On 20th May 2023 Racing Pride hosted a truly unforgettable event at Silverstone UTC that brought together LGBTQ+ individuals and allies from all over motorsport for a Pride Party.

With Racing Pride Members, Ambassadors, Community Champions, Industry Partners, and students from the UTC who aspire to work in the industry attending, this diverse and inclusive audience created an uplifting and accepting atmosphere – a true celebration of Pride.

The day was filled with engaging and informative panel discussions expertly hosted by the talented Chris Stevens. We heard from speakers such as Carys Conlon, Kerrie Sparling, Matt Bishop, Yvonne Houffelaar, Jordan Rand, and, of course, our very own Co-Founder Richard Morris. The panels covered a wide range of topics, including personal experiences of entering club motorsport and the groundbreaking work Racing Pride is undertaking in the world of Formula One.

As well as enjoying plentiful food throughout the day – including some delicious Racing Pride cupcakes – our guests had the opportunity to witness exhilarating on-track action from the UTC’s balcony. The excitement grew as Richard Morris hit the track, securing a pair of podium finishes in his Revolution prototype.

Attendees were also given exclusive access to the paddock, allowing them to get up close and personal with the cars and team members. It was fantastic to hear from some mechanics who demonstrated different aspects of their roles within the team, as well as watch a driver change practice.

The Pride Party at Silverstone was a wonderful, empowering, and inspiring event that succeeded in bringing our community together once again. It served as a reminder of the progress we have made in championing LGBTQ+ inclusion within the motorsport industry since we launched in June 2019, and the work that still lies ahead.

Attendee Grace (@gracingline) said: “The day was simply lovely. It was so uplifting to meet people I could identify with, and hear words of wisdom from the incredible panellists. It felt like a truly safe space to discuss LGBTQ+ rights, and be inspired by the stories of those who have bravely championed inclusion to get us all to this point. Racing Pride have done a wonderful job of creating a strong, positive community where everyone can be their true selves, proudly! The food was also amazing, and the opportunity to visit the Silverstone garages and get to grips with new racing categories was so special.”

Jordan Rand added: “What a day! This community means the world to someone like me! I feel safe to be myself and realise I’m not alone. That’s all any of us want in life.” 

We would like to thank Silverstone UTC for being so generous in hosting us, with particular thanks to UTC Principal John McAfee for his personal efforts supporting the Party, and Silverstone Circuit for welcoming our Racing Pride members to the race event as their guests. 

We’re so happy with how this event went, and can’t wait to bring more opportunities to our Members, and to the wider LGBTQ+ community in motorsport in the near future!