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The funding, of up to £2m, for this programme has been provided by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) through Sport Northern Ireland (Sport NI). The investment programme commenced in April 2009 with the tarmac surfacing of the NW200 paddock. This, in addition to providing a much improved facility for the International North West 200, has also enabled the venue to be used for kart racing and autotests. The programme continued throughout 2010 with the purchase of additional safety equipment for motocross and road racing circuits and also a number of course improvements at some of the road racing circuits. Activity really increased over the past four months, the ‘closed season’ for most disciplines of motorsport, with major projects at the three permanent motorsport circuits in Northern Ireland, Bishopscourt, Kirkistown and Nutts Corner. Further course improvement work is also underway at a number of motocross and road racing circuits. The programme will complete during March. An investment of c£1,200,000 across the three permanent circuits is being used to fund: • Bishopscourt - the current track has been resurfaced from Dunsfort to the Hairpin and is now one of the widest and best surfaced tracks in the UK. Areas of the venue previously only used for rallying have also been resurfaced to provide alternative circuit options for both karting and motorbike racing. • Kirkistown - six new pit lane garages are being built together with a new building for scrutineering competitor’s vehicles and equipment. A new headquarters for marshals is being constructed to provide changing, rest and other essential facilities for them. A new tarmac run-off area and gravel trap has also been installed at the hairpin section of the circuit. • Nutts Corner – the circuit is being upgraded to international karting standards by the resurfacing of the existing tracks and the creation of new stand alone tracks in the infield section. These new tracks can also be combined with the existing track layouts to provide a number of new circuit layout options. The majority of the funding for each of these initiatives has been provided by DCAL/Sport NI with the balance being provided by the respective circuit owners under a ‘partnership funding’ arrangement. The partnership funding arrangement has also been used to fund the purchase of two new Rally Rescue Vehicles costing c£61,000 for the Ballynahinch Motor Club and the British Motorsport Marshals Club (NI) with 2&4 providing £50,000 towards the vehicles and the clubs providing the balance of the funds.  All other initiatives within the programme have been fully funded by 2&4 from the DCAL/Sport NI funding award. They include: • c£410,000 for course improvements and safety equipment at the Northern Ireland Motorcyle Road Racing Venues • c£37,000 for timekeeping and radio equipment for the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs for use at rallies and sprints. • c£175,000 for the Motorcycle Racing Association and its clubs for facility improvement and safety equipment at motocross and supermoto venues. A detailed breakdown of the initiatives supported by the programme is included as Appendix 1 Speaking at the Rosspark reception, Sports Minister, Nelson McCausland said “In 2009, the Northern Ireland Executive provided up to £2m to help motorsport improve health and safety at motorsport venues in all disciplines across Northern Ireland.” “Safety of participants and spectators is, of course, of utmost importance and over recent years my Department, through Sport Northern Ireland, has worked closely with 2&4 and its member governing bodies to assist it in putting in place measures and arrangements to improve the safety of all concerned.” “Motorsport is part of Northern Ireland’s rich sporting heritage with a large and growing fan base. Races such as the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix have grown into major festival events not only on Northern Ireland’s sporting calendar but on the world stage.”  Alan Drysdale, Chair of 2&4 WMSG said: “This major investment by DCAL/Sport NI has enabled 2&4 to make significant upgrades to the facilities used for regulated motorsport in NI and provide better and safer venues for competitors, officials and spectators”. “We deliberately targeted the greater share of our investment to: • the three permanent circuits at Bishopscourt, Kirkistown and Nutts Corner, which are used for a wide range of motorsport activities throughout the year; • venues that are used for multiple events during the year; • equipment that can be used at multiple events.” This approach has allowed us to significantly improve our permanent and semi-permanent facilities to a standard that will help us to develop our next generation of top class competitors to represent Northern Ireland on the international and world stages. It will also provide much enhanced facilities for the majority of our competitors who are ‘home based.” “We have also made a major investment in additional safety equipment and other improvements at the circuits used for motorcycle road racing in Northern Ireland.” Eamonn McCartan, Chief Executive Sport Northern Ireland said: “The funding provided through the Investment in Motorsport Programme will make a significant difference to our 3 major race circuits in NI and their ability to host local, national and international events, while at the same time increasing safety for participants and spectators across the sport. This makes a vital contribution to the local economy, as well as to the quality of home-grown talent within this sport and it is to be welcomed.”
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