Disappointing that motor-racing body was declined permission to hold spectator-free event

Dear Editor,

I was quite disappointed to read that our motor-racing body was declined permission to hold a spectator-free event; Covid protocols and all. Worldwide, sports are being held in this format, giving fans something to watch at home via livestreams. Hardly another sport could be as no-contact. The players are separated by yards, not feet; and they wear face masks, body suits, helmets and gloves even when there’s no pandemic. Wealthy countries like France, Spain, the UK and Belgium, whose death rates from Covid are many times ours and among the highest in the world, have held full programmes of Formula 1, MotoGP and others, over the past few months; not to mention tennis grand slams, cricket and soccer worldwide. Our mile-long racetrack has more than enough space to even allow limited spectators in well separated groups not exceeding 6 persons each, outdoors in the blazing hot October-November sun.

Advanced countries appreciate how important sport is, not only to their economy, but the morale, and the mental and physical wellbeing of their people. Our national psyche is already devastated by the effects of this pandemic, and while we do need to be careful about avoiding super-spreaders, with every respect to our already overtaxed health system, we still have to find ways to do the less risky things we could do, like healthy well-socially-distanced sporting activities. There is no justification in targeting motor racing, period; especially when we read of other sports getting permission.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Evelyn

Past President – GMRSC