Britcar 24hr

Memories of Britcar 24hr race at Silverstone nine years ago. This popped up on my Facebook memories and I couldn’t help but share. Sorry if it cheats the photo rule. It was taken on this day (in 2011)!

Prep days began with an Apache and Lynx helicopter photo call, a tank accompanied by squad of tankies to help crew the Forces Charities Team car and RAF Typhoon engineers (swanning about for photos mostly).

Over the race weekend Not Forgotten Association veterans told us endurance is best with team work and gave the journalist drivers a reality check telling them to “man up”.

We had an amazing team of professional and media racing drivers including the awesome Mike Wilds (Brabham F1 Team in the 70s, peer of James Hunt, World Supercar Champion 1988) who kept his cool throughout the race and along with Martin Brundel mentored the media drivers including Tony Jardine (F1 TV presenter).

I remember Mike on the 4am graveyard shift driving one of the MX-5 race cars in fog at 40mph around the circuit for 3 hours then driving him back to the hotel in my MX-5.

We had fabulous photography by my now great friend Gary mostly fuelled by tea and choc biscuits. Then there was possibly the wackiest Race Manager Carol flying the flag for super organisation in the pits, fun vibes and proving women can do just as great a job as men in race management.

Happy memories. Maybe next year motorsport will properly return with spectators and I can rejoin my friend as photographer’s assistant.

And of course there was the 28 hours I stayed awake with no sleep! Yikes.