Button’s win fails to raise significant interest in a dying sport

Maybe it is because Jenson Button is simply not enough of a likeable character, but the Briton’s win at the Hungaroring on Sunday failed to instill in me the patriotic fervour that had clearly got to James Allen. Allen, who had screamed ‘What’s happening??!’ in the manner of a petulant child when the Hungarian race director managed to miss Nick Heidfeld’s collision with Michael Schumacher, became hoarse with overhyped excitement when Button crossed the line in first place after starting his 113th Grand Prix. Co-commentator for the day, Honda test-driver Anthony Davidson, gleefully mocked Martin Brundle for making this the one race he would miss in 2006. The result was mildly pleasing for British fans, and of course F1 made the front pages of the sport sections across the country. But the sport is still suffering from a distinct lack of support.

But it cannot be simply a lack of British success in the sport that has seen its popularity wane over the last decade. Instead it is the fact that motorsport is seen as a luxury, a play-thing for the rich and famous. No kids from the poorest parts of the country have even the opportunity to make it anywhere near the top in F1, and in this respect Formula One can never expect to match the popularity of sports such as football here in the UK, and american football in the US. People simply cannot relate to those competing in this highest tier of motor racing, and the apparent lack of willingness from those at the top of the sport to change its policies remains an obstacle to progress.

What Formula 1 needs is a rags to riches story, or better, a change to its recruiting structure to ensure that great potential racers in the UK who lack the funds are not overlooked. It is hard to believe that all those drivers currently in F1 were miles ahead of their opposition, rather that it was they who had the financial support to see that they made it.

Motorsport in general in the UK is losing a battle against football, rugby and cricket. The days of the popular British Touring Cars of the late 1990s, where the action was frenetic, the names unknown but became stars overnight and the fans easily able to access driver and afford to see races is now but a distant memory. The BTCC provided an affordable way for casual fans to see good quality motorsport on their doorstep. Ironically the series itself went downhill at the turn of the millenium as the result of spiralling team costs to run the cars.

Both willing participants and fans are being priced out of the sport. The typical Grand Prix crowd in the modern day resembles more closely the Royal Ascot meet than in days gone by. The longer the current situation continues, where the closest many fans can get to the action is through TV and magazines, the less coverage the sport will receive, and this will have a knock-on effect of the chances of continued and well supported British success on the track.

Ben Parker

copyright 2006