Driven By Us continued to expand its work across motorsport and STEM throughout July, delivering educational programmes, workshops and industry experiences designed to connect young people and their communities with opportunities in engineering, technology and motorsport.
Reflecting on the organisation’s recent activities, Founder and CEO James Dornor praised the efforts of the team, volunteers and community.
“I’m incredibly proud of our community and team for continuing to create access, opportunities and experiences for others across motorsport and STEM,” Dornor said.
One of the month’s highlights came through Driven By Us’ continued partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team during the team’s annual Make A Mark Day. The organisation also concluded its academic programme in local schools, reaching 300 young people. Students who completed the programme took part in an interactive RC car workshop and STEM Design Challenge.
Driven By Us also attended the annual summit hosted by Mission 44, where young community members and MSc scholars supported by the organisation joined industry leaders, organisations and changemakers. The summit focused on representation, access and long-term impact across motorsport and engineering, with Dornor contributing to discussions during the event.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes and are excited about what lies ahead as we continue supporting young people and communities,” Dornor said.
During the British Grand Prix, Driven By Us officially opened its Community Hub at Silverstone. The space provided an opportunity to engage with fans, partners and industry stakeholders while showcasing the organisation’s mission. The team was also represented on a Women in Motorsport panel discussion during the event.
The British Grand Prix weekend also marked the organisation’s partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing, with five aspiring engineers from the Driven By Us network given access to the Formula One paddock for the first time. According to the organisation, the experience provided participants with behind-the-scenes exposure to Formula One and the opportunity to engage with the sport at the highest level.
Community engagement also remained a focus throughout the month. Dornor joined STEM Ambassador Daanish Chilwan for a panel discussion on breaking into the industry and navigating careers in motorsport and engineering. Driven By Us also attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time, where 20 learners and students from its programmes experienced the event and engaged with teams, manufacturers and industry professionals.
The organisation continued its STEM outreach through several additional initiatives. To mark International Women in Engineering Day, community members attended STEM workshops and one-to-one CV review sessions with Red Bull Racing. Driven By Us also concluded its annual STEM workshop in Weston-super-Mare following a year-long programme that included a visit to Williams Racing headquarters.
In partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers at Formula Student, the organisation also delivered a STEM experience for 30 aspiring engineers from colleges across London and Buckinghamshire. Participants completed engineering challenges, experienced behind-the-scenes activities and met industry professionals.
Another milestone came through the completion of the Star Academies Future Engineer Programme, delivered in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The initiative reached more than 1,300 Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils, concluding with celebration events where students presented the karts they had built during the programme.
Reflecting on the organisation’s progress, Dornor said:
“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together as a collective and passionate team.”
He added:
“We are a community-led, volunteer-powered organisation that is changing access, opportunity and experience for others, and that matters.”
Driven By Us said it remains focused on creating opportunities for young people through partnerships with organisations including Mission 44, Oracle Red Bull Racing, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
