BRSCC AGM REPORT

Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to our AGM and thank you for taking the time to attend. This time last year I came to you with a report that consisted of a trading loss for the 2008 and concern about the prospects for 2009.

I’m pleased to report that the time spent on budgets by the Executive Committee of the Board, and with the full Board’s approval, has returned figures that resulted in a profit for the year 2009 of £63,300. I think you will agree a considerable turn round and a much needed improvement.

This figure was achieved by looking at the Club’s projected income based on reduced grids from 2008. We then looked closely at our projected expenses for the year 2009 and along with the help of our Centres, in keeping costs to a bare minimum without reducing our service; it resulted in the profit shown. I’m grateful to all concerned for this.

We faced a difficult year with the economy uncertain and with a realisation that some members themselves were facing uncertainty in their business lives which would relegate the importance of motorsport on their list of family finances.

The Board are very much aware that the majority of our members pay for their racing from their own income and that sponsorship is almost non-existent in club racing. With that in mind we organised our calendars to reflect this, and listened to members’ requests and acted upon them.

The Club continued also to provide its services as the leading organiser of international events in the UK, organising the FIA GT and Le Mans Series events for Silverstone Circuits. We also continued to work with the SRO Group organising the British F3/GT Championships, which last year faced difficult times.

We were also appointed by Superleague Formula to be the permit holder for the UK round of their international series that took place at Donington Park. In spite of the fact that the circuit collapsed late on Saturday evening, we managed to complete the programme on Sunday after overnight repairs. My apologies to the Club Formula Ford Championship for the inconvenience caused that weekend for the second time at that circuit and for their understanding of the problems that were beyond our control. I hope, as I’m sure you all do, that we see Donington Park returned to its former glory as one of the leading circuits in the UK.

Last year saw a number of friends of the Club pass away. Much has been written about them, but our thoughts are with the families of former Chairman Tim Stock, Caterham founder Graham Nearn and ex CEO Grant Stewart.

Moving onto this year, our On-Line entry system is now fully operational and I’m sure will help improve your experience when entering for your respective championships. We will continue to organise the British F3/GT package for The Stephane Ratel Organisation and with GT grids on the up I’m optimistic we will see close competition this season.

We will also be the organising club for FIA GT’s at the end of this month, and the Le Mans Series in September, both of these meetings taking place at Silverstone where we continue to be the organiser of choice.

We were the lead club for the UK round of Super League Formula at Silverstone at Easter and we are again the organisers on the day for Britcar meetings for James Tucker and his team. We look forward to the return of the 24hr Race this year in early October.

I finish my report as usual by thanking Drew Furlong our Competitions Director, the staff at HQ, my fellow directors, particularly the Executive Committee who have burned the midnight oil in putting together the budgets for this coming season, the officials and marshals who appear each weekend and most important of course you, our customers, who are the reason the Club exists.

Ladies and Gentlemen a much improved year in 2009 and I’m quietly confident that we will see improvements in the UK economy in 2010 that will enable us to continue to provide you with the service you have come to expect. Our customers are our most important asset. Without you there would be no reason for the Club to exist and with your support I’m sure we will continue to be the leading organiser of motorsport in the UK.

My duties as Race Director for a number of international series will again take me overseas on many weekends representing the Club at a number of foreign circuits (Volcanic ash permitting) but I look forward to seeing many of you at venues around the UK during this coming year. Also I am always available for questions from any of our members by either phone or email. Thank you all once again for taking the time to attend.

Bernard Cottrell – BRSCC Chairman