By Phil Huff
August 8 2006

The governing body of motor racing in Great Britain, the MSA, have congratulated Jenson Button on his maiden F1 win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. "On behalf of the Motor Sports Association and everyone involved with UK motor racing, I would like to congratulate Jenson Button and Honda on their magnificent achievement in winning yesterday's Hungarian Grand Prix," said Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the Motor Sports Association.

"No-one who witnessed Jenson's rapid rise through the ranks of UK motor sport in the 1990s will have doubted that he had the potential to become a Grand Prix race winner," continued Hilton. "We are delighted that his well-deserved success at the highest level of motor racing can be traced through Britain's junior formulae – karting, Formula Ford and Formula 3. It only serves to confirm the UK's position as the strongest and most competitive proving ground in the world for young drivers.

"Jenson's victory is the perfect way to bring attention to the success of UK motor sport as we head into National Motorsport Week (August 12-20). Hopefully this will act as a spur to open up motor sport to new audiences, whether competitors, spectators or officials."

National Motorsport Week comprises a series of events (including all MSA motorsport events) or initiatives which will be held during the week aimed at introducing a wider audience to the excitement of motorsport, not just at the high-profile end of the sport but also at the grass roots. The objective of National Motorsport Week is to raise national and local media awareness of UK motorsport and its industry in order to attract new audiences and participants into the sport.

Ideas include ‘come and try’ days in all 22 different disciplines, ride-ins with celebrity drivers, skidpan sessions, seminars, workshops, marshal training, company open days, and more. More details can be found at www.nationalmotorsportweek.co.uk.