Striving to highlight the significance of mental health awareness as part of its participation in the country’s premier motor racing category, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Motorbase is utilising its platform to support the promotion of mental health causes.

Mental Health Awareness Week, which began this past Monday and runs until Sunday, 15th May, is a key date on the calendar for one of the UK’s most serious health challenges and this year the focus of the awareness week is to help tackle loneliness and the wider issues associated with it.

Figures show one in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time, with no single cause, but neither is there any one solution. The longer loneliness persists, the greater the risk of mental health problems surfacing and arising, and so Mental Health Awareness Week – which is led by the Mental Health Foundation – has been aiming to highlight practical steps to avert problems developing.

To discover more, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week where the Mental Health Foundation explores everything to do with loneliness – why it matters, what it feels like and ways in which individuals and society as a whole can respond.

This season in the BTCC, of course, Motorbase driver Sam Osborne – son of team owner Pete – is competing as No.77 in the Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan entry in memory of late racing driver Tom Walker, who tragically took his own life in 2018 and raced as No.77 in the VW Cup.

Prior to the current campaign, Sam raced with a ‘77’ decal on his car in remembrance and to also show support and he continues to do so on the rear of his Ford Focus ST – a message reading #77TomWalker – along with a decal supporting mental health charity Mind.

Pete’s other son Jamie, who drives in BTCC feeder category the MINI CHALLENGE, is also racing as No.77 this year and the family as a whole is determined to do as much as possible to highlight awareness of mental health challenges and the variety of struggles people face.

Pete Osborne – Motorbase Performance Team Owner and Team Principal:
“As a team we place a huge amount of importance on mental health awareness, particularly with our links to Tom [Walker] who I used to sponsor in the VW Cup, and so I am very proud Motorbase is supporting such a vital cause. Mental Health Awareness Week is incredibly important to help highlight the serious difficulties so many people face, and the support networks which are available.

“People need to be able to talk, to share their feelings and concerns without being judged, and anything we can do at Motorbase to promote this and to provide support we will do. You never know the struggles people might be facing, even if they seem happy on the outside, so I really do hope we can help to bring that to light and do our bit to assist in some way.”

This weekend, the BTCC and MINI CHALLENGE will both be in action at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent – Motorbase’s home track. All three BTCC races, which will feature Motorbase’s NAPA Racing UK drivers Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish and Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan racers Sam Osborne and Ollie Jackson, will be live on television.

Round four will begin at 11.30 on ITV4, round five at 14.10 on the main ITV channel and round six will start at 16.15, back on ITV4.

The post MOTORBASE HIGHLIGHTING IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORT DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Osborne, who embarks on his fourth BTCC campaign this year, has run with a number 77 decal as part of his car’s livery in memory of Walker for the past few years. Now, the 28-year-old will actually run 77 as his race entry number on his Ford Focus ST.

Motorbase team owner Pete Osborne, Sam’s father, sponsored Walker in the VW Cup before the talented driver tragically took his own life on New Year’s Eve in 2018. At the end of last year, Osborne Snr asked Tom’s father, David Walker, if he would be happy for Sam to race with No.77 in memory, to which he gave his full blessing.

As importantly as wanting to deliver a heartfelt memorial to Tom’s memory, the Osbornes and the Motorbase team as a whole will also be striving to raise awareness of the seriousness of mental health and the promotion of the wide variety of support networks which are available to those who may be suffering.

Pete Osborne – Motorbase Performance Team Owner and Team Principal:
“I met Tom in 2017 and instantly loved his attitude and approach to life and racing. Shortly afterwards I became a sponsor in the VW Cup and watched his progress closely, Tom had a very promising future and was always a really well-liked guy.

“From the outside everything looked to be going well for Tom but, incredibly sadly on New Year’s Eve 2018, Tom took his own life – a total shock and tragedy. Since then I have been very close to Tom’s father, David, and we have become very good friends.

“To keep Tom’s memory alive, VW Cup/TCR had a memorial race in his memory and my own son Sam competed in it. This race has become really close to my heart. Since then David and I have often chatted about Sam adopting number 77 in memory of Tom and this year I am really proud Sam will be changing his number in the BTCC to 77.

“This whole situation brings to light the struggles of modern life and no matter how good someone looks on the outside, or how well their life seems to be, you never know what someone could be personally struggling with.

“It is so important people have the opportunity to share how they are feeling with others and not to be scared to open up about mental health. I’m really looking forward to seeing the 77 on track with Sam in the BTCC this year and I’m sure we will do Tom and his family proud.”

Sam Osborne – Motorbase Performance Driver:
“Dad and I have spoken about me changing my number in honour of Tom for a while now, when I competed in the VW Cup/TCR race it really brought home to me that we needed to do more in the memory of Tom and also help highlight mental health to anyone else that might be struggling.

“It also highlights the point mental health doesn’t discriminate and can affect anyone from any walk of life. In bringing the number 77 back to racing in memory of Tom we are hopeful this will help people understand they are not alone in their struggles, and there is always help available. I can’t wait to get out on the track this year and do Tom and his family proud with the 77 on my car.”

For anyone currently struggling with mental health difficulties, or any concerned families and friends, there are a number of organisations and charities which provide support and guidance, including the following:

www.mind.org.uk – The Mental Health Charity

www.rethink.org – Rethink Mental Illness

www.mentalhealth.org.uk – Mental Health Foundation

www.youngminds.org.uk – Young Minds, Mental Health Charity for Children and Young People

www.manup.how – MANUP? Men’s Mental Health

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/ – NHS Mental Health

www.samaritans.org – Emotional support with a 24/7 helpline

The post OSBORNE TO RACE WITH POIGNANT TRIBUTE TO LATE VW CUP RACER TOM WALKER appeared first on Alliance Racing.