MOTORSPORT: Return to racing plan revealed

Motorsport Australia (formerly CAMS) has released its return to racing strategy in an attempt to hasten the resumption of motorsport activity in a ‘COVID-19 environment’.

Submitted to the federal government this week, MA’s 10-page ‘Return to Race’ document outlines the steps Australia’s motorsport governing body plans to put in place to ensure the health and safety of all stakeholders.

Event organisers will need to follow six key principles, the most obvious of which are government guidelines as set out by federal, state and local public health authorities, and hygiene and social distancing measures.

Motorsport Australia says event organisers should also encourage the use of the ‘COVIDSafe App’ for all participants, and restrict “anyone with symptoms consistent with COVID-19” – as well as anyone who has been overseas in the last 14 days or been in contact with a positive case – from their event.

Hand hygiene facilities or products must be available to all event attendees and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be worn by rescue, recovery and medical personnel at the event.

All race goers are also advised to avoid sharing equipment, tools or apparel, minimise shared food or group catering services and thoroughly clean all frequently touched surfaces, work areas and equipment.

There should also be close monitoring of attendees by a ‘COVID-19 Checker’ appointed to each event and event organisers should utilise education, training and resources provided by the government.

In terms of social distancing, driver’s briefings will be via video link, appeals/protests will need to be online, indoor facilities and mass gatherings should be avoided, and the number competitors, officials and support personnel should be limited overall and in certain areas.

Buildings such as Race Control should have signage that clearly indicates the maximum number of people allowed and operational vehicles should be limited to two occupants and they should remain outside their vehicle until they are needed to respond to an incident.

MA said motorsport competitors and officials should follow the same ‘Get in, train and get out’ principle as the Australian Institute of Sport, meaning they “should come to an event prepared and once their activities have finished, pack up and leave”.

As we’ve reported, Australia’s two premier motorsport categories are keen to get back on track, with the 2020 Supercars championship and the carsales TCR Australia Series both hopefully of returning to the track in coming months.

Motorsport Australia says it reviewed the government’s most recent COVID-19 requirements in consultation with the Motorsport Australia National Medical Advisory Committee (NMAC), the AIS, FIA, Motorsport UK and various Motorsport Australia senior officials and event organisers.

It notes that motor racing is a non-contact sport conducted outdoors by people who are ‘isolated’ in a vehicle in large site areas in most cases, and that events can be run without spectators

MA also says that in economic terms, motorsport generates 30,000 full-time jobs and contributes an estimated $3 billion to the Australian economy.