Key Characteristics about Motor Sport in Northern Ireland

The Governing Bodies have around 80 affiliated clubs with membership numbering in the region of 6,000. There are approximately 4,000 active members involved in four-wheel motorsport, with the remaining members involved with motorbike racing – the two wheel version of the sport. While the active membership of clubs is modest, the sport attracts a lot of motorsport enthusiasts who are not involved in a specific club. This is evident not only at the major motorcycle events, which attract tens of thousands of spectators and receive significant international media coverage, but also at the numerous local events.

• 80 affiliated clubs
• 4 governing and co-ordinating bodies
  • ANICC;
  • NIKA;
  • MCUI-UC;
  • and MRA
• 6,090 active members – majority male
  • ANICC and MCUI-UC – half members are under 40
  • NIKA – half members are under 18
  • MRA – one third members are under 18
• 2,685 competition holders across the sport
• Average spend per annum by each member between £7,000 and £10,000
• Cost of entry can be high
• Volunteers provide support, encouragement, logistics, and coaching to local enthusiasts; who fund raise and who administer the sport locally (some nationally and internationally)
• It is estimated that the gross economic impact from motor sports in Northern Ireland could be around £100 million (see Figure 2)
• It is estimated that expenditure by motorsport participants was around £58m in 2017

Our strategy has identified a number of actions which will assist us to contribute to the achievement of these outcomes. We aim to build new relationships and partnerships with both central and local government, with Sport NI and others in moving our strategy forward.