In a unprecedented move bridging automotive past and future, four apprentices will get the chance to drive a 119-year-old car in one of the world’s most famous motoring events. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and British Motor Museum have announced a competition that will see winning apprentices take the wheel of a 1904 Thornycroft in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
The initiative, launched during National Apprenticeship Week, aims to connect today’s automotive innovators with the industry’s rich heritage. Winners will pilot the historic 20hp tourer – a vehicle that dominated the Run before World War II – on its 60-mile journey from London to Brighton’s seafront this November.
“Just as innovation revolutionized mobility and society at the turn of the last century, today’s transformation will bring a better future – with apprenticeships our driving force,” says SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes. The sentiment reflects the growing importance of apprentices in the UK’s automotive sector, which currently has over 4,500 young people training across various disciplines.
The competition offers more than just a drive. Winners will receive comprehensive training at the British Motor Museum, an overnight stay in London, and dinner with industry veterans the night before the November 2 event. They’ll then join hundreds of other historic vehicles for a dawn start at Hyde Park, participating in what has become the world’s longest-running motoring event.
Stephen Laing, Head of Collections & Engagement at the British Motor Museum, emphasizes the symbolic importance of the initiative: “The British Motor Museum tells the stories from the dawn of motoring and of its pioneers. That heritage can inform today’s apprentices, who will be the pioneers in the 21st century’s rapidly changing motor industry.”
For the UK’s automotive apprentices, this represents a rare opportunity to connect with their industry’s roots. Places in the Run are notoriously difficult to secure, making this competition particularly significant. Eligible apprentices have until April 30 to submit their applications, explaining in 250 words what participating would mean to them.
The competition comes at a time when the automotive industry is experiencing its most significant transformation since the early days of motoring. With over 550 new apprentices joining the sector this academic year alone, initiatives like this help bridge the gap between the industry’s pioneering past and its innovative future.
