COMPETITION ENTRY FORM AND PRIZE INFORMATION

'Encouraging excellence through the power of opportunity'

 

OBJECTIVE:

To continue in perpetuity, a legacy of Simon’s ethos in recognising and encouraging the next generation of young heritage apprentice engineers through opportunity in motorsport. 

 

AWARDED TO:

A young individual who dreams of going motor racing and for demonstrating talent in engineering, passion, enthusiasm, and displaying an exceptional commitment as a team player during their apprenticeship. 

 

THE AWARD PRIZE

Full details of the Award prize can be viewed here.

 

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Rules & Regulations

Apprentices are invited to make their own application via the PDF entry form, which must be authorised and signed off by their employer. All applications will be verified with the employer. 

Application forms must be sent no earlier than 1st May 2026 and no later than 29th May 2026 to HSCC@diffsaward.com. 
 

The Apprentice 

Must be at least 18 years of age but not exceeding 26 years of age. 

  • The applicant must be an existing apprentice in full time employment studying automotive heritage engineering or coachbuilding.
  • They must have completed a minimum of 1 full year with their employer. 
  • They must be financially dependent - i.e. apprentice would not have the finance to go racing without the Award's financial support and is not already supported to go racing or have raced. 

You must hold a current passport for travel and be willing to live and work away from home for one month with the Secondment Partner.

 

The Employer 

  • Must be willing to release an apprentice for one month from their employ during the summer race season 2027, should their apprentice be fortunate enough to win. 
  • Dates to be mutually agreed with the Secondment Partner and employer. 

 

The Nomination Criteria 

  1. The employers will be asked to sign off their apprentice’s application that they believe meets the criteria we are looking for in upholding Simon’s spirit and legacy. 
  2. There will be a shortlist of three apprentices selected from the total nominations. 
  3. The three finalist nominees will then be interviewed in person. This will be their opportunity to tell the judges why they believe that they should be chosen as the winner. 
  4. The judging panel will then select the winner. The judges' decision is final. 

 

The 2026 Judging Timeline

Finalists must be available to be interviewed by the judges in person at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, on Sunday July 19th 2026 and to attend the Award Presentation Ceremony on 30th September 2026. 

Please do not apply if you are unavailable on these dates.

 

Applications open Friday  1st   May 2026 - any submissions made before this date will be disqualified

Applications close Friday 29th May 2026 

 

Friday 29th May 2026 -    Midday (12pm), Nominees to be considered and paperwork signed off by employer and sent to HSCC@diffsaward.com via e mail by midday. 

No candidate will be considered outside of this time, no matter how the dog ate the homework! 

Friday 5th June 2026 -     Employers of the three finalists will be notified on email and by phone by midday. 

Sunday, 19th July  2026 - Final three candidates, one-to-one interview with the judges at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom, KT18 7EH 

Friday 24th July 2026 -    Announcement of winning apprentice by midday by phone. 

 

Award Presentation 

Wednesday 30th September 2026, 18:00hrs, Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, Mountbatten Suite. 

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Guidance for apprentices and employers signing off application forms

The nature of the historic motorsport sector dictates that candidates will be studying vehicles from a diverse range of eras and a variety of vehicle types, race series and marques. 

Apprentices are asked to score their ability out of 10 using the following four subject lines below. 

  1. Engineering 
  2. Passion 
  3. Enthusiasm 
  4. Exceptional commitment as a team player 

The four point criteria should be supported by additional documentation, photographs or anything the apprentice feels appropriate.

The apprentice is also asked to submit 100 words explaining why they should be considered for this award. 

While the point scoring system will be an indicator for the judges, it will not be the overriding decision maker. 

Should the results end in a tie breaker; the decision will be taken by the judges on the apprentice's 100 words, which are marked by the judges. 

The judges' decision is final. No beer, wine, or offers of engine rebuilds will get you to the chequered flag any sooner. 

"I cannot begin to explain what this award means to me. It has opened doors for me that for years I though unreachable. It is a truly fantastic opportunity, granting me experiences and memories I will never forget. To all of the fantastic people involved, I cannot thank you enough."
2024 Award Winner, JAMIE MARRIOTT

© The Simon Diffey Heritage Motorsport Apprentice Award 2026.  All rights reserved. 

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