Anglia Motor Sport Club scoops Motorsport UK Club of the Year award for ground-breaking work including by rally co-driver Laura Cooledge
A motorsport club made up of 12 clubs in the East Anglian region has been announced as the winner of a coveted nation award in recognition of its pioneering work.
From over 700 clubs nationwide, Anglia Motor Sport Club (AMSC), which covers Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, has been selected as the winner of Motorsport UK's Club of the Year 2022.
Motorsport UK is the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the UK and its Club of the Year award recognises collaborative work, sharing best practice, opening motorsport to the local community, developing volunteers through training opportunities and going above and beyond in all areas.
AMSC, which was established in 2013 to combat the decline in grassroots motorsport, has been recognised for its pioneering efforts in enabling the development of new approaches, collaborative working and ground-breaking initiatives to break down barriers throughout the sport.
These initiatives include Better Together - developed by rally co-driver and AMSC development officer Laura Cooledge - which aims to make club motorsport more inclusive and accessible, as well as Get into Motorsport, which seeks to make participation in motorsport - regardless of the role or discipline - as easy as possible.
AMSC club is also regularly present in its nearby communities and gives back to the local residents and venues, which motorsport relies upon so heavily for its existence.
AMSC chairman Dan Pearson, from Bury St Edmunds, said the award was an important nod to grassroots and club-level motorsport and explained how it has fuelled the team’s determination to continue developing motorsport and securing its long-term future.
“We’re honoured to receive this award as it recognises the innovative work in East Anglia that we are so proud of," he said.
"Anglia Motor Sport Club was established in 2013 to combat the challenges faced in grassroots motorsport. The club has enabled us to develop new approaches and initiatives to break down barriers. It’s a long and continuous journey, but a rewarding one that so many members have contributed towards.
"It’s been a massive team effort and we’d like to thank everybody who has contributed to the success of club motorsport in East Anglia. From AMSC’s core group, member clubs and club delegates, to marshals, officials, organisers and participants.
"This award has fuelled our determination to continue developing motorsport and to secure its long-term future. Let’s make motorsport accessible to all.”
Laura, from Ipswich, said: "It’s been an incredibly busy, but successful year and I’m so proud to be a part of the brilliant team, as club development officer, progressing motorsport in our region.
"From developing the Better Together initiative and running our first Motorsport Month Anglia, to creating new innovative events and approaches, we’ve been breaking down barriers to participation in motorsport and bringing important topics to the fore."
Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, added: “I would like to congratulate Anglia Motor Sport Club on being named as our Club of the Year.
“Their work to expand their audience, engage with the community and be a positive promoter for greater inclusivity and accessibility to the sport at a grassroots level is commendable.
"It’s a fantastic example of how, at a local level, each of our member clubs can be a real force for positive change.
“In what is a landmark year for this award, with its 30th running, they are a fitting winner.”
Representatives of AMSC will be officially honoured at Motorsport UK’s glittering Night of Champions Prize Giving ceremony. The event takes place on January 28 at the Royal Automobile Club, London.
