Following the recommendations of the Scottish Government’s Motor Sport Event Safety Review (MESR) the Motor Sports Association have said they are “committed” to implementing the recommendations across the UK.
Key to MESR’s recommendations related to the press and photographers and the MSA is considering a brand new accreditation system for the media following an excerpt from MESR’s findings that believes accreditation and management can be improved.
The MSA statement reads as follows:
The Motor Sports Association (MSA) is committed to working with all of rallying’s stakeholders to implement the recommendations of the Scottish Government’s Motor Sport Event Safety Review (MESR), not only in Scotland but throughout the UK.
A key recommendation of the MESR relates to the press and photographers. The MESR concluded that: “The accreditation and management of the press and photographers at events should be further considered and improved. Press attendance at rallies should be subject to strict rules and press attendees must be prepared to obey the instructions of rally marshals. This is not necessarily the case at present and examples of press attendees standing in non-permitted areas have been noted by the Group. When an area is identified as unsafe, it should be regarded as unsafe for everyone without exception – spectators, press and marshals.”
The media are crucial to our sport and the MSA is considering introducing a wholly new accreditation system for bona fide members of the media.
In the interim, however, all members of the media are reminded that under MSA regulations, the wearing of a tabard referring to ‘press’, ‘media’ or anything similar confers no additional access privileges over and above those of a spectator.
Consequently, anyone attempting to spectate from any area not accessible to spectators generally on a rally will be requested to move, and failure to do so may result in the interruption of the stage and delay to the event overall.
Events may of course have their own arrangements for the media, for example at the rally start and finish or in the service areas, but never for a rally special stage or test. This applies to all national status rallies in the UK.
The MSA thanks the media for their cooperation in this matter.
