SunVit-D3 Ambassadors

 

Sophie Coldwell

Is a highly accomplished British triathlete who has been a member of the World Class Programme for nearly 15 years. She has earned multiple podium finishes on the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) and World Cup circuits, including a career-best gold at WTCS Yokohama in 2023. As an Under-23 athlete, she secured a world championship podium, and she represented Team England at both the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, where they won gold in the mixed relay in front of a home crowd.

 

2024-2025 Plans 

Sophie is currently taking time away from competition as she prepares to take on her next challenge with her partner as they prepare to welcome her first baby, despite this Sophie remains a prominent figure in British triathlon.

 

The Sophie away from the track

Sophie is a Loughborough University graduate with a degree in Human Biology, she balances her athletic career with her passion for animals and life in Loughborough with her husband, GB ultra-runner Tom Evans. Known for her consistency, determination, and strong swim-bike-run ability, she continues to inspire aspiring athletes.

Follow Sophie's journey with us and her family Instagram

 

 

 

 

Meet Team ENHANCE-D CLUB! 

 

Enhance-d | Join the Enhance-d Club

 

 

 

Meet The Army Motorsports Team 

 

 

So where did Army Motorsport start? 

The British Army Motoring Association (BAMA) was formed in 1960 following on from the Army Motorcycling which had been active since 1937. Established to test crew’s navigation and driving skills on and off road, BAMA’s activities were designed to test all types of wheeled vehicles with 4 tonne vehicles competing against smaller utility platforms. BAMA activities have flourished over the past 50 years, enjoying extensive participation from all service personnel across all theatres.
In the late 60s, BAMA ventured in the stage rallying with an invitation to the Scottish Rally. 

A name change in 2003 to the British Armed Forces Motoring Association (BAFMA) followed the push to embrace joint operations. Recognised as military training, BAFMA was controlled by Defence School of Transport funded by a small annual budget. In 2010 BAFMA lost its status as a training association resulting in the removal of funding and authority to use military assets. Reverting back to BAMA in late 2010, motorsports activities were formally recognised as an Army sport with authorisation for events coming via the Army Sports Control Board.

Today, BAMA comprises of more motorsport disciplines than ever before in its long history and is undoubtedly the most diverse (British Motorsports Association Registered) Motor Club in Great Britain. On the 4 wheeled side of the garage we have members competing in Karting, Trials, Navigation Rallying, Stage Rallying and Sports Car Racing. Our Association members competing in 2 wheeled motorsport also represent the Army in practically all motorcycle disciplines such as Enduro, Trials, Adventure and Circuit/Road Racing.

 

Get to know The Army Sports Car racing team!

This discipline remains the biggest growth discipline in the British Army Motorsport Association.  The Team has been striving to develop this exciting sport ever since its establishment and recognition by the Army Sports Control Board in 2011.  What started as a few members joining the Race Grid, has now leapt to over 20 Army Race Drivers joining their fellow competitors from the RAF, Royal Navy and Veterans on the grid.  

The Army Sports Car Racing team consists of 3 tiers of driver:

• Novice (Development)
• Intermediate (Representative)
• Advanced (Elite)

The Novice and Intermediate drivers will compete in 20 minute sprint races whilst the Advanced drivers will compete endurance races which can exceed 2 hours in duration. 

 

Wondering how SunVit-D3 become involved? 

Lets take you back to 2021 and a time that saw COVID -19 vaccines, in the UK, further afield Joe Biden was being sworn in and the Olympic Games featured dramatic moments, such as Italy's gold medal win in the Men's Team Pursuit, which included a close finish and a significant collision which was a memorable event, but none of this was as important as SunVit-D3 meeting the team that was being put together by a certain Sgt Will Ashmore, which was soon to become the SunVit-D3 "Army Sports Car Racing Endurance Team" who had put together a package on four wheels that was going to attempt to take the motor scene by storm with an all American V8 Vauxhall Holden. 

 

 

Moving into 2025 and beyond!

Following successful weekends at many race tracks and events including the Silverstone Festival, the Army Sports Car Racing GT Team moved onto the holy grail that is known as Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the final round of the Masters GT Trophy, all of the team were praying for rain and rain they got in droves! 🌧️☔️🌧️. 

With a new car now being used a Ferrari F430 they lined up on the grid with other GT Trophy entries from multiple international countries with professional drivers including legendary  Endurance drivers, who were competing in multi million pound Lamborghinis & McLarens which are full kitted out  (and stonkingly fast) to top it off there were some Le Mans LMP cars that had made it all the way through to the final stage!

With free practice on the Wednesday, qualifying on Thursday and race day on Friday we went into the final days of the week with a weird sense of both excitement and nerves.

After a short practise session, the Sunvit-D3 Army F430 was into two qualifying sessions, one in the daytime and one at night. Both very wet! It took some time to find the grip and the wet line, but we found it, qualifying P1 in class for both sessions, with a P6 overall in the day session and P2 overall in the night. The night qualifying required a brave stint where many other teams pulled out due to the dark and wet conditions.

I can tell you racing at Spa at night was a special opportunity and one I hope we get to do again! It is incredibly dark and lonely once the sun finally sets, you certainly need to know where you are going!

 

Onto race day and this is where both the nerves and excitement kick in!

Race 1 and the team had an early start with the track looking like it might be dry, but it was simply to cold and with no wind to clear the damp track the team opted to stay on wet tyres. Once again their strategy call and car setup paid off. They were dominant in the first four laps going from P6 to P1 overall! But, as we well know, motorsport is a harsh business and coming into lap 5 the exhaust snapped which, as you can imagine, was pretty loud. Not wanting to risk further damage, they brought the car into the pits for repairs. The pit crew quickly patched up the car and they were able to get back out on track to limp home to a P1 in class and P3 overall, our first GT Trophy podium! 🏆

Following the race Sgt Will was called to the podium, to stand where many world famous racing drivers had stood. With the Union Flag raising behind him and the British National Anthem playing to the crowds, it was a surreal but very proud moment for the team 😎💪

 

After a long wait and some more exhaust repairs by the pit crew, nighttime finally fell - as did more rain. We formed up on the grid under heavy rain and proceeded to roll into the formation lap. We were confident going into the night race after our impressive qualifying, with high hopes for another podium. However, there was so much standing water that even at low speeds the cars were aquaplaning badly. So unfortunately, due to the conditions, the night race was cancelled.

That wraps up our epic weekend at Spa-Francorchamps and the end of the season for the Sunvit-D3 Army F430 and the GT Team. A huge thanks to Sunvit-D3 and our other sponsors. We would not have been able to attend this amazing event without your support. Another huge thanks goes to the pit crew. This was one of those weekends that fought us to the end! The car would not have crossed the finish line without you 💪🙏💪

 

If we have you hooked then see what's instore for the team next by following their journey:

Army Sports Car Racing (@armysportscarracing) • Instagram photos and videos