Suspension Secrets recently hosted an exclusive hot lap experience event with pro drivers and incredible cars – all for a great cause
We are beyond thrilled to announce that our Passenger Hot Laps Event at Donington Park circuit helped to raise over £100,000 for Tour De 4 and cancer charities nominated by Sir Chris Hoy: Prostate Cancer UK, Breast Cancer Now, Cure Leukaemia, Maggie’s and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Taking place on May 12th at one of the UK’s premier racing venues, the Hot Laps event brought together legendary names from the motorsport world, plus incredible machinery from manufacturers and race teams for a truly unique evening of adrenaline-fuelled passenger rides.
Drivers in attendance included Sir Chris Hoy (6-time gold medalist and endurance racer), Chris Harris (ex Top Gear presenter and motoring journalist), Karun Chandhok (ex F1), Matt Neal (ex BTCC/current BTCC team owner), Jason Plato (ex BTCC/current BTCC team owner), John McGuinness MBE (multiple Isle of Man TT winner), Jodie Kidd (supermodel and petrolhead), Tim Harvey (ex BTCC) and Marino Franchitti (sports car racer).
Other hot shoes present were Steve Soper (ex BTCC), Chris Dymond (GT racer and driver coach), Jonny Cocker (GT racer and JCR Developments founder), Chris Cooper (podcaster and GT endurance racer), Jethro Bovingdon (motoring journalist), Max Coates (Porsche Carrera Cup GB), Richard and Charlie Tuthill (of Tuthill), Darren Turner (Aston Martin factory driver) and James Abbott (Revolution Race Cars).
Cars available for passenger rides included the RML GT Hypercar, Ferrari LaFerrari, Mustang Dark Horse R, JCR 992.2 GT3 Touring, Tuthill GT One and 911K, 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S, McLaren 750S, Porsche 992 GT3 RS, GT3 and GTS, plus the TWR Supercat, Revolution Race Cars, Hype Motorsport GR86 and Alpine A110S, members of the Suspension Secrets development fleet and more!
Charity Auction
Before the on-track activities began, guests were invited to a special charity auction where they could bid on a range of exclusive lots.
Items up for grabs included a tour of the Williams F1 factory, an overnight stay in the five-star Donington Hall hotel’s luxurious Sir Chris Hoy room, and a range of signed motorsport memorabilia. Guests could also bid on lunch for two at Jodie Kidd’s Half Moon pub in Kirdford, as well as a day at Champneys Wellness Spa Resort, and magnum-sized bottles of Vina Real Gran Reserva, 2016 wine.
Another auction highlight were the Legends Track Battles that saw guests bid for a seat alongside old rivals Jason Plato and Matt Neal, Tim Harvey and Steve Soper, and Sir Chris Hoy and Chris Harris – all of which would drive head-to-head on circuit using Hype Motorsport’s track-prepared GR86 and A110S.
Green Light
The main action got underway at 5:30pm with RMA Track Days overseeing operations, and hot laps continued right through to 8pm. Spectators and passengers alike were treated to truly awesome sights and sounds as drivers pushed the limits on Donington Park’s full-length GP circuit. If you love smokey drifts, the Melbourne Hairpin was definitely the place to be on the night.
Things ramped up a gear when the Legends Track Battles commenced. Right from the off, drivers Plato and Neal, Harvey and Soper, and Hoy and Harris were clearly up for putting on a great show and treating their passengers to unforgettable rides. Judging by the size of the smiles emerging from each car afterwards, it was huge fun for all involved.
Incredible Generosity
The entry ticket guaranteed complimentary passenger laps and guests could add more laps on the day with additional donations. This meant the total money raised for Tour De 4 and Sir Chris Hoy was climbing throughout the event, which created additional excitement.
By the evening’s end, the grand total raised by our Tour De 4 trackdays had surpassed £100,000, which is an incredible achievement. We cannot thank those who donated enough for their amazing generosity.
Why It Matters
Sir Chris Hoy was diagnosed with cancer in September 2023 after he went to doctors with pain in his shoulder, which he initially thought might be a sports-related injury. Tests revealed that he had stage 4 prostate cancer, and the disease had already spread to his bones. Hoy later explained that the diagnosis came “completely out the blue,” as he had not noticed typical prostate cancer symptoms.
He first shared publicly in February 2024 that he was being treated with chemotherapy, and in October 2024 he revealed that the cancer was terminal. His story has since raised awareness about prostate cancer risk, especially for men with a family history of the disease.
More than 400,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK – about 1,100 people every day – and cancer causes around 170,000 deaths annually, making it one of the country’s biggest health challenges.
However, awareness, early detection and treatment make a real difference: around 1 in 2 people diagnosed with cancer now survive for 10 years or more, compared with around 1 in 4 in the 1970s. Cancer Research UK also estimates that around 38% of cancer cases are preventable, highlighting the importance of lifestyle choices, screening, symptom awareness and seeking medical advice early.
Today, almost 3.5 million people in the UK are living with cancer, so raising awareness helps support patients, encourage earlier diagnosis and improve outcomes.
Donate to Tour De 4
Those wishing to make a donation to the Tour De 4 cancer charity initiative should follow this link.
