The AutoRaise Rally is on track to break the £200,000 fundraising barrier after 62 teams and 160 people took part in the U-Pol-backed three-day event last week.
Between them they covered more than 21,000 miles in support of the charity that is tackling the current skills gap by promoting the industry to new talent and then helping them find apprenticeship roles.
The rally began in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Wednesday morning before the convoy parked up at Tynrhyd Retreat in Aberystwyth for a BBQ and live music and dancing on the Service Certainty Live Stage.
Thursday took the Rally through the Brecon Beacons and some of the most scenic roads in the UK before the 340-mile journey ended at St David’s Voco in Cardiff, where participants enjoyed a Thatcham Research-hosted Gala Dinner.
Steve Thompson, AutoRaise Vice Chairman and Director at Industry Insights, said, “The challenges this industry faces are well known. The skills shortage is critical and AutoRaise is here for one reason – to promote apprenticeships in the bodyshop sector to young people. AutoRaise has directly impacted on 500 apprenticeship starts in the industry and secured more than £1m levy funding. The money raised from this Rally will help us continue this important work.
He continued, “U-Pol’s partnership is invaluable in making the Rally a reality, and I also want to thank our supporting sponsors, SYNETIQ, Axalta, and Egertons Recovery Group.”
Meanwhile, to celebrate the Rally’s return after a two-year Covid-enforced break, a number of awards were also presented:
- Fancy Dress: Team Baywatch from GT Motive (Richard Edwards, Martyn Rowley and Luke Le Souter)
- Veteran Car: The Porsche 928 driven by the team representing National Windscreens and Industry Insights
- Best Design: The Renault Dauphine, designed by Gemini’s John Henderson
- Best Design ‘banger’: The VW Beetle designed by Gemini Rotherham’s Craig Hand
- Best Photo: Prasco
- Best fundraising: Martyn Rowley (£3,145 and counting); Gemini Rotherham (£3,110); National Windscreen (£2,850)
- Veteran Driver: Martyn Rowley, with honourable mentions for Rye Street Group’s Billy Duffy and Lee McNaughton, Fix Auto Dagenham’s Neil Parker, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s James Titchener
- Oldest Car on the Grid: The Austin A30 (Steven Hames, Solera)
