CEO ' s MESSAGE
Atlantic rowers Zara Lachlan, pictured with Hugh, and his father-in-law Stein Hoff, both hold records for the crossing from Portugal to Guyana
fitness could in some way add to their performance. The epitome of this juxtaposition would be James Hunt and his playboy lifestyle, that made for good entertainment in the film Rush – but would hardly be a model for the youngsters aspiring to Formula One these days. I think I would go as far as to say that it was rather frowned upon during a certain period of time to take it all too seriously, and the view was that a racing driver was, or was not, born with a God-given talent, and to need to refine this was an admission that perhaps your talent was not as natural as others. The world of sport has, of course, proven that it is not just a matter of natural talent, but that 10,000 hours of high-level training is regarded as the norm, as well as a holistic high-performance programme for mental and physical health. On top of insane levels of natural talent of course.
Motorsport UK has made enormous strides in the last few years in the development of a comprehensive coaching strategy and programme of development for our coaching community. Inevitably this has focused largely on the top end of the sport, and those professionals that help in the development of young drivers in particular. But for some time, I have been of the belief that given the universal challenges of driving a race or rally car, there is enormous opportunity to improve people’ s enjoyment at all levels of performance with the right levels of coaching and assistance. For most people they are not aspiring to the elite level but simply want to be the best they can at the level they enjoy. This is certainly something we are exploring in a lot more detail and is part of the Future Coach Project Group that has a vision based around the simple insight that coaching has the immense potential to transform, develop and improve the experience of competitors within motorsport.
We believe that increasing the number of skilled coaches will enhance participation, development and performance across the whole sport as well as raising the bar for British driving talent. However, there is currently a lack of
Revolution- May 2025 evidence to define what is‘ the gold standard’ for coaching in our sport, and this group aims to address that gap by developing a blueprint that sets out professional standards, understands coaching practices and nurtures a robust coaching culture within motorsport. It is made up of over 30 people, representing different levels and disciplines of motorsport, as well as coaches and leaders from Olympic and professional sport, bringing a wide perspective, knowledge and experience. As you will have gathered, I am extremely excited about all of this, and I think it can make a tremendous impact on our community, plus develop exciting professional pathways for coaches through adding their experience to the success and enjoyment of others.
Spring Scramble
Back in January, 5,000 very hardy people made their way to Bicester for the first Scramble of the year and endured one of those especially cold and windy days that seem unique to former-World War II airfields across the country. This was in stark contrast to the second 2025 Scramble at Bicester, held in the middle of April, where everyone basked in Mediterranean temperatures and lingered long into the afternoon being entertained with a cocktail of exotic cars. As is always the case, you bump into a wide variety of friends, old and new, and hear tales of the restoration of machinery and the exploits of enthusiasts. You might be slightly surprised to see a photograph here of a transatlantic rowing boat, and wonder what place that has not only in Revolution, but indeed at the Bicester Scramble? The link is that one of the businesses that is based with us up at Bicester called Motor Spirit, a supplier of all types of motor oils and sustainable fuels. Owner Guy Lachlan has raced an Edwardian aero engine racing car Goodwood – the Fafnir – and is a founding member of the Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance( HCVA), which is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring the survival of classic cars and the industries that support them against numerous challenges.
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