• Motorsport UK becomes first FIA national sporting authority to publish a Transgender Inclusion policy.
• Policy commits Motorsport UK – the governing body of UK motorsport – to the inclusion of non-binary, gender fluid, intersex and trans people within the motorsport community. This is including, but not limited to, competitors, marshals, officials, staff, committee members and procured partners.
• Policy is published on the first day of Trans Awareness Week.

Motorsport UK is proud to launch a brand-new Transgender Inclusion policy, which aims to create a positive and welcoming environment for the transgender community within UK motorsport.

Launched during Transgender Awareness Week (13 – 19 November), the policy commits Motorsport UK – the governing body of UK motorsport – to the inclusion of non-binary, gender fluid, intersex and trans people. This is including, but not limited to, competitors, marshals, officials, staff, committee members and procured partners.

Motorsport has always been considered a universal sport, open to all genders. This new policy acknowledges and respects the rich diversity of gender identities, stating clearly and unequivocally that all are welcome. We believe that this will create a meaningful, significant and important evolution for the UK motorsport community.

Motorsport UK is committed to:

• Ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
• Allowing Self-Identification of an individual’s gender across our licensing, irrespective of whether an individual has a gender recognition certificate. The only event whereby sex assigned at birth may be necessary to declare is where relevant in strictly confidential medical assessments to achieve a compliant Motorsport UK medical.
• Respecting the private nature of an individual’s transition and never discussing an individual’s gender status without explicit permission.
• Ensuring that our stakeholders, including coaches, teams and championships, are aware of the policy.
• Creating resources and tools to help clubs and championships to support their members of all genders.

The policy comes as a direct action from Motorsport UK’s LGBTQ+ Expert Committee, established as part of Motorsport UK’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy. Motorsport UK created the LGBTQ+ Expert Committee to understand the challenges members of the LGBTQ+ racing community face within the sport. The LGBTQ+ Expert Committee works in close collaboration with Racing Pride, the world-leading international movement to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion through motorsport and its associated industries from grassroots level to Formula One, which was first launched in the UK in June 2019.

Hugh Chambers, CEO for Motorsport UK, commented: “Motorsport UK embraces an inclusion-centred approach. As a sport that has always been accessible and open to all, none of the Motorsport UK competition regulations have gender affecting factors. While motorsport has always in theory been open and inclusive, we know that members of the transgender community have not all had a positive experience. We are very proud to be able to stand with the transgender community to promote an environment that champions inclusion, dignity and respect, and the right for everyone to Self-Identify. Putting a policy down in writing sets out a clear position: everyone is welcome.”

Richard Morris, Racing Pride Co-Founder & LGBTQ+ Expert Committee Chair: “People of all genders can, and should, have equal opportunities to participate and excel in motorsport. More than that, people of all genders deserve to feel valued and appreciated within our community. This policy is a sign of Motorsport UK’s commitment to growing the sport by making it more welcoming to both new and existing participants and, coming at a time when the trans community especially is facing particular challenges, it will be a source of real hope for many LGBTQ+ people who are a part of, or who dream of being involved in, the sport. This policy, based on self-identification and respect, will be hugely significant in empowering individuals across motorsport. While we are very much aware of the real remaining challenges, we believe that the support and regulatory framework for clubs and championships coming from Motorsport UK and the LGBTQ+ Expert Committee, of which this policy is a part, combined with Racing Pride’s ongoing work with individuals, teams, series, and organisations across motorsport, is beginning to position the sport, especially in the UK, as a potential leader when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion: something to be celebrated by everyone who wants to see our sport grow and thrive.”

For further education and guidance clubs, championships, and participants are encouraged to refer to the Club Toolkit and the Motorsport UK LGBTQ+ Learning Module, as well as the resources signposted within them. Assistance with any questions related to this policy will be available from Motorsport UK’s Head of Sustainability and LGBTQ+ Expert Committee.