Motorsport UK hails 'significant victory' on Vnuk insurance law
Motorsport UK has hailed the British government's decision to exempt the UK from the European Union's Vnuk law that threatened to render motorsport insurance unfeasible as "a hugely significant victory"
The European Union's interpretation of a 2014 court case, brought by Slovenian Damijan Vnuk after he was knocked off his ladder by a reversing tractor in 2007, resulted in changes to its Motor Insurance Directive that required all vehicles to be insured even if being used on private land.
The implications of the Vnuk insurance issue were significant for motorsport, because any collision between racing cars would be treated as a road traffic accident and subsequently involve the police.
The changes to the Motor Insurance Directive threatened to make insurance policies for motorsport prohibitively expensive, to the tune of an estimated £458 million per year, prompting Motorsport Industry Association chairman Chris Aylett to comment that it "could close down all motorsport" in EU countries.
PLUS: The threat to motorsport's future that won't go away
After extensive lobbying, a crucial vote in January 2019 by an EU Parliamentary committee went in favour of motorsport by excluding motorsport from the amended wording of the MID. This was subsequently approved by the European Parliament.
However, the amended legislation still had to be approved by each member state before coming into effect.
Following Britain's official exit from the European Union on 1 January 2021, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has now announced that the UK would scrap the "over-the-top" Vnuk requirement from British law.
Responding to the news, a Motorsport UK statement welcomed the move, saying Vnuk "would have posed an existential threat to motorsport, risking tens of thousands of jobs in the process".
Motorsport UK chairman David Richards said: "Today's announcement is a hugely significant victory for the UK and our sport, after a considerable effort by Motorsport UK and the Department of Transport over several years to defeat the threat of the Vnuk insurance issue.
"This decision provides stability as we seek to progress our sustainability agenda and protects the UK's preeminent position at the forefront of motorsport technology worldwide.
"I would like to thank all those who played a part in securing this important outcome, including the MIA and the insurance industry."
Why UK national clubs must work together to survive
From the archive: Confessions of the race instructors
The consistency that brought Barwell back-to-back British GT glory
Never finishing lower than fifth, Leo Machitski and Dennis Lind’s peerless consistency paid dividends in 2021 as British GT’s decision to drop the Silver class yielded the same outcome as in 2020 - a Barwell-run Lamborghini sweeping to the title. Autosport reviews the GT3 and GT4 classes, and picks out the year's best drivers
How 2021's TOCA support titles were won
There were all the usual thrills and spills among the BTCC support series this year and plenty of impressive performances along the way. Autosport recaps how the five championships were won and ranks the top 10 drivers
The other finely-poised 2021 battle that could face a decisive swing
There’s just a handful of events remaining in the national racing season, but it’s still very much all to play for in the battle to secure the most wins in 2021. Cam Jackson and Miles Rudman currently heading the classification ahead of a potentially crucial weekend of national racing for Autosport’s National Driver Rankings
How 50th anniversary Festival reminded the world of its charm
Big names were back on track and in the grandstand for the 50th Formula Ford Festival last weekend, which served to remind the world of the knockout contest's enduring appeal - even if it is unlikely to return to its former status as a must-win event on the single-seater ladder
The key early victory that could challenge UK junior racing's hegemony
The decision to allow 15-year-olds to race in MSV's new low-cost GB4 championship in 2022 poses a challenge to the position of British F4 - previously the only UK-based series where drivers below the age of 16 could compete. Whether the two can co-exist is the next pertinent question...
Memories from Formula Ford Festival greats
Ahead of this year’s 50th edition of the legendary contest, we speak to some of those involved in some of the best contests over the years
The other title battles to be decided at Brands Hatch this weekend
The finale of the British Touring Car Championship always provides plenty of drama, but its support series are also set to produce many twists and turns at this weekend's last round. Unusually, all five titles are still up for grabs, so it's all to play for at Brands Hatch. Here's how each series' showdown is shaping up
The ex-IndyCar racer in "uncharted territory" of British GT team ownership
This weekend’s British GT finale will be a tense title showdown for some but, for those not in the championship fight, it’s a chance to end a challenging year on a high. In the latter camp is Paddock Motorsport's team owner Martin Plowman, whose 2021 season has been a rollercoaster ride of non-stop learning