No event in British motorsport better combines competition and camaraderie than this weekend’s Race of Remembrance – and this time Motorsport UK Chairman David Richards will be taking part to help commemorate those who served in the Armed Forces.
The unique 12-hour endurance race, which is run at the Trac Môn Anglesey Circuit by Armed Forces’ charity Mission Motorsport, includes a mid-event halt, where everything stops on Remembrance Sunday morning for a Service of Remembrance in the pit lane.
For Prodrive boss Richards, it is one of the stand-out events within a season-long calendar of personal motorsport adventures, which has seen him participate in a range of disciplines to commemorate his final year in the Motorsport UK Chairman role.
This appearance also marks a full-circle moment for both him and the charity, as the car he will be driving, a Subaru BRZ, is adorned with a livery that mimics the one that gave him great success with the marque in the WRC.
Race organiser James Cameron explains: “David is coming as a private individual to race in the Mission Motorsport car, which is a blue Subaru with gold wheels! It was a write-off, bought off eBay and repaired using eBay genuine parts with a bit of help from Prodrive.”
Richards will be racing alongside three of Mission Motorsport’s beneficiaries, all of whom are lower limb disabled driving on hand controls – putting a spotlight on how the charity and the sport supports the Armed Forces community.
Founded with purpose
The origins of the race date back to a conversation in January 2014, when Army veteran James Cameron and Jon Earp, an Army helicopter pilot who was circuit manager at Anglesey, discussed how to bring the motorsport and military together over Remembrance weekend.
The inaugural event took place that year to support Mission Motorsport’s work on the recovery, rehabilitation and retraining of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans through motorsport and the wider automotive industry.
By its tenth anniversary, the race had grown from a small gathering into a major fixture, attracting teams from across the country – and last year’s edition brought together 50 teams, with Rob Boston Racing taking the overall victory.
When the event was named Motorsport UK’s Event of the Year in 2024, Richards declared it “a celebration of what’s possible when we come together, embodying the true essence of community in motorsport.”
Cameron concludes: “This is no ordinary race weekend; it’s a service of remembrance with a 12-hour endurance race draped over it. It is also great fun! It continues to attract racing stars, celebrities, and a huge marshal and volunteer contingent.”
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