Record Attendance at Race of Remembrance
The 2022 Race of Remembrance, Mission Motorsport’s flagship event, delivered in conjunction with BRSCC at the Anglesey Circuit Trac Mon, played host this year to 55 race teams, the highest number of entries ever to compete in the eight-year history of the event.
Over the course of Remembrance weekend, Mission Motorsport supported its largest cohort of wounded, injured and sick Service Personnel and Veterans, including those from Operation Motorsport, its sister charity from America and Canada who joined after a covid- induced break of 2 years.
Throughout the event, beneficiary drivers including Laurence Roke, a former Naval policeman and cancer survivor, Matt Stringer, former Rifleman medically discharged with significant hearing loss after being involved in a IED explosion, and Linda Noble, former soldier with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, all formed part of the Mission Motorsport racing teams out on track.
Laurence, driving for the first time this year, said, “Driving at Race of Remembrance has given me a huge confidence boost. I've memories that will last a lifetime. Being around other veterans, you feel a sense of camaraderie that is often lacking in the civilian world. It makes Remembrance weekend, a time of year that is difficult for anybody who has served, easier to get through.”
Forming integral parts of the racing teams, other beneficiaries were put to task working as part of the pitcrews managing the cars, drawing on their knowledge and mechanical skills often learnt in Mission Motorsport’s very own Training wing and under the watchful eyes of the Training Team’s Dave Guilfoyle and Aston Dimmock. Their skills and determination were obvious to those around them, so obvious that some even secured employment out of it!
James Cameron, CEO of Mission Motorsport, said, “Year on year, Race of Remembrance continues to grow in popularity and this year to see a record number of entrants on the grid at Anglesey is amazing! BRSCC, Anglesey Circuit and Thruxton Circuit have been instrumental in making this possible and we are incredibly grateful for all their help and support.”
Other activity across the weekend included an endurance karting race held at Thruxton’s Outdoor Karting Centre, where more Mission Motorsport beneficiaries who had qualified in the Veterans’ Karting Championship held across the year, formed a veterans’ teams with many others being given seats on other teams.
Beneficiary Ash Winter, former Corporal in the Queen’s Royal Hussars, who was medically discharged back in 2018 after being diagnosed with Keratoconus, a condition affecting his sight said, “By participating in the karting event, I’ve gone from rock bottom to sky high! It’s been an incredible experience – one I won’t forget.”
On Remembrance Sunday, all activity was paused at 10:45 across both sites as staff, beneficiaries, race teams and spectators came together as one community for a very poignant pitlane Service of Remembrance. Mission Motorsport beneficiaries and representatives were also present at a pitlane Service of Remembrance held at Brands Hatch.
The service at Anglesey, the whole 12hour endurance race and, for the first time ever, the Biathlon of Foolishness, seeing the foolish and the hardy jump into the Irish Sea in aid of charity, were all live-streamed throughout the weekend, allowing those who could not be there in person to join and participate.
James concluded, “Race of Remembrance is British motorsport’s way of marking Remembrance weekend, and to celebrate the intersection of motorsport and the armed forces communities. Using motorsport as a hook, we’re able to support those who find this time of year incredibly difficult, to get them engaged and, for some, we’re enabling them to attend a Service of Remembrance when in previous years they haven’t been able.”
Race of Remembrance will return next year, 10th – 12th November 2023.