As the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) returns to Knockhill this August, fans are being asked to bring more than just their enthusiasm for racing - they’re being encouraged to bring food donations to support Scottish families in crisis.
Team VERTU drivers, Tom Ingram and Tom Chilton, are asking attendees to support Vertu’s Food Drive, which provides much needed essential items to the Edinburgh Food Project.
The urgent appeal comes at a critical time for foodbanks across Scotland, which regularly see depleted resources following the high demand during school holidays - a period when many families struggle without access to free school meals.
Tom Ingram said: “The support at Vertu’s last Food Drive was incredible! We know that our amazing motorsport fans are fantastic at coming together for causes like this too, so we are excited to see the Vertu Food Drive go even bigger at Knockhill.
"We know that many families are finding times challenging, but if you’re coming along to Knockhill and are able to bring a donation with you then the Team would really appreciate the support, it really does make a difference.”
Team VERTU is asking attendees to bring along the most in-demand items and deliver them to the Fan Zone. These include tinned cold meat, tinned hot meals (e.g. tinned Stew or hot dogs), tinned fruit, tinned vegetables, and long-life ready meals such as Pot Noodles, Pasta & Sauce that can be made with a kettle.
The donation push follows the success of Vertu’s previous Food Drive earlier this year, which saw hundreds of kilograms of food donated by generous local people with support from Dunfermline FC. The initiative was widely praised and made a tangible difference to local foodbanks.
Laura van der Hoeven, Chief Executive at the Edinburgh Food Project said: “We were blown away by the generosity at the last event. This kind of support is vital as demand for food has been so high. Every single item donated helps a family in crisis.”
In a twist on the usual race day proceedings, representatives from the foodbank will take to the grid in place of the traditional grid girls. The move is designed to spotlight the vital work these organisations do, particularly at a time when demand for their services is rising. By giving these everyday heroes a platform at one of the UK’s most high-profile racing events, Vertu and their Team VERTU partners EXCELR8 Motorsport aim to celebrate their impact and inspire fans to support the cause.
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu, said: “This is about using our platform to do something meaningful. We’re proud to support the Edinburgh Food Project and to give the charity the spotlight and recognition they deserve. Motorsport has the power to bring people together. And together, we can make a real difference.”
If you would like to donate financially to the Edinburgh Food Project, you can do so here: https://edinburghfoodproject.beaconforms.com/form/cab4e970?bcn_source=qr
- Charity
- BTCC