F1-Spurs deal to ‘spur’ motorsport talent

Image: Formula 1

Formula 1 has agreed to a 15-year strategic partnership with the Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (UK) to help identify and foster a new generation of motorsport talent.

‘F1’ stated that the partnership will also see the delivery of the world’s first in-stadium electric karting facility and London’s longest indoor track, at the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Formula One is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one of the premier forms of racing around the world since its inaugural season in 1950.

The Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly referred to as Tottenham or Spurs, is a professional football club based in Tottenham, London, England (UK). It competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the home of the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in North London, replacing the club’s previous ground, the 36,284-capacity White Hart Lane. With a seating capacity of 62,850, it is the third-largest football stadium in England and the largest club ground in London.

‘F1’ further stated that the high-tech, in-stadium facility, which will be the only one of its kind in Europe, will open later this year with separate tracks for adults and juniors, both accredited by the National Karting Association – making it a potential future venue for national karting championship races. Based below the stadium’s South Stand, the facility will also include interactive motorsport activities and food and beverage outlets.

The National Karting Association a sanctioning organization that provides the critical programs and resources for racers, events and the karting industry.

Together Formula 1 and Tottenham Hotspur will develop a new driver academy program which aims to widen the motorsport talent pool and help identify the next generation of F1 drivers.

Formula 1 and the club will deliver educational activities for schools to engage local young people in motorsport and showcase career opportunities and pathways in areas such as engineering and software development.

Furthermore, a key focus of the partnership will be to create apprenticeship and career opportunities for the local young people and bring greater diversity to the motorsport industry, particularly for women and the underrepresented groups.

As part of the partnership, the F1 will also collaborate with Tottenham Hotspur on sustainability initiatives that promote environmental responsibility. Formula 1’s commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 aligns closely with Tottenham Hotspur’s targets, as a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework’s ‘Race to Zero’, to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become Net Zero by 2040.

Stated Stefano Domenicali, President and head honcho, Formula 1, “As we continue to grow our sport, partnering with the world-renowned brands like Tottenham Hotspur allows us to take Formula 1 and motorsport to new and more diverse audiences. The karting experience will be a destination and place that families, friends and aspiring drivers from all over the world will want to visit and enjoy, engaging new audiences and offering an accessible entry point to the world of motorsport. Our two brands have a shared vision to create life-changing career opportunities, promote diversity and inclusion, such as through the recently announced F1 Academy, and driving environmental sustainability – our innovative partnership will bring all of this to life.”

Added Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy, “Since building this stadium our ambition has always been to see how far we can push the boundaries in delivering world-class experiences that will attract people from around the world all year round. We have been able to bring the biggest names in sport and entertainment to London N17. We are extremely excited about what this long-term partnership with F1 will bring for our global, national and local communities.”

Commented David Richards CBE, Chairman of Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the United Kingdom, “I congratulate Tottenham Hotspur and Formula 1 on this innovative partnership. This new karting facility aligns perfectly with Motorsport UK’s mission to inspire and enable more people to participate in our sport in a safe, fair, fun, inclusive and progressive environment. I look forward to seeing even more people enjoy karting but particularly to see a greater level of diversity amongst the visitors.”

Bicester (UK)-based Motorsport UK, formerly known as the Motor Sports Association, is a national membership organization and governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the United Kingdom. Legally, it is a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee.

‘Tottenham Hotspur’ stated that the partnership brings yet another popular global sport brand to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, now uniquely hosting the Premier League, National Football League (NFL) and F1, supporting worldwide fan growth.

With music concerts, boxing and rugby now also being staged in London N17, it means an estimated 5.9 billion people globally are interested in events held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – equating to nearly 80 percent of the world’s population.

‘Tottenham Hotspur’ further stated that the above adds to the growing range of Visitor Attractions already available at London’s newest sports and entertainment destination, including the popular Dare Skywalk – rated as London’s No.1 outdoor attraction – driving visitors to the area 365 days a year and providing an estimated £300m a year boost to the local economy in one of London’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

The karting experience will be the focal point of a long-term partnership between the club and F1, which will aim to create apprenticeship and career opportunities for the local young people and bring greater diversity to the motorsport industry, particularly for women and underrepresented groups. It will also provide F1 with a touchpoint in London from which to further grow its fan base throughout the world.

A driver academy program will widen the motorsport talent pool and help to identify the next generation of F1 drivers.

Creating additional recurring sources of revenue to reinvest in its football activities is a key part of the club’s financial model.

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