Motorsport is an exhilarating, high-performance sport that demands the very best from competitors, officials, and support teams. As with all sports, the understanding of concussion and its long-term effects continues to evolve, and it is essential that safety measures evolve with it. Motorsport Australia is committed to ensuring the wellbeing of everyone involved in the sport by implementing the latest evidence-based concussion protocols.

Across all levels of sport, there is growing recognition of how concussions impact athletes, and motorsport is no exception. By continually improving our understanding of concussion and refining safety measures, Motorsport Australia is ensuring that competitors, officials, and spectators benefit from world-class medical advice and best-practice protocols. This commitment is driven by Motorsport Australia’s dedicated National Medical Advisory Committee (NMAC).

With this in mind, Motorsport Australia has now published the 2025 Concussion Management Guidelines. These revisions, first announced in December 2024, have been endorsed by the Motorsport Australia Board following recommendations from NMAC.

The updated guidelines align with globally recognised best practices, incorporating the latest Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT6) and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT6). These tools provide healthcare professionals at motorsport events with the most up-to-date methods for recognising and assessing concussion, ensuring that affected individuals receive the appropriate care and follow-up procedures.

Motorsport Australia’s NMAC consists of leading medical and industry experts dedicated to enhancing safety in the sport. The revisions were lead by Dr Brent May, an esteemed motorsport trauma specialist, brought invaluable experience as Chief Medical Officer for Formula 1, Medical Advisor to Supercars, and FIA Doctor of the Year 2016. His contributions reflect Motorsport Australia’s ongoing commitment to safety, risk mitigation, and governance in motorsport. Dr May was assisted by fellow committee members including Dr Matthew Croxford, Dr Matthew MacPartlin, Dr Jennifer Devine, Mr Greg Gibson, and Dr Karyn Lun, all of whom contributed extensive expertise to improving motorsport medical protocols.

The 2025 Concussion Management Guidelines are now published ensuring that motorsport participants, officials, and medical personnel have access to the latest concussion assessment and management protocols.

By continually refining our understanding of concussion and ensuring best-practice management, Motorsport Australia remains committed to making motorsport as safe as possible for all involved.

FAQ: Updated Concussion Guidelines

What this means for competitors:

• Improved Safety Measures: The latest concussion assessment tools (CRT6 and SCAT6) will help medical professionals quickly and accurately diagnose concussions, ensuring safer competition conditions.
• Clearer Return-to-Competition Protocols: If a competitor is suspected of having a concussion, there will be structured and medically supervised steps for returning to racing, reducing the risk of premature participation.
• Clear Exclusion periods: Adults (18yrs and over) – a minimum exclusion period of 14 days from date of incident, and clearance by a medical practitioner (medical doctor). Under 18 years – a minimum exclusion period of 21 days from date of incident, and clearance by a medical practitioner (medical doctor).
• Greater Awareness and Education: Competitors will benefit from increased understanding of concussion risks, symptoms, and necessary precautions, helping them make informed decisions about their health.
• Consistent Medical Evaluations: The guidelines will standardise concussion assessments across all Motorsport Australia-sanctioned events, ensuring fairness and consistency in medical evaluations.

What this means for medical staff:

• Enhanced Assessment Tools: The introduction of CRT6 and SCAT6 provides a more structured and reliable approach to evaluating potential concussions, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses.
• Standardised Protocols: Medical teams will follow a uniform process across all Motorsport Australia-sanctioned events, ensuring consistency in how concussions are identified and managed.
• Clearer Return-to-Participation Criteria: The guidelines outline definitive steps for determining when a competitor is fit to return, reducing the risk of premature clearance.
• Improved Medical Preparedness: On-site medical teams will be better equipped with up-to-date knowledge and best practices, strengthening their ability to handle concussion cases efficiently.

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