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Announcement of the winner of ‘The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award 2023’

Motorsport | Press Article 17/04/24

Adam Cameron - apprenticed to The Splined Hub

The Award Patron, Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey, judges, Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of the Historic Sport Car Club (HSCC) and Rob Blakemore, Managing Director of Ecurie Bertelli, secondment partner for 2023, plus the Directors of the Heritage Skills Academy (HSA) are delighted to announce that Adam Cameron, an apprentice with the Heritage Skills Academy and an employee from The Splined Hub has been selected as the worthy recipient of ‘The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award 2023’.

Year two of this award came with a very healthy entry list of applicants. After an intense initial round of judging of the 12 strong apprentice nominations, submitted by their employers, they were then whittled down to three finalists. Final interviews took place at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, on 11 June 2023, Simon’s birthday, followed by a drinks reception. Adam met the judge’s criteria at interview, with aplomb, demonstrating his engineering skills; passion; enthusiasm; and exceptional commitment as a team player as an apprentice and importantly with a clear desire to go racing.

Adam, aged 21, joined The Splined Hub and began his apprenticeship with Heritage Skills Academy in May 2022. He is in year one of his apprenticeship as a ‘Heritage Engineering Technician’ (Mechanical Engineer). Adam is proving to be an outstanding young engineer committed to engineering excellence. The Splined Hub is Adam’s first employment within the industry, and is a firm which specialise in Jaguar E Type restoration, preservation and race preparation.

The Award will be presented to Adam by David Richards CBE, Chairman of Motorsport UK, at a star-studded awards ceremony followed by a Q&A hosted by Amanda Stretton at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London, at 6 p.m. on Friday 15 September 2023.

Finalist judge, Andy Dee-Crowne commented: “Adam showed a passion and determination to excel. His competitive nature shone through, which for me mirrored the many qualities of Simon. He is a worthy winner and I look forward to helping him in his career.”

Commenting, Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey said: “Adam has a very similar character to Simon in that he has that glint in the eye and hunger to learn more and his big dream is to go racing.

This is what Simon loved in life. People who aspire and reach for the stars. He would greatly approve of Adam as our second recipient of this much coveted award.” Commenting, founders of The Splined Hub, Oliver and Alison Winbolt said: “At 19 years of age when he joined us, and with little previous experience, Adam immediately became part of the team and gained the trust and friendship of everyone else in the workshop. Within weeks he was delivering valuable work, and he has shown an aptitude and interest in all areas of classic vehicle restoration.”

About the Award
The Award was established by Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey in memory of her late husband and well-known historic racing driver, Simon Diffey, who was killed aged 57 in a road accident in May 2022.

The aim is to continue in perpetuity Simon’s ethos of recognising and encouraging the next generation of young heritage apprentice engineers through opportunity. As the recipient of the Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award 2023 Adam Cameron will receive the following:

- One month working with Ecurie Bertelli during the race season in the summer of 2023
- Attendance at one international race with Ecurie Bertelli
- £3,000 to help with subsistence and travel
- Motorsport UK will supply a free race licence pack which is required to apply for the
ARDS test in order to gain a motor racing competition licence
- Private race tuition ahead of the ARDS test
- ARDS test supported by Silverstone to gain a racing licence
- Alpinestars will kit out Adam with a new race suit and full racing kit, including shoes and
gloves
- Arai will supply a new helmet
- The HSCC will provide free entry into a suitable race series for a set number of races
The Award Patron, Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey, Simon’s wife, would like to publicly thank and is
most grateful for the support of Heritage Skills Academy, Goodwood, Classic Team Lotus,
HSCC, Nick Lyford, Ecurie Bertelli, Motorsport UK, Magneto Magazine, Alpinestars, Martin
Stretton, Arai, Steve Deeks and Silverstone, and all the helpers who have made contributions to support the award in Simon’s memory.


-ENDS-

Press Enquires

Tim Metcalfe
Tel: 020 3934 6632 or 07721 383834
Email: tim.metcalfe@investor-focus.co.uk