Motor sport is one of the most popular and successful sports in Britain.  There are over 700 registered motor clubs, who organise almost 5,000 events annually in 22 different disciplines.  Over 30,000 individuals hold MSA Competition Licences, but there are at least 100,000 competitors.

Brief History
In 1897, the development of the motorcar led to the foundation of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, subsequently renamed The Royal Automobile Club.  Today, the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Limited (operating since 1977) is a direct descendant of the original organisation, and is the National Governing Body for four wheeled motor sport in the UK, directly affiliated to the FIA (Federation International de l'Automobile) as the world governing body for the sport.

Facilities and Equipment Required
Anyone over the age of 8 can drive competitively (in karting) and there are opportunities for severely disabled drivers.  Many forms of motor sport can be tackled with completely standard road cars, while others permit only very limited modifications.  There are events just for old cars, for brand new cars, for trucks and for small cars.  Soon, there will also be events for electric cars.  Actually, you don't even need a car to compete - several types of motor sport require each car to carry a passenger, often as an active participant.  If you prefer not to compete at all, there are opportunities to marshal, to help with organising, or simply to spectate.

Benefits of Participating
Participation in motor sport involves the practice of skill, the measurement of performance and, in many cases, the development of responsibility and self-reliance.  The organisation of the sport offers further opportunities to acquire lifeskills, including team leadership, negotiation and administrative skills, often in a challenging outdoor environment.

Variations of the sport
When the sport started over a hundred years ago all events held were reliability trials, but today the sport encompasses over 22 different disciplines catering for a wide spectrum of vehicles and driver abilities. A full description of the various disciplines is given in the 'Go Motorsport' booklet, available free on request from the MSA (01753 765000).