The Award Patron, Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey, judges, Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of the Historic Sport Car Club (HSCC) and William Nuthall of IN Racing Ltd, the Award 2025 secondment partner, plus the Directors of the Heritage Skills Academy (HSA), are delighted to announce that Kacey Burgess, an apprentice and employee of Road and Competition Engineering Ltd, has been selected as the worthy winner of ‘The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award 2025’.
Year four of this award came with a very healthy entry list of applicants. After an intense initial round of judging the 20 strong apprentice nominations, approved by their employers, they were then whittled down to three finalists. Final interviews took place at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, on 15 June 2025, followed by a drinks reception.
Kacey met the judge’s criteria at interview with aplomb, demonstrating her engineering skills, passion, enthusiasm, and exceptional commitment as a team player during her apprenticeship, and importantly with a clear desire to go racing.
Kacey Burgess, aged 21, joined Road and Competition Engineering Ltd and began her apprenticeship with Heritage Skills Academy in July 2023. She is in year two of her apprenticeship as an engineering technician. Kacey is proving to be an outstanding young automotive engineer committed to engineering excellence. Road and Competition Engineering is Kacey’s first employment within the industry and is a company which specialise in performance and classic car servicing, motorsport preparation, engine performance modifications and rebuilds including race support services.
The Award Presentation Event
The award will be presented to Kacey by Clive Chapman, Founder and Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus, at a star-studded awards ceremony followed by a Q&A hosted by racer, internationally acclaimed compère and voice of Pebble Beach concours, Amanda Stretton, at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London, on Wednesday 24 September 2025 at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the event are available through Bookwhen using this link: https://bit.ly/SimonDiffeyAward2025
Award judge, Andy Dee-Crowne, CEO of the HSCC, commented: “Kacey showed confidence and a sound knowledge of motorsport, demonstrating the skills, commitment, and determination needed to succeed and represent the Simon Diffey legacy. She is a very worthy winner and I look forward to working with her in 2025.”
Award secondment partner for 2025 and Director of IN Racing Ltd, Will Nuthall commented: “During the process Kacey’s passion for motorsport shone through immediately, coupled with her breadth of mechanical interest and knowledge made her a more than worthy recipient for the Simon Diffey Award.”
Commenting, Sarah Jane Adams-Diffey said: “I am delighted that Kacey is our winner for 2025. When asked to explain to the judges why she should be selected as the winner over the other finalists, her response was pure motoring passion as she exclaimed, ‘this is my dream, motorsport is my life!’ That is exactly what we were looking for in a winner, somebody who is passionate, inspirational and will be an ambassador and continue the spirit of Simon’s award.”
About the Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice 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.
Award Prize
As the recipient of The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award 2025, Kacey Burgess will receive the following:
- One month working with IN Racing during the race season in the summer of 2026
- Attendance at one international race with IN Racing
- £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 with Andy Dee-Crowne
- ARDS test supported by Silverstone to gain a racing licence
- Alpinestars will gift Kacey 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 subject to a race car being available
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, The Royal Automobile Club (who are a new supporter), Goodwood, Silverstone, Motorsport UK, MS(UK), FIA Girls on Track, Magneto magazine, Octane magazine, Alpinestars, Martin Stretton, Arai, Andy Dee-Crowne, HSCC, Secondment partners: Classic Team Lotus, Ecurie Bertelli, GTO Engineering & Bell Sport & Classic. Mentors: Nick Lyford, Will Nuthall at IN Racing, Martin Overington and John Worth our new mentor for 2025. Thanks also to the Award winner’s employers, Jim Stokes, The Splined Hub, P&K Thornton restorations and Road & Competition Engineering Ltd, plus all the Award helpers and those who have made financial donations to support the Award in Simon’s memory.
-ENDS-
