Nominations for Motorsport UK’s annual Club and Volunteer awards are now open for 2025. The annual awards are an opportunity for Motorsport UK to celebrate and reward the efforts of clubs, volunteers and organisations for their outstanding contribution to the vibrant motorsport community.

To submit your entry for Club of the Year, Organising Team of the Year, or Volunteer of the Year, visit: https://www.motorsportuk.org/2025-motorsport-uk-club-and-volunteer-awards-now-open/.

Nominations for all awards close on Thursday 31 October and winners will be announced in December. Ahead of this date, Motorsport UK is celebrating some of the previous winners each week.

Maurice Bennington: 2024 Volunteer of the Year

The past 12-months have been a whirlwind for Maurice Bennington after he was awarded the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award by Motorsport UK before receiving the 2025 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix Marshal Award at Silverstone.

The richly deserved accolades were awarded to Maurice for his unwavering commitment to marshalling, a role he has delivered for around 56 years nationwide.

Maurice was proudly presented with the Motorsport UK Award by Robert Reid before Sir Lewis Hamilton handed over the British Grand Prix Marshal Award on the grid on Sunday’s race day at Silverstone, to celebrate his achievements.

Maurice is a regular at Silverstone, in addition to offering his time at both Brands Hatch, where he started in 1983, and his home track Snetterton, thanks to his affinity with drivers and support of young people starting out in the sport.

His first time at Silverstone was when British Touring Cars were still on during the British Grand Prix weekend.

Maurice is renowned for being a walking, talking, encyclopaedia of people and events – an accolade that also saw him as recipient of Motorsport UK’s 2024 Volunteer of the Year award.

Speaking to the BBC on his Award, Maurice said the recognition was a shock as “we’re just the people in orange who make sure it happens” and explained that over the years he had made great friends with some of the top names in the sport, including former racing drivers Jackie Stewart and David Coulthard.

“At the Grand Prix [at Silverstone in Northamptonshire] for the past three years I’ve inherited a new job at Stowe Corner looking after the paddock club people.

“You meet so many different people and I’ve met so many friends in all walks of life, it’s the reason you do it.”

Volunteer marshals are vital in ensuring the safe and effective running of events all over the country, whilst getting close to the action. The vibrant community dedicate hours of their time at a wide range of events from circuit racing and Rally to sprints and Hillclimbs.

The role involves a wide range of essential duties to help events to run safely and effectively, from clearing debris and managing spectators to operating a start, finish line or assembly area. Being a marshal affords you one of the best seats in the house and the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at all championships and events.

Find out more about volunteering in motorsport here – https://www.motorsportuk.org/volunteers/marshals/.