Lorries belonging to motorsport teams will suffer more vigorous checks at customs in the UK as they enter the country at Dover.
The clampdown follows the discovery of 8kg of cocaine, 71kg of amphetamine tablets and more than 100kg of cannabis, plus a handgun – all of which was left lying on a table in a lorry belonging to the Kawasaki team competing in the Superbike World Championship.
Four technicians from the team, ran by Paul Bird Motorsport based in Lancashire, were arrested for the offences, but later bailed.
A UK Border Agency source told the Telegraph that motorsport vehicles, including Formula One, will face closer checks.
“Our intelligence analysts will be looking much more closely at motorsport vehicles from now on, including Superbikes and even Formula One.
“They have been pulled over very rarely and that will now change.”
This will have an impact on all the teams, as those based in the UK, Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, Mercedes, Force India, Team Lotus, Williams and Virgin, drive to all European races, whilst those outside of the UK will only be affected during the British GP weekend.
