Bicester Motion takes to the track for IWD

“This is what Bicester Motion is all about,” events director Liz Pilling says, welcoming a group of new drivers to the Experience & Demonstration Track beneath unexpectedly clear blue skies.

Lightly rumbling in front of her is a diverse group; at the front of the queue is an Austin Seven Sports, dwarfed by its dark-green Buick Roadmaster stablemate at the Heritage Skills Academy, while a Jaguar XK120 roadster quietly hums before a modern Porsche 911 Turbo convertible. Elsewhere is an Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV and Jaguar E-type from HERO-ERA, plus StarterMotor’s Morgan Plus Four.

There is little to connect them, except for the very reason they have come together: a track session solely for the women who work at Bicester Motion, inspired by International Women's Day. The hour has been set aside for and by staff from Bicester Motion itself, around half of whom are female, plus HERO-ERA, Pendine, Motorsport UK, Hi-Speed and more.

Many had never turned a wheel on track before, most had not driven a car even close to classic – let alone vintage or with a Moss gearbox. Yet each came away keen to do more.

“Progress doesn’t just appear,” Liz added later. “It comes from people choosing to make it happen together. We’re lucky to have so many talented and experienced women here at Bicester Motion within the team and on site, all playing important roles in their sector. When we recognise that, and encourage each other, we’re not just celebrating International Women’s Day: we’re actively helping to push things forward and drive change.”

When two cars later make their entrance into the paddock from Kingsbury Racing, a vintage Bentley and a bright orange Mazda MX-5 Mk3 race car, there are two recently recognised and celebrated individuals in tow. Sammy and Cat Ruff, of Harry Fraser Vehicle Upholstery and Kingsbury Racing respectively, have both claimed the Young Achiever Award in the Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards in recent years.

Already in the paddock are Kyra Hill and Janice Pitchforth, who took to the International Historic Awards Stage to collect Industry Supporter of the Year on behalf of Heritage Skills Academy a week after Sammy in November, plus Personal Endeavour 2023 winner and 2024 finalist Tiggy Atkinson.

The group also included Eleonora Piccolo, who as hospitality director at HERO-ERA is charged with plotting the most important elements of the international rallies – where competitors stay and experience the local cultures. Eleonora’s colleagues including head of finance Maria Sierra, automotive and travel event coordinator Eve Cattle, event coordinator Caitlin Jones, plus Kyra Harding and more all hit the track, so too HiSpeed Ltd’s Shirin Welham, who ensures the e-tech firm runs smoothly as its HR and finance manager. 

But as Liz stresses, empowering women is not reserved for higher up the career ladder.

“International Women’s Day, to me, is a personal reminder that we can influence women’s advancement in everyday actions we take,” she says. “Sometimes that’s as simple as giving someone space to speak in a meeting, asking for their view, making sure they’re recognised for the work they’ve done and are doing, or encouraging them to take a leap of faith.”