MOTORSPORT ON SHOW IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Representatives from all five disciplines of Australian Motorsport, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, gathered in Canberra’s Parliament House on Monday evening for a Parliamentary Friends of Australian Motorsport Information and Networking Session.

Co-hosted by Luke Gosling MP and Bert Van Manen MP along with the Australian Motorsport Council, the evening was attended by numerous Members of Parliament and Senators, including the Minister for Sport, The Hon Anika Wells MP and Shadow Minister for Sport Senator the Hon Anne Ruston.

The Australian Motorsport Council (AMC) is the representative body of Australia’s peak national motorsport regulatory bodies across the five key motorsport disciplines – motor racing, motorcycling, karting, speedway and drag racing.

“Outside of the Olympics, motorsport has generated more international success for Australian sport than many or most other world sports in which Australian’s compete.  We’d like to work with the Federal Government and their associated sporting organisations on having motorsport athletes recognised as a part of Australia’s High Performance strategy,” said AMC Executive Officer Kelvin O’Reilly.

“We believe that Australian motor racing athletes competing on the global stage deserve the same recognition and support as athletes from Summer and Winter Olympic, Paralympic, and Commonwealth Games sports.

“Karting Australia has more young drivers, and Motorcycling Australia has more young riders, competing at the highest levels than ever before, both nationally and internationally. There are many more Australians who are further along their High Performance Pathways competing on Motorsport Australia International Licences around the world in circuit racing.

“In motorcycle racing, it is a similar story with a great breed of young talent coming through the ranks on their way to the highest level in their chosen discipline.  Only last weekend the Australian team won the Motocross des Nations event for the first time – a fantastic achievement.

“Speedway Australia is continuing to develop world class drivers on the dirt track – as does ANDRA for on the drag racing strip.  The AMC aims to work together as a collective group for the betterment of motorsport.

“Members of the AMC look forward to working with the Government on further enhancing the potential for motorsport through various opportunities creating better drivers and riders and further enhancing the potential of all motorsport disciplines in Australia.”