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LinkedInBrexit means “minor things will become major issues” warns Motorsport UK chairman
In an exclusive interview with RACE TECH magazine, David Richards, chairman of both Prodrive and Motorsport UK warns of the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on the UK’s motorsport industry.
The former chairman of Aston Martin also criticises the “devastatingly incompetent” manner in which the divorce arrangements have been handled and highlights that the ongoing lack of certainty has forced companies working in motorsport to make difficult, and potentially expensive choices. Teams and organisations are, for example, having to weigh whether to divert resources to develop contingency plans which may never come to bear, or continue to instead focus on the business of winning races and risk being caught out when the UK does finally leave the EU.
Richards also cautioned that irrespective of planning, there is the chance that small pieces of seemingly insignificant legislation could turn out to be crucial to the smooth running of an international motorsports outfit, warning that “minor things will become major issues”.
In the interview, Richards, who is “yet to find any” positives stemming from the UK’s break from Europe also highlights other likely effects which could damage the UK’s place as a centre of excellence for motorsport engineering. From the everyday issues such as the potential transport problems in and out of the Continent and the requirement for carnets and other paperwork, to the wider-ranging issues such as the UK’s influence over the world of motorsport, the migration of skills out of the UK and less participation in British motorsport at a grassroots level.
Read the full interview in the April issue of Race Tech.
