I’m pleased to report that this year’s Western Group of Motoring Writers Driving Day, based again at the Haynes Motor Museum, was another huge success.
In all, 33 cars and pick-ups from 24 brands were available to drive at the event – and there were 234 test drives in total.
We welcomed more than 30 PR guests and the vehicles available included models from Driving Day newcomers Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor.
Most brands were able to spare personnel to attend, but where that wasn’t possible, cars were sent ahead, such as the Dacia Duster, Abarth 600e, BYD Sealion 7, Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica 280 Veloce, BMW X3, Citroen e-C3 and Range Rover P530 V8 Autobiography.
Representatives from Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Renault, Isuzu, KGM, Toyota, Ineos, Tesla, Xpeng, Polestar and Kia, plus event sponsors Suzuki, drove down on the day.
Guests and Western Group members were also treated to passenger rides in a classic Mini converted to 100% electric by Bristol-based Fellten.
Handmade Bristol Glass trophies were awarded for the most driven car of the day and the participant who drove the most cars on the day.
The ‘Car of the Day’ was the retro cool Renault 5 E-Tech, while the ‘Driver of the Day’ trophy went to Isuzu’s Filip Czajkowski. There was also a “Legend” special award for Ford press garage stalwart, Gary Cuthbert, who’s retiring this year.
A charity raffle was held, along with an auction for Goodwood Festival of Speed tickets, donated by Honda, plus a Tamiya remote control Mazda3 and a 1:18 scale model of an Ineos Grenadier. More than £500 was raised on the day, which will be split between WOMAC and another South West charity to be confirmed at the Group’s next meeting.
Despite the topsy-turvy weather and a change of date from early June to May, this year’s event was as enjoyable as ever with a broad range of vehicles available to drive and a rough 50:50 mix of electric and ICE cars.
I’m pleased to say that the feedback we’ve had from guests has been really positive and we’re already looking ahead to next year’s event, which has a provisional date of Thursday, 4 June, 2026.
Over the next couple of months, a small DD26 committee, alongside our event partner (Simon Perry of ID PR) will be assessing possible alternative venues.
And rest assured, no decision will be made without the agreement of the Group at a future meeting.
