At the Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall, Motor Racing Legends last night hosted a triple celebration at its annual awards. Alongside the yearly recognition of on-track success, the organisation marked its 40th anniversary and toasted a changing of the guard, as Duncan and Phillipa Wiltshire step down from the helm.
The Royal Automobile Club’s grand Mountbatten Room was the venue for the three-course meal and prize ceremony, hosted by Motor Racing Legends competitor, and friend of the organisation, Amanda Stretton.
The 2024 Traditional Oak ‘Spirit’ Trophy was awarded by company owner Neil Peskett to Michael Boeck. Boeck, in his inaugural year of Motor Racing Legends competition, made enthusiastic efforts in the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy in the beautiful Frazer Nash Targa Florio.
Overall honours for Pre-War Sports Cars went to father and son Robert and Josh Beebee. The pair enjoyed a stellar season in their 1932 Frazer Nash TT Replica, including a podium at the Spa Six Hours Meeting.
The Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy was presented to Jaguar D-type pilot Ben Eastick who raced in every round of the 2024 season netting overall victories and several podiums. Ben, who has competed in the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy since it was first contested in 2005, was also awarded the coveted Motor Racing Legends trophy, commending his longstanding support and enthusiastic competition. It was a poignant moment as Duncan Wiltshire made his final presentation at the helm of Motor Racing Legends.
The Stirling Moss Trophy was awarded to Lotus X1 racer Dafyd Richards, who turned out to every round in the 2024 season. On the way, Richards netted three class wins, stood on the podium twice – a second place at Donington, and third at October’s Silverstone GP meeting – and also took two overall fourth places, at Snetterton and Spa.
Carol Spagg of Historic Motor Racing News presented Jaguar E-type racer Howard Spooner with the Pre ’63 GT trophy. Howard battled all the way throughout the season, with second place at Snetterton and the Silverstone Festival, and fourth at Donington Historic Festival.
The Royal Automobile Club Perpetual Trophy, for the Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Cup, was presented to the Lotus Elan 26R team of Shaun Lynn, Max Lynn, Christophe Cowans and Andy Wolfe. As oneof twelve Elans to appear in Pall Mall Cup races in 2024, they defied the larger capacity E-Types and Cobras, twice emerging as class winners and twice taking to the podium.
Darren Fielding took a second successive Historic Touring Car Challenge, with a string of race wins including a memorable victory in biblical rain at Silverstone Festival, and again at the October Silverstone GP meeting. The trophy is fine recognition for another year of stunning performances in the BMW E30 M3.
As they leave Motor Racing Legends, new owner of the business Shaun Lynn made a presentation to Duncan and Phillipa to thank them for their 40 years at the helm.
“I’m grateful to Duncan and Phillipa for the decades of hard work they’ve put in,” said Lynn who, alongside CEO Pierre-Antoine Lecoutour, now takes up the reins at Motor Racing Legends. “What they’ve built is a wonderful community of fantastic people who share a love for historic motorsport, and their legacy is a great basis for the future of Motor Racing Legends. Tonight has only made me more thrilled to be taking on the challenge and bringing this organisation forwards.”
After the Awards, guests decamped to the Club’s Long Bar to share their memories of 40 amazing years of Motor Racing Legends, and now look to a season that few can wait to get started on.
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