REAL DRIVERS
When your career in the Armed Forces is cut short by injury, what do you do next? Alisdair Suttie finds out more about one charity giving injured vets a second chance through motorsport
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here are a lot of similarities with motorsport and the Armed Forces. Both involve dedication, concentration, emotional highs and lows, and getting the job done in often difficult circumstances. Of course, motorsport is for fun and serving in the Forces is a profession, but it’s amazing nobody made the link between the two until James Cameron set up Mission Motorsport at the beginning of 2012. Mission Motorsport’s aim is to help those affected by military service with their recovery and rehabilitation. The idea to use motorsport as the means for this was borne out of James’ love of racing and, after a very hard tour of Afghanistan in 2010-2011, he saw a lot of his men injured. A former army major, James says: “A lot of my blokes had a very tough tour and I wanted to do something directly for them. “Motorsport carries a risk, so you have to do it properly. I had looked into some high profile efforts along the same lines but I didn’t think they were being run professionally. So myself and some others came up with the plan for Mission Motorsport to link former Forces staff and the automotive industry.” STEPPING-STONE This is an important distinction between Mission Motorsport and other charitable projects that let injured former servicemen and women take part in racing. With Mission Motorsport, all of the preparation, logistics and racing itself are dealt with in the the same way as any professional motor racing team. Just as importantly, all of those taking part can use Mission Motorsport to adapt their skills to find work in the motorsport and automotive industries. Mission Motorsport is not an end in itself, but a vital stepping-stone on the road to recovery. As an example of how highly regarded Mission Motorsport and those who take part are, Jaguar Land Rover has hired 15 ex-service personnel
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as a result of their experience with the charity. These roles are as varied as working on the production line to organising logistics and vehicle design. There are also many more former Mission Motorsport workers now in full-time employment in almost every other area of the automotive and motorsport industries. FURTHER SUPPORT However, that isn’t even the end goal as far as Mission Motorsport is concerned. While it’s vitally important to help those into work who have been medically retired from the Forces earlier than they might have expected to leave, James knows they need more support than
“Motorsport has the ability to change your mood, lift you up when you feel down” James Cameron, Mission Motorsport others who find themselves out of work. “We stay in touch with the veterans and support them if they need help,” says James. “Sometimes it’s as simple as having someone to speak to who understands what they have experienced. We also keep in contact with the employers, as they can need a helping hand to get the best from ex-Forces employees. These guys have amazing skills and knowledge, but their confidence can need building up again.”
The opportunities on offer are as varied as in any other professional race team. Every job has to be filled, so all of the support roles needed to get a car and driver on to the start line are just as important as the person sitting behind the steering wheel. Over 850 men and women have benefited so far. SERIOUS FORCE All of these outlets for veterans have resulted in Mission Motorsport becoming an embedded function as part of the Ministry of Defence’s Recovery Career Services. Another way in which Mission Motorsport has grown from a great idea into a serious force within the motoring industry is by providing a unique apprenticeship scheme in Classic Vehicle Restoration. As well as this course, Mission Motorsport offers a Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair based on the City and Guilds 4290 qualification. It’s another example of how veterans can be brought into the charity because of their interest in cars, and then find a route into new employment. The employment opportunities are a key part of the charity, but James adds: “Motorsport has the ability to change your mood, lift you up when you feel down. This is the most important element for all of us. These guys joined the services for opportunity and excitement, and motorsport is one of the few areas outside of the Forces where they can find that. “It’s also important to remember that motorsport is unusual in that you have to adapt to it rather than it changing to suit you. The car can be altered to fit the driver but they still have to compete on the same track as everyone else, and in a race nobody is going to give an inch because they all want to win.” The determination to win, get the job done and succeed is something all service personnel will be familiar with, and it’s the same with motor racing. No wonder Mission Motorsport is proving such a success on the track and off it. ■ FIND OUT MORE Mission Motorsport www.missionmotorsport.org team@missionmotorsport.org 03330 338 338
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