Mazda sponsors the 2nd Race of Remembrance and Mission Motorsport – The Forces’ Motorsport charity

• Mazda supports Race of Remembrance and Mission Motorsport – The Forces’ Motorsport Charity.
• Mission Motorsport entered Mk4 MX-5 marks the UK competition debut of the all-new Mazda MX-5.
• 14 of the teams entered are racing Mazda MX-5s in November’s 1000km Race of Remembrance.
• The 2015 Race of Remembrance takes place at Anglesey Circuit on the 7/8^th November.

The second running of the Race of Remembrance sees Mission Motorsport once again mark Remembrance Day with a unique motorsport event at the Anglesey circuit in North Wales. This year the race will see 45 teams compete for 1000km around the demanding and undulating Welsh circuit. Sponsored by Mazda UK, the event takes place in aid of Mission Motorsport - a forces charity that uses motorsport to provide respite, rehabilitation, vocational support and training to those affected by military operations.

With cars driven by professional racing drivers, amateur racers and wounded servicemen, the race starts at 4.00pm on Saturday with the cars racing into the darkness until 7.00pm. At this point the cars are held in parc ferme overnight before the race resumes at 9.00am on Sunday. However, at 10.45am motorsport convention will take a back seat with the cars heading into the pits in preparation for a service of remembrance led by a military padre.

Anglesey circuit will fall silent at 11.00am, with all those present remembering the fallen. Yet, once the ceremony is finished this most unconventional race will continue where it left off with the teams racing on to the 3.30pm finish.

Once again Mazda UK is proud to be associated with the Race of Remembrance. The Mazda3 Safety Car will take pride of place at the rolling start and control of the race when it’s under yellow, while thanks to a 1.5-litre all-new MX-5 donated by Mazda UK, Mission Motorsport have the honour of making the UK competition debut of the all-new fourth-generation Mazda MX-5.  With a poignant poppy ‘Art Car’ livery designed and created by Mission Motorsport, the 1.5-litre MX-5 honours the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families, as well as commemorating the 101^st anniversary of the First World War. 

Private team Roddisons Motorsport will also debut their self-built 2.0-litre all-new Mazda MX-5, and with a range of Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 MX-5s taking part, a total 14 of the teams entered are competing with versions of Mazda’s iconic roadster.

Commenting on Mazda’s support, Mission Motorsport charity CEO, James Cameron said, “Mazda's support of this fantastic event is incredible.  Race of Remembrance has fast become an institution – and we are very excited to be building the first 1.5 Mk4 MX-5 racecar in the UK, which will debut in the race, driven by two Mission Motorsport beneficiaries.  The inaugural Race of Remembrance last year was a transformational event both on and off track for the servicemen and veterans involved.  For some, it was truly life changing, leading to training opportunities, and full time employment.”

“Since the inception of the charity in 2011, servicemen and women recovering from the effect of war have benefitted from Mazda's support.  Mazda UK understand the impact that sport can have in rebuilding shattered lives, and Mazda's headline sponsorship of this great event – for the second year in a row – is hugely appreciated.  Thanks to our sponsors, our team this year will include 10 racers on the grid, and more than 40 in the pits and behind the scenes.”

With a supercar event, rock concert, Formula One demo and firework display, the Race of Remembrance is about more than just the racing, and with 10 hours of live coverage on Motors TV, this year’s Race of Remembrance will receive new levels of media coverage. Full information on the 2015 Race of Remembrance can be found at www.raceofremembrance.com.

Editor’s notes

Mission Motorsport

The Forces' Motorsport Charity, whose motto is “Race Retrain Recover” is MoD's competent authority for motor sport as a recovery activity, and is a Royal Foundation (the charitable trust of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry) initiative, and is supported by Help For Heroes and Walking with the Wounded.

As part of the MoD's Career Transition Partnership, the charity helps those leaving the military under medical discharge to find employment in the automotive industry.  A City and Guilds training provider, Mission Motorsport's Training Wing delivers Level 3 Diploma courses and full apprenticeships which allow service leavers to bridge the gap between military service and second careers as civilians, beyond injury.

The charity's dedicated career managers have placed over 45 Wounded, Injured and Sick into employment since the Invictus Games in September 2014.

Further detail can be found at www.missionmotorsport.org