A report commissioned by the Motor Sports
Association (MSA) reveals that competitors and spectators at the
1998 Network Q Rally of Great Britain spent 11.1 million UK pounds in the
area of the event. The world-wide television coverage of the event stimulated
a further 17.25 million pounds of subsequent tourist
spending in Wales alone.
An independent team measured the economic
impact of the four-day rally on 7,814 businesses, employing 81,271 people
in 20 counties. Their report concludes that the Network Q Rally "is one
of the largest spectator sporting events in Great Britain" and that
the event "would not happen at nearly this scale unless it was part
of the FIA World Rally Championship".
The study shows that 134,921 spectators paid to watch the 1998 event; 60% of them were visitors from outside the 10,503 square miles covered by the rally. Of the £11 million spent, 6.7 million pounds represented money flowing into the economies from outside. The main benefactors were hotels, motels and campsites (2.1 million pounds), eating and drinking establishments (3.3 million), retail stores (2.6 million pounds) and local transport services (2.2 million pounds).
The average spectator spent 83 UK pounds per day on tickets, parking, lodging, food, drink, entertainment and tourist purchases. Occupancy at local hotels reached 100%, at a time of year (November) when most establishments would otherwise be quiet.
The rally created over 500 temporary jobs, notably at Rally HQ in Cheltenham and at the offices of the promoters, Silverstone Circuits.
MSA Chief Executive John Quenby commented: "We already know from independent figures that the UK motor sports industry is a major contributor to our national economy, with at least 50,000 full-time jobs and an annual turnover of 1.3 billion pounds.
"This report is the first systematic evaluation of the economic impact of a major rally. It shows that no fewer than 69 parliamentary constituencies gained direct employment benefits from the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.
"What is particularly gratifying is that so much income flows into the area immediately surrounding the route and then remains in that area, strengthening the social fabric of the community."
The 40-page independent report "The Economic Impact of the Network Q Rally of Great Britain" was prepared for the MSA by American economic historian William Lilley III (former Staff Director of the US House of Representatives Budget Committee) and Laurence J DeFranco (an expert in geo-economics).
The complete report can be seen on the FIA website (http://www.fia.com).