MOTORSPORT: Emergency talks over GT controversy

An emergency meeting of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) board is to be held this week in the wake of its controversial decision to preclude GT racers from competing outside authorised national-level GT events.

Competitors are up in arms about the recently-introduced rule, with a group of about 30 drivers threatening legal action based on competition laws. This was the basis used by rebel promoter Bob Jane to challenge CAMS reign at the height of his Melbourne NASCAR style racing series.

The competitors are also questioning whether the move goes against Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and national competition rules.

James O’Brien, who runs the Challenge Bathurst event, has been planning on going to the Australian Motor Sport Appeal Court.

The CAMS decision banned GT3 cars from Challenge Bathurst and state-level events. It prescribes that – apart from than the Bathurst 12-Hour – the vast majority of FIA-homologated GT3 and all new GT4 cars can only compete in the Australian GT Championship, Australian Endurance Championship and Australian GT Trophy Series.

Leading figures in GT racing, including Steven Richards and Audi Customer Racing Australia boss Troy Russell, say state-level racing is a great way for newcomers to GT racing to gain experience.

CAMS chief executive and former North Melbourne Football Club boss Eugene Arocca, who has called the emergency meeting, says the new rule is “based on sound reasons” but acknowledged “the communication and consultation process could have been better”.

Meanwhile, the latest CAMS annual report has revealed record revenue of $21.3 million – up 6.5 per cent from 2015’s $20 million.

CAMS reported a net surplus of $457,500, up from the previous year’s $406,659.

It said net assets have grown to $8.59 million, with cash reserves of $5.7 million.

According to Mr Arocca, the results were “driven by continued growth in the core business revenues of licensing, permits and event promotions”.

“This result is great for motor sport in Australia; with the CAMS group in a strong financial position, we can continue our investment back into grassroots motor sport without impacting the financial status of the organisation,” he revealed.

“This means great initiatives such as the ‘Club Development Fund’, which awards grants to CAMS-affiliated car clubs to run events to attract new people to motor sport, can continue to grow.

“We have also increased our investment in risk management, officials recruitment and training, junior development and environmental sustainability. Most pleasingly, we have the highest ever recorded number of junior participants.”

Arocca noted that in 2016, CAMS reported its fourth consecutive year of growth in numbers of licence holders, permitted events and affiliated clubs.

“The 4.8 per cent growth we experienced in licence holders in 2016 was positive; even more pleasing was the fact that this growth was shared across all licence categories, including rally, off road, circuit and speed/non-speed licences,” he said.

“Our number of CAMS-affiliated car clubs grew to 561 and we permitted over 2,300 motor sport events throughout the year. Speed events and road and rally events experienced the greatest growth, both up by over 12 per cent on 2015.

“We also know that in 2016 we had 83,631 CAMS-affiliated car club members – this is a 10 per cent increase on 2015 and is a great result because ultimately CAMS' mission is to have more people enjoying more motor sport.”

The CAMS Annual Report is available online at www.cams.com.au