The second recipient of the Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award will be revealed at a special reception at the Royal Automobile Club (Pall Mall, London) on Friday 15 September, with the entire motorsport community invited to attend.

The award was established by Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey in memory of her husband Simon Diffey, who sadly died aged 57 in a road accident in May 2022. Simon was well respected and loved within the historic motorsport community, and the award continues his ethos of recognising and encouraging the next generation of young heritage apprentice engineers.

The 2023 recipient will be announced and presented with the award’s silver salver trophy by David Richards CBE, Chair of Motorsport UK, before beginning a secondment with Aston Martin race specialists Ecurie Bertelli next year. Further details can be read in the September issue of award supporter Magneto.

Moreover, the evening will be a fantastic opportunity for employers and youngsters to not only see the magnificent Royal Automobile Club but talk to people about options and possibilities for their future, all while remembering and celebrating Simon.

Amanda Stretton, racing driver and broadcaster, will also join guests to share her experiences within the sport with a Q&A.

For more information about the evening and to book tickets, please click here.

26-year-old Emilia Brown, an apprentice and employee from Jim Stokes Workshops Ltd (JSWL), was the inaugural winner of the award, impressing the judges with her engineering skills, passion and enthusiasm, and her exceptional commitment as a team player.

Officially presented with the award by his Grace, the Duke of Richmond at the 2022 Goodwood Revival, Emilia’s prize was invaluable as she spent one month working with Classic Team Lotus this summer.

She also received £3,000 to help with subsistence and travel costs to attend one international race with the team at the iconic Nurburgring.

Additionally, Motorsport UK supplied Emilia with a Go Racing Starter Pack and the opportunity to take an ARDS test to gain her Motorsport UK competition licence.

She received invaluable training from historic racing expert Martin Stretton over a two-day course, ahead of her ARDS test at Silverstone where examiner Steve Deeks generously offered her the use of a car for the test.

Alpinestars provided her with a race suit and full racing kit – including suits and gloves – while a race helmet was kindly gifted to her courtesy of Arai, and the Historic Sports Car Club provided further support with free race entries into their new Heritage Modsport series.

Emilia successfully completed her first race meeting at Donington Park in June, driving in the series with an MGA shared with owner Nick Lyford, and is now awaiting another outing at Silverstone in October.