The SGMW annual awards, the first of the year, recognise the outstanding efforts of manufacturers, PR teams and individuals who excelled with magnificent models, memorable motoring and help SGMW members over the past 12 months.

The awards are voted for by SGMW members, many of whom have experienced the news cars at manufacturer launches and driving days, and attended the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) north and south test days.

SGMW chairman Ian Robertson said: “Our New Year Honours are held in high esteem by the manufacturers and their PR teams. Winning one is a great way to kick off the new year.

“This year there were some really tight results so it was a good job that most of our members voted in as many categories as possible.

“Electric vehicles are gaining a big foothold in the new car market so it is no surprise that they were popular choices in the three categories for vehicles.

“But don’t write off petrol and diesel cars just yet as traditional internal combustion engine models also found favour with our electorate,” he added.

And it’s also new year, new award.

The SGMW is launching a new accolade, the Chairman’s Award, to honour someone who has given extraordinary service to the automotive industry, a particular manufacturer, or been a very special friend to our group.

To recognise his sterling service to the industry, the first Chairman’s Award goes to John Handcock, Head of PR at Citroën, who retired in November 2023 after more than 30 years with the French brand. Having previously worked within the sales, product, and fleet departments, he joined the press office in the summer of 2009 and has been a good friend and supporter of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers over the years. SGMW Chairman Ian Robertson commented: “John Handcock will be an extremely hard act to follow and has been a brilliant public relations leader and friend. On a personal note, I will miss him enormously, with it feeling like the end of an era. On behalf of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers, we send our sincere best wishes to him for his retirement from Stellantis.”

The full results for the SGMW New Year Honours 2024, with opinions from voting members, are:

BEST PR NEWCOMER – someone who made a special impact in liaising with the media during the past year and is either new to the industry PR scene or has taken on a new role/position.

Winner – Lucinda Inggs (Stellantis)

“She was an absolute star during a very long day travelling to Paris to see the Citroen eC3, coping with all sorts of delays, traffic and other problems.”

Runner-up – Brad Beningfield (Honda UK)

BEST PR OFFICE – awarded to the operation consistently delivering the best all-round or forward-thinking service to SGMW throughout the year.

Winner – Kia UK

“Always helpful, you are always assured a high standard of service from the Kia UK press office and, with specially-organised driving days for the Southern Group of Motoring Writers, we get to sample the latest vehicles in a relaxed environment.”

Runner-up – Toyota

THE SGMW OBE (OPERATING BEYOND EXPECTATION) – for acting above and beyond the call of PR duty during the past year. It can be for consistent high performance, a memorable one-off effort or a thoughtful gesture towards one of our members caught in a bind.

Winner – Graeme Fudge, PR director, and the Mazda UK team

When a deadly earthquake forced Mazda’s Epic Drive through the Atlas Mountains to be cancelled, Graeme, his team and their paramedic headed to stricken remote villages in their vehicles to deliver their supplies of bottled water and help emergency aid workers in the early stages of the response to the disaster.

‘DARK HORSE’ OF THE YEAR – a car that surprised SGMW members, either by its arrival or just how good it was.

Winner – BYD Dolphin

“A surprisingly complete electric car from a newcomer to the European market. The Dolphin is an excellent value family EV package with a highly-usable driving range and an interestingly-styled interior.”

Runner-up – Abarth 500e

ONE TO WATCH – the car that SGMW members most look forward to driving in the coming year.

Winner – Dacia Spring

“I was very impressed driving the Dacia Jogger so I’m looking forward to seeing what Dacia’s first small EV will be like.”

“This cute city car, likely to be the UK’s cheapest EV, is going to be a tempting runabout and entice more people into electric motoring.”

SGMW CAR OF THE YEAR

Winner – Jeep Avenger, top

“Totally new concept power for this American icon. Although I was hesitant about it when I first drove it, the more I did the more impressive it was for overall driver satisfaction. Really surprising in my view.”

2024 SGMW New Year Honours: Gallery

The post PR STARS, TOP CARS RECOGNISED IN 2024 SGMW NEW YEAR HONOURS appeared first on Southern Group of Motoring Writers.

Twelve teams competed for glory – from BMW, Honda, Newspress, Nissan, Porsche, SGMW, Stellantis, Toyota, Lexus, Gazoo, Volvo and Women On the Move Against Cancer (WOMAC) – earlier this month at TeamSport in Crawley, near Gatwick Airport.

This year’s Karting GP nominated charity was WOMAC which was established in 1979. The original plan had been to tie in the event with WOMAC’s 40^th anniversary but the Covid pandemic forced the cancellation of the Karting GP in the past two years.

But it was worth the wait and, better late than never, it raised £2,550 for WOMAC.

WOMAC is made up of around 70 women volunteers working in the automotive and associated industries. It organises events and activities to raise money for cancer charities.

Over the years, WOMAC has given more than £1,000,000 to cancer-related projects, searching for more effective treatments or improving the quality of life for cancer-sufferers, their families and carers.

Despite receiving three black flags before the lap counter had gone into double digits, it was soon evident which team was the one to beat.

Graham Bothamley, head of the Toyota press garage, looked suitably impressed with his team’s work but any mentions of ‘brought-in’ karting racers were denied.

The black flags would increase for the Gazoo team during the 150-minute endurance race.

From the start to the chequered flag, the 12 teams worked hard, building up sweats and appetites that were thankfully catered for with a non-stop run of pizza throughout the race.

Despite continuing to collect black flags, the overall winner, with 147 laps completed, was Gazoo Racing. It added to the SGMW karting title it won at the previous event back in 2019.

Toyota took second place with Porsche third.

Prizes for the three fastest laps went to:

• Ryan Luscombe (Gazoo Racing) – 47.785 seconds.
• Andy Jenner (Toyota) – 48.160 seconds.
• Sean Ward (SGMW member driving for Team WOMAC) – 48.182 seconds.

Massimo Pini, a co-founder and organiser of the SGMW annual Karting GP, said “It was great to be back on track with one of our biggest fund-raisers of the year and fulfill our promise to WOMAC which was originally to have coincided with its 40th anniversary – but the pandemic put paid to that.

“The Southern Group of Motoring Writers is a big supporter of the charity and we are proud to have WOMAC patrons Sue Baker, Sarah Bradley and Claire Evans among our membership.”

The event finished with SGMW treasurer Chris Manning presenting a giant cheque for £2,550 to WOMAC chair Georgia Fox, charity co-ordinator Moyosola Fujamade and media co-ordinator Heather Webb.

WOMAC aims to raise a total of £15,000 for its two charities for 2022 – Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Maggie’s. Both provide care and support for those going through a cancer diagnosis. Funds raised will go towards expert advice, counselling services, patient grants and research projects.

Everyone agreed it was good to have the SGMW Karting GP back on the calendar and are looking forward to getting back on track again next year.

Find out more about WOMAC’s sterling work by visiting www.womac.co.uk

Thank you to Richard Parsons (www.richard-parsons.com) and Sims Images for all the pictures.

The post Teams lap up return of SGMW charity Karting GP appeared first on Southern Group of Motoring Writers.