would be no motor sport and that truly is the reality,” commented Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the MSA.

“From the British Grand Prix and Wales Rally GB, to the many thousands of local events organised by enthusiastic motor clubs throughout the land, none of them would happen without the expertise and generosity of these volunteers. Motor sport, though, is a fantastically exciting attraction, not only for those behind the wheel; many others find a variety of ways to get really involved in the action by becoming an integral part of the event in these vital roles.”

To assist interested newcomers to understand the many exciting opportunities available, the Go Motorsport exhibit at Autosport International features a special ‘help desk’ manned by experienced volunteers. The stand also includes a fully equipped rescue vehicle plus a replica of a trackside marshals’ post while for the more technically minded, a team of engineers from the University of West Scotland is busy building a Formula 1000 entry-level rally car.

Of further interest to budding scrutineers is a pair of vehicles each with five built-in faults. Visitors are invited to spot these defects for a chance to win tickets to July’s British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone and Wales Rally GB, Britain’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

“We’re delighted the Motor Sport Association is launching its Year of the Volunteer at Autosport International,” said Ian France, Autosport International Show Director. “Many of the people who attend the show are the enthusiasts who make motor sport possible by volunteering their time, week in, week out in all manner of weather conditions. We’re honoured to be able to recognise their contribution.”

As well as encouraging more people to get involved as volunteers, the MSA is also showcasing one of the most affordable, accessible and fun ways for newcomers to start competing. Free passenger rides are available in a selection of vehicles racing against the clock in a special AutoSolo being staged in a closed-off car park close to the exhibition halls.

AutoSolos are one of the most accessible, affordable and fun forms of motor sport with motor clubs regularly holding hundreds of events throughout the country. The focus is very much on car control as drivers negotiate a specially laid-out course in the swiftest possible time. With costs kept to a minimum, no safety gear (such as helmets and flameproof overalls) is required and all vehicles must be standard production cars.

What’s more it’s possible for youngsters to enter from the age of just 16 years old and it’s no surprise that future World Champions such as Colin McRae cut their competitive teeth on events such as these.

“As part of our campaign to get more people into all areas of grassroots motor sport, we are delighted to be staging an AutoSolo as an exciting new addition to what’s on offer to those attending Autosport International,” added Hilton. “AutoSolos are an easy and inexpensive way into motor sport for anyone wanting to have a full day of low-cost fun on four wheels.”

Tickets for the passenger rides are available free of charge from the Go Motorsport display, located at Stand 7450 in Hall 7.

Detailed information about Go Motorsport is available at www.GoMotorsport.net.

Ever wondered how Santa manages to deliver thousands presents in one night when Rudolph and his reindeer pals are struck down by illness?

Students at Ballyvester Primary School, just outside Donaghadee, Co. Down, were left wide-eyed this week when Santa revealed one of the tricks that he uses on occasion…when he paid them a visit in a rally car!

Santa enlisted the use of the local GoMotorsport.net backed car for his annual trip to the school. And after students received their presents from the big man in the red coat, they were treated to a motorsport talk where they learned about various aspects of motorsport, including safety.

Students also had the opportunity to see a Formula 1 race seat and wheel, as well as a selection of competitor clothing, including a fire resistant race suit, gloves, race boots and helmet.

Soon afterwards, Santa was revving up the engine and left the school to return to work. After all, he is ‘gearing up’ for his busiest night of the year!