I’m very excited to tell you that I’ve been shortlisted for a Yorkshire Choice Award, for Media Personality of the Year.
The Yorkshire Choice Awards acknowledges achievement across a wide range of categories, by Yorkshire people. To even line up alongside people I respect in the industry, such as Stephanie Hirst, Christine Talbot, Harry Gration and my former fellow Yorkshire Coast Radio presenter Alex Cann is truly humbling.
The awards are based purely on public vote from the shortlist, so if you think I deserve the title, and you’re happy to drop me a tick in the box, you can VOTE HERE.
Whatever happens, it’s brilliant to have been nominated among such a high calibre of broadcasters and personalities from the region, and I’d like anyone who had a hand in getting me onto this shortlist.
For the latest, remember to follow me on Twitter. Thanks for all your support, as ever.
For poetic reasons, it would be very easy to say that, when I’m stood setting up a shot on a freezing run way, or sat at 5am in a convertible car waiting to film a 3 second timelapse of the sunrise, I wonder what I do it all for.
The truth is, I never actually wonder that. I’ve got a big picture in my mind, but even in a here-and-now sense, I love creating motoring films.
One of the most enjoyable parts of making this content though, is knowing that I’m able to share my passion for cars with fellow petrolheads.
Obviously the ultimate objective is that people (you!) enjoy waiting the films. So, I can actually sum up why I do what I do, in one Tweet.
After a hectic year of producing motoring films, presenting rally TV shows and blogging about my motoring experiences, I’m ending 2015 in print thanks to East Yorkshire fashion and lifestyle publication, Loco Magazine.
The piece is a Q&A about my career so far, how it all started, and my ambitions for the future. They pretty much nailed it, and importantly for me the feature also touches on where I am in my career away from motoring too, acknowledging my marketing management role at Needlers and my radio show on 99.8 KCFM.
My feature in Loco Magazine is part of a special motoring-themed issue, with Ginetta GT racing driver, Mike Simpson on the cover. It’s great to see local lifestyle publications focusing on motoring and motorsport, and I’m grateful to the Editor for getting in touch.
I’m hoping to be able to bring you some more motoring-related news regarding Loco Magazine in the near future. But while I work on that, you can read the magazine online, HERE.
For the latest updates, don’t forget to join me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Let’s talk cars!
I’ve worked hard this year to bring you a real variety of content; I’ve literally driven and flown thousands of miles across Europe to produce it all for you.
So as we near the end of the year, I thought a treat was in order for me, and for you – how does a classic Ferrari sound?
My latest film takes us into the territory of facial hair and tight-fitting shorts, for the car that made Magnum PI a star of cult ’80s television – the Ferrari 308.
As you can read HERE on my Classics Driven channel, I’ll be launching the film with a competition to give away goodies from Swarfega; a brand I’m sure you’ll have heard of.
Believe me when I say there’s a treat in store when you hear this naturally aspirated Ferrari V8 on full song, but for now here’s something to put you in the picture…
Thanks for all your support so far – there’s much more to come!
After an action packed weekend of rallying, from the World Rally Championship to the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship, I just wanted to post a thank you to all the marshals responsible for putting on such a fantastic array of rally competition over the last few days, in all conditions and at all hours.
Without the energy, enthusiasm, dedication and passion of marshals, our sport would just not exist. Sometimes these people are taken for granted, but their importance should never be overlooked, whether the work they do is visible or not.
Rally photographer, Ian Francis posted this photo of me chatting to the marshals in Newtown, North Wales as I prepared to film the live coverage during this weekend’s UK round of the World Rally Championship, and it sums up a few things for me.
If taking time out of filming to speak to the marshals helps them feel that little bit more appreciated, then that is my most important part of the day.
As I announced on my blog last week, this Friday sees me return to the World Rally Championship, presenting live at the event and on BT Sport from Wales Rally GB.
In the build up to the rally, the Special Stage team has been as busy as the teams, heading out into the forest to bring you exclusive footage and driver reaction during the last tests before the season finale in North Wales.
Here’s our WRC test short films as we count down to the final round of the 2015 World Championship. I’ll see you in Newtown for Day 1.
Don’t forget to get involved on Twitter – follow @PaulWoodford84 for all the latest rally and motoring content and discussion.
Last year, I hosted the UK round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. I was live on the screens across Wales, in town centres, in the stage spectator areas and in the service park at Deeside. For 2015, I’m delighted to tell you that I’m back, and this time the challenge – and the audience – is even bigger.
Once again, I will be based in the town of Newtown on Day One of the rally, interviewing the crews through the field as they come into the regroup part way through the day.
The coverage will once again be shown across Wales in all of the locations covered by the rally, but this time I’ll also be live on BT Sport, as part of their coverage of the final round of the WRC.
To say I’m excited about this is an understatement. And I can only thank the organising team for having the belief in me to not only ask me back, but also have the confidence that I can step up to the next level.
For the drivers, Wales Rally GB represents one of the biggest challenges of the year, a real chance to show what they can do, and to shine on the world stage. As a #RallyTV Presenter, the same is true for me, even though I’m on the other side of the windscreen.
If you’re going to be in Newtown on Day One, I’ll see you there. If not, stay tuned to my social media channels for all the latest, and when I can, live updates on the day.
Ring Automotive is a leading manufacturer of automotive accessories and gadgets. Safety is big business, and they’ve got a range of products to make driving safer, and more comfortable.
Ring’s latest product is the Xenon130 high performance headlight bulb, and I’ve put the bulbs to the test in my latest product review, which you can read, HERE.
With my product reviews I’m aiming to give you a look at the commercial world surrounding motoring, so if there’s a particular type or brand of motoring product you’d like to see put to the test, get in touch and I’ll see what I can do.
Don’t forget to join the car chat on Twitter – @PaulWoodford84.
This weekend saw me fly to Lisbon, Portugal to be one of the first people in the world to drive the brand new, highly anticipated Infiniti Q30. And, of course I produced a film!
New model announcements are so frequent now in the motor industry; it takes some really big news to capture the imagination of the motoring public.
News doesn’t come much bigger than a new era for the British motor industry. We’ve seen a number of announcements across the sector, but most recently a £250million investment by Infiniti to build their new Q30 at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.
Not only does the Q30 represent an exciting change for UK manufacturing, it’s also the first time Infiniti has been fully focused on Europe; in particular the UK. And I was flown out to Portugal to be a part of Infiniti’s ‘broadcast media weekend’ to experience this change, first hand.
With its Nissan design and Mercedes underpinnings, you’d expect the Q30 to be good. But for a brand which is relatively new to how we do things on the road in Europe, Infiniti has pitched the Q30 just right.
The car was as good on Portugal’s twisty coastal roads, as it is on paper – starting at just over £20,000. The flagship 2 litre turbo Sport model is agile, and responsive with a class leading driving experience. The other engines in the range give the Q30 agility in a business sense, providing flexibility, economy and value for money.
This weekend, I felt the sense of pride and expectancy shared by everyone at Infiniti; from UK sales teams to Tokyo-based product engineers. It’s fitting too, because Infiniti – along with its competitors – is right to expect big things from the Q30.
Driving a great car, on stunning roads with incredible hospitality – Infiniti style – goes down as one of the best motoring experiences I’ve ever had. Here’s a selection of photos from the weekend.
The Yorkshire Choice Awards acknowledges achievement across a wide range of categories, by Yorkshire people. To even line up alongside people I respect in the industry, such as Stephanie Hirst, Christine Talbot, Harry Gration and my former fellow Yorkshire Coast Radio presenter Alex Cann is truly humbling.
Paul Woodford 
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