Motorsport industry honours Lord March

The Earl of March and Kinrara was presented with the Motorsport Industry Association’s (MIA) personal Award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to the Motorsport Industry. The Award was presented by Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham (Minister of State for Trade, Promotion and Investment) at the MIA’s annual summer reception at the House of Lords. Lord March follows in the wake of a highly impressive list of previous winners, including Sir Frank Williams CBE, Sir Stirling Moss OBE and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, plus Tom Wheatcroft, David Richards CBE and Bernie Ecclestone, amongst others.

Since assuming control of the Goodwood estate, Charles March has not only created a totally unique motorsport event in the grounds of the family home – the Festival of Speed – but brought motor racing back to the famous Goodwood circuit. He has organised what is regarded by many as the World’s best motor race meeting of any type – the Goodwood Revival. These two meetings alone attract hundreds of thousands of spectators, new sponsors and international visitors.

Not only have they set the standard by which all other motorsport meetings must be judged but, by providing a myriad of unique and attractive ingredients, March has opened up the sport to an entirely new audience. He has created an element of theatre and entertainment that is unequalled the world over.

Said the MIA’s CEO, Chris Aylett, “Lord March’s events provide unrivalled enjoyment for thousands of drivers and spectators. They deliver enormous benefit to the business of motorsport and related industries. Time and time again, priceless cars are dug out of museums, restored, race prepared and shipped half way round the world just to compete at one or other of his events. In this way he is supporting a huge number of engineers and related craftsmen.”

The MIA’s Summer Reception, hosted by MIA President Lord Astor of Hever, is regarded as the most prestigious social gathering on the international motorsport business calendar. Sponsored by Carter & Carter Group plc, the 2007 reception was attended by over 300 guests, including peers of the realm, ambassadors, MPs and VIPs from the motorsport industry across the globe.