Scot Analysis of Motorsport in Northern Ireland

The following is a summary of the strengths and challenges for Motorsport in Northern Ireland and the opportunities and threats which it faces in moving forward.

Strengths

  • Large grassroots network of clubs across all four disciplines (c.80 clubs)
  • Locally based and grown
  • Contributing to the economy of NI
  • Two large spectator events – Ulster Grand Prix and NW 200
  • Significant economic and social impact of the sport (c. £100m per annum)
  • Contributes to tourism
  • Welcoming & shared sport
  • Dedicated & enthusiastic volunteers
  • The road based nature of the sport
  • Over 6,000 active members
  • Four active governing bodies
  • Enjoyed by people from all community backgrounds & income brackets
  • Good cross community engagement
  • Good Motocross tracks
  • Over 320 events run every year (regional, national, EU & International)
  • Long history and heritage of the sport including many inventors
  • Many World champions
  • Represented at FIM and FIA at World level & on National GBs
  • Many benefits to participation including – physical, mental health and well-being; social engagement community involvement, social cohesion; personal satisfaction, team building, friendships; confidence building; equality of opportunity
  • Charity work undertaken by clubs
  • Developing engineering and other skills
  • Skills development of both competitors and volunteers – transferable skills
  • Contributes to a reduction in Anti- Social Behaviour (ASB)
  • Contributes to safe driving and cycling

Challenges

  • NI’s best kept secret – c.6 events every week – lack of awareness of where and for whom
  • Lack of a collegiate approach to the sport’s development
  • Broadening the attraction for novices
  • Value of engagement in the sport not fully understood
  • The increasingly important environmental lobby
  • The increased focus on e-cars and e-motorbikes
  • Costs of engaging in the sport can be high
  • Older volunteers and reducing number of volunteers – overstretched and not valued enough
  • Not sufficient Clerks of the Courses
  • Insurance costs are high
  • The cost of continued improvements required to ensure the safety of competitors and spectators
  • Reducing number of competitors
  • The sport is invisible to many – entry points not clear
  • No Academy in Northern Ireland
  • Lack of coaching framework for the sport
  • Progression routes for the sport not fully understood
  • Little use of technology in safety planning
  • Pathways to careers and support – not joined up, understood or connected to other sport pathways
  • External forces – adverse weather, accidents, fatalities
  • Diversity within the sport– more participation by females, youth and those with a disability required
  • Need for a programme of continuous development to build the expertise and capability of clubs, events and the Governing Bodies to secure the sport’s future
  • Little focus on succession planning
  • Insular approach by some clubs
  • Transparency could be improved
  • Web sites need updated
  • Generating sufficient income from revenue streams
  • Uncertainty around issues including road closure costs
  • Lack of coordinated support from government
  • PR and media coverage not optimised – lack of interactive fan engagement
  • Adequately addressing conflicts of interest
  • Training for new members of the governing bodies

 

 

 

Opportunities

  • Identify funding and investment opportunities (e.g. Motorsport UK/ FIA grants, central & local government & trusts e.g. Sport NI, DfC, TEO, DOJ, PEACE funding) – For Coaching; Facilities; Safety; Engagement, Participation; capacity building
  • Build on the cross community nature of the sport
  • Using motorsport to encourage responsible driving and riding
  • Use technology to improve safety planning and practices
  • Risk assessments, Event safety planning & multi-agency planning
  • Sustain and underpin the existing economic impact of motorsport
  • Maximise the commercial potential of events
  • CPD for athletes, officials and volunteers
  • Developing local supply chain for motorsport
  • Developing a structured approach to exporting motorsport goods & services
  • Promoting motorsport tourism
  • More targeted promotion of NI motorsports by Event Promoters, GBs/ CBs etc. e.g. Clustering a series
  • of related events; interdisciplinary web site of all motorsport events in NI; more media coverage to a worldwide audience
  • Host a world championship event
  • Environment – Helping members to promote the adoption of environmental best practice
  • Improve and widen participation in the sport
  • Use technology to engage more young people; expand the fan base
  • Offer local, affordable, entry level opportunities/ tasters
  • Live streaming & interactive fan engagement
  • Build on the FIA and FIMs initiatives to enhance the engagement of women in the sport
  • Girls on Track- Karting Challenge; Women in engineering
  • FI in schools – STEM challenge; FIA Womens Drivers Academy
  • FIM – The Commission for Women in Motorcycling
  • Growth of Digital Motorsport
    • Take advantage of the rise in simulation of the sport
  • Promoting collaboration, joint services & joint purchasing of equipment
  • Collaboration between 2& 4 wheels and the 4 governing bodies / co-ordinating bodies with relevant central and local government departments, Voluntary sector and the private sector
    • For events, safety, participation, marketing, commercialisation
  • Take advantage in the rise in e-cars and sustainable car and bike racing
  • Develop emerging opportunities around digital technologies, robotics, electrification and automation technologies
  • Examine SMART Cities concept for NI
  • Partnerships with Universities, FE colleges, private sector
  • Learn from and collaborate with other sports governing bodies
  • Improve governance of the sport
  • Work more collegiately for the collective benefit of the sport
  • Learn and collaborate with other governing bodies on functions
  • Seek alignment with the UK Code for Sports Governance for all GBs/ CBs

Lack of buy-in to a collegiate vision for the sport by clubs and the need for change

 

Threats

  • Weather
  • Changes in attitude to the environment and pollution by the public
  • Seen as a polluting sport
  • Cost of fuel
  • Safety – a major accident could significantly change perceptions
  • Seen as male dominated
  • Cost of insurance
  • Barriers to entry for new competitors
  • Track erosion and lack of investment in roads
  • The rising cost of insurance
  • Planning permission can be a barrier
  • Cost of machinery
  • Cost of safety equipment
  • Noise legislation
  • Perception that motorsport is dangerous
  • Changing way in which young people engage in sport
  • The more sedentary lifestyle of younger people
  • mobile devices are a competitor for their time
  • Not investing in our talented young athletes
  • Not having an Academy for the Sport
  • Lack of buy-in to a collegiate vision for the sport by clubs and the need for change
  • Brexit
  • Not embracing new technologies and social media
  • Focusing on facilities and capital and not on our athletes