BTCC the perfect fit for Renaissance Foundation
A group of young carers and patients from the Renaissance Foundation attended the final round of the 2024 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season at Brands Hatch last weekend as part of a special activation devised by Diagonal Comms.
Sixteen carers and patients aged between 14 and 18 from the London-based charity travelled to the iconic Kent circuit on Saturday (5 October). They were hosted by BTCC title sponsor Kwik Fit and given behind-the-scenes access to the inner workings of a race weekend as part of a full schedule designed to inspire them as they choose their further education, employment, and personal development pathways.
Following a welcome address by Diagonal Comms MD Matt Bishop and BTCC CEO Alan Gow, the Renaissance Foundation guests watched the BTCC practice session from the Brabham Stewart hospitality suites, enjoying a breathtaking view over the start-finish straight towards the famous Druids hairpin bend. From there, the group made their way down to the BTCC paddock where four of them were whizzed around on a hot lap of Brands Hatch in the BTCC Porsche Panamera GTS safety car. The young carers and patients then received an exclusive tour of the BTCC garages and pit lane, where they spoke to mechanics, engineers, and drivers – including Aron Taylor-Smith (Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing) and Dan Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK) – about careers in motorsport and STEM [science, technology, engineering, mathematics]. After a tour of the circuit’s control tower, the group then returned to their lofty vantage point in the Brabham Stewart hospitality suites to watch the BTCC qualifying session. Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) would qualify in sixth position before going on to claim his maiden BTCC title on Sunday.
The Renaissance Foundation was founded by CEO Sat Singh in 2009, inspired by his own experiences as a young patient and carer. The charity was created to bring hope and empower change for young people facing challenges. Driven by role models and a desire to provide bespoke personal development opportunities, Sat was determined to help the next generation reach their full potential. Inspired by a mission to empower young Londoners, the charity has now supported hundreds of individuals, bridging the gap in the education system and limitations faced by young carers and patients in London. Renaissance Foundation provides more than 100 events per year, which generate a myriad of opportunities for their teens to experience that lightbulb moment that changes their life.
Matt Bishop (Managing Director, Diagonal Comms) said:
“I first worked with Renaissance Foundation when I was chief communications officer of the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, inviting a group of their carers and patients to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone a few years ago.
“That was a great initiative – and at Brands Hatch last Saturday [5 October] we decided to arrange something similar with one of our clients, the British Touring Car Championship.
“Again, we invited a group of Renaissance Foundation carers and patients – this time with the support and assistance of Kwik Fit – and we added some extra elements that had not been so easy to incorporate when Renaissance Foundation had visited the British Grand Prix. That is because the BTCC wholeheartedly prioritises embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and operates an ‘open to all’ policy and culture, whereas Formula 1 is necessarily a little more rarefied and exclusive.
“Alan Gow [BTCC CEO] spoke at length to all the Renaissance Foundation carers and patients at Brands Hatch on Saturday, as did some of the BTCC drivers and team personnel. The young visitors were all able to examine a number of BTCC race cars at close quarters, and some of them came away from Brands Hatch saying that they wanted to be race car mechanics. So, their Brands Hatch visit was more than just a fun day out: it was a valuable and educational STEM [science, technology, engineering, mathematics] initiative, too.”
Alan Gow (Chief Executive Officer, British Touring Car Championship) said:
“Once this initiative was brought to me, I immediately said yes. Renaissance is a great foundation and ticks all of our boxes in terms of introducing people to our sport and industry. I am glad that we are able to give something back to these young carers and patients for the amazing work they do. The sun has shone, and it is our season finale, so what a great weekend for them to be here.
“All bar one from this group of young people have never been to a racetrack before, so this was a great introduction to motorsport for them. Hopefully it allowed them to become more engaged with motorsport, particularly the BTCC, and to see that motorsport can provide them with some of the things they are looking for in their lives and future careers. We want them to see that motorsport is available to everyone. It is a growing industry crying out for apprentices, and we need talented personnel from a range of backgrounds. If you walk through our garages, you will see lots of women, for example, working as engineers, so it is important that people understand that this is more than a sport – it is a huge industry and a great one to get involved in.”
