Britain’s most decorated Olympic medallist, Sir Chris Hoy, will join forces with Britain’s most successful military Paralympian, Jon Allan Butterworth, in a race to remember, next weekend (12-13 November). The cyclists will take-on the Mission Motorsport Race of Remembrance and, this time, they are swapping two wheels for four.
The unique event celebrates the recovery motor sport year, bringing together beneficiaries from across the UK participate and to compete – racing into the night, and, uniquely – pausing the race for a service of remembrance in the pitlane.
Jon-Allan joined the Royal Air Force after leaving school in 2002, and served in Afghanistan in 2005, and Iraq in 2007 as a Weapons Technician. Whilst in Iraq in 2007, he was involved in an attack and subsequently lost his left arm. Jon-Allan joined the Paracycling Programme in 2009, and has since represented his country at the Paralympic Games in both London and Rio, winning Gold in the Team Sprint in Rio 2016. Jon-Allan made contact with Mission Motorsport after deciding that he wanted to pursue something he loves, motorsport, and will be making his race debut at the 2016 Race of Remembrance.
Sir Chris Hoy’s journey to Le Mans in 2016 saw the six-time Gold medalist take on one of motorsport’s Everests. He was quick to offer his support to his cycling compatriot, and the pair have put aside their Olympic and Paralympic bikes and left the warmth of the velodrome behind, as they prepare to race a Milltek Sport-liveried Volkswagen Golf at Anglesey Circuit in North Wales across the Remembrance Sunday weekend.
Professional driver Tom Onslow-Cole (GB), successful amateur driver and British businessman Paul White (GB) and Sir Chris Hoy, who recently contested the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, will no doubt support team-mate Butterworth, who will take his race licence on Wednesday 9 November, just two days before the event.
“We’ve been working very closely with the governing body in the UK, the Motor Sport Association and the Association of Racing Driver Schools to adapt and streamline the current process for people with disabilities wanting to get into racing and Jon Allan will be the first to take the race licence test under the new criteria,” explained James Cameron, CEO for Mission Motorsport.
“Of course, having Sir Chris joining Jon-Allan to race with us in the Race of Remembrance is big news and extremely exciting,” continued Cameron, “But as well as celebrating the accomplishments of our Olympians and Paralympians there are many other beneficiaries who will participate in the Race of Remembrance”
At the event on the Angelsey Circuit in North Wales, 12 wounded ex servicemen will race in eight different teams, with support from famous names in the world of motorsport and some fantastic up-and-coming British talent.
Over 40 ex-servicemen and women will take on roles - from engineering and mechanics to photography and PR - in the event, now in its third year, that remembers those killed in combat, while actively supporting those involved in the charity that uses motorsport to help rehabilitate and rebuild lives affected by military operations.
“We are so proud of Race of Remembrance and it just keeps growing year-on-year. We couldn’t do any of it without the support of so many people and, for that, we are very grateful. The stories we have to tell of guys and girls who have turned their lives around are inspiring and we’re looking forward to some more fantastic racing for an incredible cause.”
The Race of Remembrance starts on Saturday 12 November at 1600hrs and runs into the night. After a break for much-needed sleep, the race restarts in the morning with a unique interruption – the race pauses for an emotional remembrance service held in the pit lane – before continuing to run the balance of 1000kms.
Event website: http://raceofremembrance.com
Charity website: http://www.missionmotorsport.org
Photo library from 2015: https://flic.kr/s/aHskrzA9SH
Mission Motorsport - The Forces’ Motorsport Charity
The Forces' Motorsport Charity, whose motto is “Race Retrain Recover” is MoD's competent authority for motor sport as a recovery activity, and is a Royal Foundation (the charitable trust of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry) Endeavour Fund initiative.
A Service Charity and a member of the Confederation of Service Charities, Mission Motorsport has an award winning collaborative model of working with government and the other service charities. It is funded by Help For Heroes, The Royal British Legion, and Walking with the Wounded, as well as by industry partners and independent fundraising.
As part of the MoD's Career Transition Partnership, the charity helps those leaving the military to find employment in the automotive industry. A City and Guilds training provider, Mission Motorsport's Training Wing delivers Level 3 Diploma courses and full apprenticeships enabling service leavers to bridge the gap between military service and second careers as civilians, beyond injury.
The charity's dedicated career managers have placed over 50 Wounded, Injured and Sick service leavers into employment since the Invictus Games in September 2014.
Mission Motorsport is run by veterans, serving personnel and motorsport professionals for servicemen and veterans with the aim to;
RACE – RETRAIN – RECOVER
“To aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations by providing opportunities through Motorsport”.
This charity benefits from the skills, products and platforms of the global reach of motorsport, and the underlying automotive industry and helps to highlight the strengths and depth of skills of a service career both to the individual, and to external parties. Output is in three areas:
SportTrainingVocation
Mission Motorsport is Battle Back's coordinator of disabled and adaptive motor sport. A City and Guilds assessment centre, and a preferred training provider to MoD. Part of the MoD's Career Transition Partnership, Mission Motorsport manages opportunities for the wounded, injured and sick, as well as on behalf of a wider audience of service leavers and veterans.
Key Quotes - Patrons
Sir Stirling Moss OBE – “‘I am honoured to be associated with this wonderful charity. Motorsport has been my life, and I know that Mission Motorsport will allow those who have been affected by military operations to experience some of the challenge, excitement and fulfilment that I have achieved throughout my career’..Derek Bell MBE - "To me, these guys are the heroes. Not racing drivers or mountaineers, but people who put themselves on the line for their country. Whatever I can do for Mission Motorsport, I will, and I commend them to you" PartnershipsThe charity enjoys formal associations with a wide range of industry partners, including Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Bentley Motors Ltd, Goodwood, MacTools, National Accident Repair Services, Silverstone, Aston Martin Racing, and Caterham Group amongst over one hundred others which encompass HR, PR, fundraising and CSR interaction.
