British Government may lift street race ban

Britain’s new government is considering a lift of rules which currently bar motor racing events from being staged on public roads, it is being reported by the BBC. The news comes following a Conservative conference which referred to a legal clause dating as far back as the 1960s.

Talk of a London Grand Prix was at its peak in 2004, when the likes of Nigel Mansell, Jenson Button and Martin Brundle took to the streets of the capital city in a highly-popular street demonstration attended by British-based teams such as Jordan, BAR, Jaguar and Williams.

Such a decision from the government would allow councils to stage races as well as other motoring-related events – such as that in London – on either city streets or roads on rural hills, creating jobs in the process and raising an estimated 40 million pounds over the space of five years.

Describing the 1960s clause as ‘bizarre’, MP Ben Wallace explained at the Motor Sports Association (MSA) meeting that ‘no cost implications’ would be involved.

Furthermore, he added that the David Cameron-led government is ‘determined’ to lift the ban but has so far been ‘frustrated’ in being able to identify the minister holding responsibility for it.