“These are unprecedented times for the nation and for motorsport,” Chairman of Motorsport UK, David Richards, said.

“Our community looks to us to provide leadership and help protect motorsport from the financial fallout of this pandemic.  We have taken measures to reduce the overheads of the core organisation, while continuing to provide the essential levels of service to the sport.

“Today we have launched a series of financial measures that member clubs can access, in order to try and mitigate some of the hardship they are inevitably suffering.”

Before any applications are submitted, clubs have been told to follow government advice and take advantage of any other support.

Motorsport UK itself said that it had furloughed one third of staff, reduced staff pay and cut working hours. It has also frozen discretionary spending and capital expenditure projects.

“During this time, there is a spirit that we are all in this together, and it is only right that Motorsport UK takes practical measures to reduce expenditure, while launching these funds to preserve those responsible for organising events, without whom there can be no motorsport,” said Richards.

“We are custodians of motorsport in the UK and have a responsibility to our clubs, to do all that we realistically can, to sustain their operations at this uniquely challenging time.”