Motorsport enjoys a speedy
FIRM FUELLING ITS POPULARITY IS ALSO BACKING ‘PIVOTAL’ AWARD
MOST people are aware of the famous football and rugby teams in Leicester – but another sport is now growing in popularity in the region.
The rise in motorsport is largely down to the work of local company Grandstand Motor Sports – a leading motorsport travel specialist.
The business offers tailor-made itineraries to motorsport events across the world including F1, Indycar, 24-hour Le Mans and Nascar.
Giving local people the opportunity to experience these prestigious events up close, they have also come on board as category sponsors at this year’s Leicester Mercury Sports Awards.
Taking place on January 17 at the Welford Road stadium, the business has thrown its weight behind the Neville Hamilton Award.
One of the evening’s most acclaimed awards, it is named after the late Neville Hamilton, who dedicated his life to regional sport and was one of the reasons behind the awards being founded.
A former Leicester City, Wolves and Mansfield Town footballer, Neville went on to become an inspirational coach encouraging young footballers in the sport.
After passing away due to a heart condition in 2009, this award was created in his honour.
Grandstand Motor Sports’ Debbie Wolfe-Kinch is the company’s director and she highlighted why they chose to come on board with this particular category.
She said: “As sponsors of the Neville Hamilton Award, we were honoured to be given the opportunity to sponsor such a pivotal award.
“As a Leicestershire business, with most of our staff from Leicestershire too, it really is an incredible privilege to be associated with this award which now pays tribute to not just the eventual winner of the award but to Leicester-born Neville Hamilton.”
Directors at Grandstand say they are always keen to show their support for regional sport, and Debbie described other ways the company contributes to the local sporting community.
“In recent years, Grandstand Motor Sports has worked with local sports clubs and charity events.
“Through Grandstand’s wellestablished contacts at Red Bull Racing, they kindly donated a cap signed by the Red Bull Racing F1 drivers.
“The cap raised £200 at a Cancer Research event at the Royal Oak pub, in Rothley.
“Grandstand also recently sponsored a local charity football match in aid of Parkinson’s disease. The match was between local veterans teams, which included two ex-LCFC players. Grandstand donated a prize for the raffle which followed the match.
“We have also previously sponsored their local football team Groby Juniors.”
Professionals, amateurs, clubs and teams will all be celebrated at the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards, and nominations for this year’s event are now open.
■ See the panel to the right for information on how to nominate.