The British Army and motorsport
Motorsport requires discipline, courage, respect, and integrity, which reflects the core values of the British Army. By competing in motorsport, soldiers are pushed to develop their skills as a team in a fast paced and rewarding environment.
Over the past 60 years military motorsport has flourished, with BAMA enjoying success across numerous disciplines and participation from a broad range of service personnel. Even retired members of the Army are welcomed back to compete alongside those still serving.
Since 2010, motorsport activities are formally recognised as an Army sport with authorisation for events coming via the Army Sports Control Board. The introduction of BAMA to Army Sport has opened the door for its personnel to officially compete in all its forms.
Across the eight recognised sporting disciplines – 4x4 Navigation, Adventure, Enduro, Karting, Rallying, Road Race, Sports Cars, and Trials - the Army compete at local, national, and international levels. The British round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) has proven a particular highlight.
Army riders have also dominated every class in the British Enduro Championships, with Cpl Tom Ellwood becoming Enduro World Champion whilst racing as a serving soldier. As one of the most popular and accessible sports, the Enduro World Championships have seen competitors from the Army Team bring home numerous gold medals.
Domestically, the Army has set up a circuit race challenge in collaboration with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. This involves 30 military crewed cars from the three services racing on some of the best circuits in the UK, including endurance events such as the renowned six-hour Birkett Relay at Silverstone.
As the oldest running team in BAMA, the Trials Team can trace their sporting pedigree back as far as the 1930s. The Army Motorcycle Trials Team is renowned for its participation in the Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT) which, at 113 years old, is one of the oldest and largest off-road motorcycle events in the world.
The true grass roots of military motorsport lie with the 4x4 Navigation Rally events. These competitions are open to all serving military personnel, who use in-service vehicles to compete in events across the country. Much like Extreme E, crews are challenged by difficult driving conditions with various checkpoints ensuring there is no specific route. 2021 saw the introduction of a motorcycle class for the first time in these events, with personnel competing aboard their own 140kg+ adventure machines.
Similarities to Extreme E don’t stop there. Like the sport for purpose Championship, BAMA is currently pushing technological boundaries to ensure its activities are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. BAMA is currently exploring the exciting possibilities of using electric bikes in both the Trials and Enduro arenas.
Events such as the Navigation Rally also contribute to the environmental maintenance of military training sites in use across the country. As there is no set route, each vehicle breaks up different areas of ground which in turn encourages the regrowth of the terrain.
Extreme E will be taking to the British Ministry of Defence Base at Bovington for the Championship’s final event of its inaugural season – the Jurassic X Prix – on 18-19 December 2021.
BAMA is open to all serving and retired Soldiers, to find out more visit - www.armymotorsports.co.uk
Headline Image Credit: Sandy Mack
Image 2 Credit: Cheridan Morrell-Davies and Tristan Young
Image 3 Credit: Neil Watterson
