World Rally Championship co winning driver Nicky Grist has called for more affordable entry points into motorsport to ensure its sustainability for future generations.
As of 2024, 77 thousand people participated in motorsports across England, marking an increase on previous years.
However, this is very little in comparison to the millions that watch Formula One on a regular basis.
Speaking on the challenges young people face in getting into rallying, Grist acknowledged that while motorsport will always come at a cost, efforts should be made to keep it as accessible as possible.
“I think the format that we have is good. Motorsport will never be cheap, but you can make it as cheap as you can,” he said.
“I suppose it would be nice if we could have entry-level one-made championships to get youngsters in, to do something with the manufacturer in a very small, low-powered car.
“We have the junior rallying, Junior 1000 championship, which is a great way for them to start.”
Grist emphasized the need for a structured, cost-effective development path for young competitors, highlighting the absence of a dedicated rallying competition as a potential barrier.
He said: “We don’t have a one-made championship, and I think that will bring youngsters together in a cheap way to allow them to do it.
“But you can still rally the same kind of cars and do it cheaply, so it is just getting the people to come and do it in the first place.”
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