Development Group

Our Development Group meets regularly to discuss matters relating to the development of motorsport in Scotland.  Its members include representatives of all the motorsport disciplines.

The following is a summary of some of the more important development tasks:

• Assisting Scottish clubs to apply to Sport Scotland for Lottery funding of capital projects.  Among those who have received support are Lothian Car Club, Monklands Sporting Car Club and Knockhill Circuit.
• Developing new disciplines of the sport in Scotland by organising events which fill a niche in the market, such as the Scottish Hillrally, which will be run for the tenth time in 2006, the UK Rally Challenge, which has brought television coverage for Scottish rallying, and Rally Scotland, the first endurance rally to be run in Scotland.
• Representing motor sport at Sport Scotland and the Scottish Sports Association, with whom a close relationship has developed with a view to obtaining public funding for motorsport.
• Providing assistance and support to student organisations throughout Scotland for the development of their activities.  Among the universities and colleges assisted are Glasgow University, Edinburgh University, Strathclyde University, Clydebank College and Bell College.
• Making the case to the Scottish Executive for enabling legislation which will allow road closure orders for motorsport throughout Scotland.  There are signs that this is coming to fruition.
• Assisting new clubs to become established, most recently in Moffat where the new motor club is being used as a pilot project for other parts of the country.
• Providing expert legal advice to car and motorcycle clubs on the new land reform legislation and its interpretation in relation to motorsport.
• Establishing links with the Scottish Auto-Cycle Union to the benefit of both car and motorcycle sport.
• Providing a central contact point for all aspects of our sport, for competitors, clubs, and anyone requiring help or guidance
• Assisting and encouraging new officials to become involved and to develop their talents for the benefit of the sport.
• Administering and providing supporting evidence for applications by competitors to the Lottery Sports Fund and other public funding bodies.  Grants to motorsport competitors have exceeded £300,000.
• Co-ordinating the proposed development centre at Dalquhandy in South Lanarkshire in conjunction with Scottish Coal, a commercial consortium and public funding bodies.
• Bringing all disciplines within our sport together through our Development Group, where discussion takes place on all aspects, problems and current issues.
• Providing a regular update on important aspects affecting the sport by means of our Newsletter.