UK Karting - Interview with John Grant, MSA Chairman

Interview with John Grant, MSA Chairman

Questions put and the answers given by Mr. John Grant in recent interview. Please note that this interview was received form the Motor Sports Association and whilst the questions do not relate to karting specifically it may be of interest to karters.

Q - What are the main challenges you feel the MSA faces right now?

A - First, the international reputation of British motor sport is not as strong as it should be. Britain, more than any other country, is the home of world motor sport and the MSA should play a bigger role internationally. But, to do this, it needs to have a much stronger reputation. This has suffered for a number of reasons, partly to do with the British Grand Prix, partly to do with its relationship with the FIA. The success of this year's Grand Prix should help to turn this round and we now need to build on this.

We also need to address our reputation and role within the UK. Our customer research tells us that the MSA is seen as too bureaucratic and too reticent to take the leadership role that our members think we should.

Another issue is the question of funding. As in many other sports, not enough money is finding its way from the top of motor sport down to the grass roots. One of our primary responsibilities at the MSA is to look after the development and support of motor sport at the grass roots level and we have to approach the question of how this can be funded with a completely open mind.

There are a number of further issues resulting from the current state of the economy, as a result of which some of our championships are not as healthy as they used to be. Here, the MSA has already seized the initiative in rationalising series to ensure fewer, but better quality, championships with longer entry lists and more enjoyable racing and rallying.

Q - Can you give us your assessment of the current state of British motor sport?

A - In many respects, motor sport in the UK is fundamentally healthy. For example, the UK provides a lot of expertise for the development of motor sport around the world, and our motor sport industry is still the world leader by far. The number of licence holders has been relatively stable in recent years in spite of some economic problems. Spectator awareness is very strong - at the top end in particular, the TV audience is huge. So there are a lot of strengths for us to take heart from. However, there are some problems, with too many similar championships which results in each of them being weaker than they should be. That results in disillusioned competitors. Although we have 35,000 MSA licence holders, something like 20% of these do not renew their licences each year. Some of that may be inevitable but we'd like to retain more of those people and attract more new entrants into the sport each year. There are challenges to traditional areas of motor sport too, particularly from the increasing popularity of track days. However, we shouldn't see these as competition for traditional motor sport, but as an opportunity to attract a whole new audience of enthusiasts who are already participating, through track days, in this relatively easy and low-cost form of motor sport. We have to find ways of helping some of these casual participants to convert into the more serious levels of motor sport.

Q - What are the priority tasks you will deal with in your first 12 months as chairman?

A - I should point out that I don't actually take up the chairmanship role until December, so I'm not really on the job yet. However, it seems that most people - including all those here at the MSA - are assuming that I've already started, and perhaps in reality I have! I'm already gathering as much information from as many people as I can. The most important task over the next 12 months will be to drive forward the work that's already started to develop a new strategy for motor sport in the UK. This is a major undertaking for the MSA. It is particularly important that we don't attempt to do it in isolation but in co-operation with the other interested parties. These include, for example, the MIA and AMRA, the bodies that represent the businesses involved in motor sport - the manufacturers of vehicles and components and the providers of the services which make the motor sport industry such an important part of the British economy. The Department of Trade & Industry are another interested party, as they are promoting the development of motor sport industry clusters to help revitalise the nation's engineering industry. The Department of Culture, Media & Sport also have an interest in promoting motor sport, so there are a lot of parties we need to work with in developing this new strategy.

Although each of these has already done good work on their own specific objectives, it will be quite a task to bring all the pieces together and to ensure everybody is working in harmony. To this end, I will be devoting a lot of my efforts to supporting Colin Hilton, the chief executive of the MSA, and establishing and promoting relations with the other people involved.

Q - The MSA has recently undertaken a Strategic Review. Is there anything you can tell us at this stage about the current status of the Strategic Review and what we may expect to come out of that in the near future?

A - It's too early to say anything specific, as it's early days and I haven't gone into it yet in great depth. However, it is clear from the initial feedback that the MSA's traditional roles - the governance and administration of motor sport and, through our IMS subsidiary, the promotion and organisation of the major international events - are alive and well. The new role emerging from the Strategic Review is that we need to expand the MSA's involvement in the development of motor sport. We are strengthening our organisational capability to enable us to take on this new development role. We will be keeping the world informed as this progresses over the next few months.

Q - What made you decide to take on the role of MSA Chairman?

A - First of all there's an important job to be done - in restoring our relationship with the FIA, in enhancing the reputation of the MSA in the UK, in developing a new strategy for UK motor sport, in sorting out funding for the future and that's just for starters. So it's an immense challenge - and I like challenges. The second and equally important point is that I'm a huge enthusiast - I've had a lot of fun in my years as a competitor in rallies, races and other forms of motor sport but it's a long time since I did anything to contribute to the sport. The opportunity was presented and I decided the time had come for me to give something back. With my experience in the motor industry and my personal involvement in motor sport, I hope that I'll be able to make a worthwhile contribution.

Q - What areas of the MSA's work do you believe you will be able to make the most impact on?

A - It's important to recognise that there is already a very strong organisation in place at the MSA. Colin Hilton, the chief executive, and his team run the business day-to-day, and run it very well. My role will be to provide support, and hopefully some wise counsel, to the executive team and to lead the board in considering the future strategy of the MSA. I will also be involved in our external relationships, for example with the FIA, government departments and other bodies involved in motor sport in the UK.

Q - Drawing on your experience at a senior level in business, do you think there are similarities between an organisation such as the MSA, a national governing body, and big business?

A - There should be strong similarities. Whether you're a non-profit making organisation, such as the MSA, or a business trying to make money for its shareholders, the way to succeed is the same. You need a clear and consistent strategy and a clear set of objectives to achieve the strategy. You need the right resources and the right people in place to deliver those objectives. You need to communicate continuously with all your audiences customers, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders to make sure everybody understands what is expected of them, and then you need to drive hard to get the job done. It doesn't make much difference whether it's a business or an organisation involved in governing motor sport.

Q - How do you think the MSA compares with other ASNs around the world?

A - I can't judge at this point how we compare with the other ASNs. Although I've competed in some international events, that doesn't give you a very broad perspective, so I'll have to get to know the other national bodies before I'm able to make an informed judgement.

Q - When do you expect the MSA to regain its seat on the World Council?

A - When we regain our seat is not for me to judge, but it is a high priority to restore the MSA to what I would regard as its rightful position as one of the more senior ASNs on the World Council. Whatever the reasons may have been for losing our seat, these need to be addressed and this is already happening. For example, the successful running of the British Grand Prix this year has undoubtedly helped to repair some of the damage that was done by the unfortunate experiences of a couple of years ago.

Q - Do you think your experience as a competitor will help or hinder you in this role?

A - It undoubtedly helps. Without some experience of competing, it would clearly be more difficult to develop the depth of understanding of the sport or to be able to establish the credibility that one needs to have here. It's very important for all our audiences, whether at the professional or the club level, to have faith in the MSA. They have to believe the sport is being run by people who understand their concerns. I've been fortunate to have competed over the years in grass roots motor sport and in international events and I've had some involvement in the professional end of motor sport as well, through my time at Ford and Jaguar, and I think that will be an enormous help.

Q - How have you found the reception to your appointment from the world of UK motor sport?

A - It's early days, but I've been enormously encouraged by the expressions of goodwill that I've already received from a wide variety of people. There seems to be broad recognition that there are problems to be addressed but there is tremendous goodwill towards the MSA and I have no doubt that I will get a lot of support. There is a common and widespread interest in ensuring the long-term health of motor sport and the motor sport industry in the UK. My role is to make sure that happens.

Received from the Motor Sports Association.

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