The Poppy Car
The #PoppyCar is an art car - lovingly designed and wrapped by wounded, injured and sick service leavers and veterans from across all three services by the charity, Mission Motorsport.
Thousands of poppies have been hand laid - where some 635 poppies are reflective - reflecting the 635 British servicemen and women who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 20 years. Using art, creativity and community, the #Poppycar brings together veterans using an emotive and meaningful project that, as the safety car for the Race of Remembrance, brought the field into the pitlane on Remembrance Sunday.
November 2021 - the 3rd Generation Poppy car, a Lotus Exige Cup 430, celebrating its last year in production, was unveiled at Lotus Headquarters in Hethel Norfolk, to mark the beginning of Lotus’ own Armed Forces Engagement Programme which sees the company support Service Leavers, veterans and their families into jobs after the military, before heading to the annual Race of Remembrance to perform as the safety car.
3 generations of Poppy Car
First Generation Poppy Car - Mazda MX-5 MK4 Race Car
Second Generation Poppy Car - Jaguar F-type SVR
Third Generation Poppy Car - Lotus Exige Cup 430
Each generation Poppy Car has been designed, created and wrapped by beneficiaries of the charity, all of who have life-changing injuries or mental health problems as a result of their service.
More than just an Art Car
Completed in our own Livery Bay, several of our beneficiaries who have been involved in the Poppy Car wraps have gone on to successfully find employment.
Beneficiary Marc Tarling, who was instrumental in the wrapping of the Lotus said, “ I am incredibly grateful to Mission Motorsport for the opportunity to work on the Poppy Car. For the first time in a long time I have been able to talk and engage with other people, have confidence in my own abilities, get up in the morning and do something I can take pride in.”
Marc’s Wife Michelle said, “I cannot put into words how thankful I am for everything Mission Motorsport
has done for Marc. Having struggled for so long, it has been incredible to see him enjoying life again and to see his passion ignited again. The Poppy car is not only beautiful but emblematic of his and the others involved recovery journey. He is the Marc I met 16 years ago.”
Since its completion, the #PoppyCar has been touring the country at a variety of events resulting in many coming foward and identifying themselves as veterans and inspiring them to either get the help they need or to volunteer to help others.
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