The event, held at Bicester Motion, featured an all-female track session inspired by International Women’s Day, bringing together women from across the automotive and motorsport industries to drive a selection of classic vehicles.
They had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of cars including an Austin Seven Sports, a Jaguar XK120, and an Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV.
Liz Pilling, events director at Bicester Motion, said: “This is what Bicester Motion is all about.
“Progress doesn’t just appear.
“It comes from people choosing to make it happen together.
“We’re lucky to have so many talented and experienced women here at Bicester Motion within the team and on site, all playing important roles in their sector.
“When we recognise that and encourage each other, we’re not just celebrating International Women’s Day – we’re actively helping to push things forward and drive change.”
Most of the participants had never driven a classic car before, while many were also new to track driving altogether.
Organisations on-site included HERO-ERA, Pendine, Motorsport UK, Hi-Speed, and others.
Among the classic and modern cars on the track were cars from Kingsbury Racing, including a vintage Bentley and a Mazda MX-5 Mk3 race car.
Also present were Sammy and Cat Ruff, winners of the Young Achiever Award at the Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards.
They were joined by industry colleagues Kyra Hill and Janice Pitchforth, who collected the Industry Supporter of the Year award on behalf of Heritage Skills Academy, as well as Tiggy Atkinson, winner of the Personal Endeavour award in 2023 and a 2024 finalist.
Ms Pilling said International Women’s Day is a personal reminder of the impact of everyday actions.
She said: “International Women’s Day, to me, is a personal reminder that we can influence women’s advancement in everyday actions we take.
“Sometimes that’s as simple as giving someone space to speak in a meeting, asking for their view, making sure they’re recognised for the work they’ve done and are doing, or encouraging them to take a leap of faith.”
Other participants included Maria Sierra, head of finance at HERO-ERA, hospitality director Eleonora Piccolo, and automotive and travel event coordinator Eve Cattle.
Joining them were event coordinator Caitlin Jones, Kyra Harding, and Shirin Welham of HiSpeed Ltd, who manages HR and finance at the company.
Ms Pilling said that empowering women should not be limited to those in senior positions, but should extend to every level within an organisation.A special event is helping women accelerate their ambitions in the world of classic motoring.
A one-hour track session took place at Bicester Motion to mark International Women’s Day, bringing together women from across the historic automotive industry to get behind the wheel and build confidence in a sector where female representation remains limited.
Liz Pilling, events director at Bicester Motion, said: “This is what Bicester Motion is all about.
“We’re lucky to have so many talented and experienced women here at Bicester Motion within the team and on site, all playing important roles in their sector.
“When we recognise that, and encourage each other, we’re not just celebrating International Women’s Day: we’re actively helping to push things forward and drive change.”
Many of the participants had never driven a classic car before, and some were making their track debut.
Among the vehicles on the course were a Jaguar E-type, Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, Austin Seven sports car, and a Heritage Skills Academy classic model.
The session was organised for female staff from Bicester Motion and neighbouring businesses including HERO-ERA, Pendine, Motorsport UK, and Hi-Speed.
Other standout vehicles in the paddock, courtesy of Kingsbury Racing, included a vintage Bentley and a bright orange Mazda MX-5 Mk3 race car.
The event brought together award-winning women in the sector, including Sammy and Cat Ruff, both recipients of the Young Achiever Award at the Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards.
Also present were Kyra Hill and Janice Pitchforth of Heritage Skills Academy, who collected the Industry Supporter of the Year title, and Tiggy Atkinson, winner of the Personal Endeavour 2023 award and a finalist again this year.
From HERO-ERA, hospitality director Eleonora Piccolo—responsible for planning rally competitor experiences—took part, alongside colleagues Maria Sierra, Eve Cattle, Caitlin Jones, and Kyra Harding.
Ms Pilling said: “International Women’s Day, to me, is a personal reminder that we can influence women’s advancement in everyday actions we take.
“Sometimes that’s as simple as giving someone space to speak in a meeting, asking for their view, making sure they’re recognised for the work they’ve done and are doing, or encouraging them to take a leap of faith.”
Each came away keen to do more.
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