FAQ

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) is the governing body of all four-wheel motor sport in the UK and is responsible for its regulation, administration, development and promotion. The MSA also runs Go Motorsport.

There are over a dozen main disciplines of four-wheel motor sport, of which Circuit Racing is just one. To find out more about these disciplines, head over to the Types of Motor Sport section.

It depends which type and level of motor sport you want to compete in. For a lot of grass roots motor sport all you need is to be a member of a local motor club, which you can join on the day. However for Racing, Rallying, some Karting and a few other disciplines you need an MSA Competition Licence. You also need a licence for any national level events or championships. To find out more, take a look at the Get a Competition Licence page.

The MSA issues permits for around 4,500 events every year, so there are plenty to get involved in, whether as a competitor, volunteer or spectator. The MSA also issues around 30,000 Competition Licences annually, but the actual number of people competing in motor sport is closer to 200,000, as you don’t need a licence to take part in the vast majority of grass roots club motor sport events.

Yes, plenty. Road Rallies and AutoSOLOs are for road cars only, while Autotests and Cross Country events usually have classes for standard road cars. There are also disciplines such as Hill Climb and Sprint, which road cars can enter with just a few minor safety modifications.

Motor clubs are groups of motoring and motor sport enthusiasts. Many clubs organise the 4,500 motor sport events that take place every year in the UK. There are around 750 MSA- registered clubs across the country; to find your local club, click here.

If you don’t want to get behind the wheel, how about getting in the passenger seat? Rallying and Cross Country require co-drivers to let the driver know what’s coming up ahead, and Trials use passengers to help balance the car for the best grip. If you want to keep out of the car altogether you can volunteer as a Marshal or Official. To find out more head over to the volunteering page.

It depends on the exact nature of your disability but, generally speaking, yes you can. Disabled drivers are required to undergo a special assessment before being granted an MSA Competition Licence but if you pass that there’s nothing stopping you. More information can be found on the Disabled Motorsport page.

Yes – the Go Motorsport Regional Development Officers. There are 10 RDOs across the country and one of their roles is to deliver presentations in schools and colleges. If you’re interested simply click here and drop your local RDO an email.

Motor sport carries an inherent risk but that risk is managed (i.e. reduced) through the application of sporting and technical regulations. These can include things like requiring the use of helmets and overalls, roll cages, special seats, harnesses and more. All events are run by trained Officials and Marshals, while venues have to be inspected and licensed to make sure they are safe for use. All of this – and more – combines to give motor sport a great safety track record, although accidents can and do happen.

Motor sport is big business in the UK, employing around 40,000 people across approximately 4,500 companies.  The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) has created a document entitled 'What do I need for a career in motor sport?' that provides invaluable advice on how to get started, particularly if you want to go down the engineering route. Click here to head to the MIA's guide.