Infiniti is launching its most highly anticipated car yet in Portugal later this month, and the company will fly a handful of motoring broadcasters and ‘vloggers’ out to put the car through its paces in Lisbon.

I’m delighted to reveal that I’ll be on that plane at the end of the month, microphone and camera mount in my hand luggage, ready to bring you one of the first looks at the very first Infiniti Q30.

The Q30 has stayed true to the stunning concept car Infiniti first launched, with over 80% of the concept making it to production. I don’t know about you, but when I was a young petrolhead, nothing frustrated me more than seeing new cars launched that showed very little resemblance to their motorshow concepts.

Another great thing about this car, is that it represents an inspiring story for our car manufacturing industry, with Infiniti making a £250million investment at the Nissan plant in Sunderland to build the Q30 in the UK.

It’s very exciting to be able to continue my relationship with the Infiniti brand, thanks in no small part to Stephen Smith, Ben Webster and the team at Infiniti Centre, Hull.

I’ve been inspired by the cars, and the people so far, and I’ve got a feeling a European filming trip with the company is even enough to top the VIP experience I enjoyed at the Redbull Racing Formula One factory in 2014.

I’ll bring you updates, photos, blog content and of course a film featuring my European adventure to drive the Q30, and in the meantime, I’ve taken a few minutes out from working on my latest classic car film to show you the Q30 augmented reality app – even that’s innovative!

I haven’t often in my life been far from a classic Ford of some kind. Whether it was tinkering with Mk1 Escorts with my Dad after school, or competing on the race track or rally stage in a variety of classics, from Cortinas to XR2s.

So you could say that, for my latest film I’ve gone back to my roots. But my feelings about both the classic car scene, and filming cars go beyond just the car, as beautiful as it is.

I turned up to a secret location, armed with my crew (my iPad) where the car is locked up under tight security and hidden in a myriad of buildings and roads. It reminded me of Airwolf, with the helicopter kept in a secret lair in the mountains.

It was the people I spent the day with though, who really reminded me (as if I needed a reminder, but still!) what I love about the classic Ford scene, and classic cars in general. Mike and his son Harry joined me for the shoot, and while Mike was happy to hand over the keys and leave me to it, I invited them to join me and see how I bring the production together.

I’m pleased I did – they were two of the nicest, most genuine petrolheads I’ve met since getting involved in this scene decades ago. They were happy just to spend time together, enjoying their shared hobby and talking cars.

I’ve stayed away from filming a Mk2 Escort, because with the cars being so close to my heart, and such a dedicated following for them across the world, I knew it had to be absolutely right. But now I’ve done it; I had a lot of fun filming this stunning car, and now I want you to have fun watching it.

I’ve now got my eye on the next project, and I’ve got loads of great ideas bouncing around in my head, so I’ll try and pin a couple down and share them with you.

#DreamBig

The world’s favourite motoring TV show is in its off season at the moment – you might have heard. But if Top Gear was responsible for car conversations on a Monday morning, the hiatus surrounding its sabbatical and subsequent mystery around the open auditions has taken care of Tuesday to Sunday.

As one of the (probably) tens of thousands of hopeful pretenders to one of the apparently vacant Top Gear presenter positions, it will come as no surprise to you that I’m keeping a close eye on events as they unfold…or don’t unfold.

Chris Evans and his newly assembled Top Gear production team seem to be maintaining tight lips on progress as the BBC nervously awaits the dawn of a new era for its flagship brand. Like a V8 powered swan however, beneath the surface we can’t have any doubt that there is intense activity.

Illustrating just how big the legacy of previous generations of Top Gear continues to be, the conversations – online and offline – continue despite a lack of tangible news coming out of the production cabin at Dunsfold Aerodrome.

People who don’t like cars, are talking about cars – still. The same people who used to talk as comfortably about the latest supercar technology on a Monday morning as they do about the latest themed loaf of bread on the Great British Bake-Off, are now talking about Chris Evans and his open Top Gear auditions.

Local and national media are scrabbling around on YouTube and Twitter to piece together stories on candidates and possible rumours, the noise on social media is growing and the waters are muddied by the announcement of a new show on Amazon Prime from the former Top Gear threesome of Clarkson, Hammond and May.

Yet you can’t help but think that, far from displaying a lack of PR sense, the world’s greatest media corporation is investing in silence to create suspense. There’s a plan in place to generate impact; to generate exposure for the launch of new Top Gear.

I would like to think I have a credible shot at getting behind the wheel of new Top Gear alongside Chris Evans. But in the event that I’m still talking to you this time next year as a Top Gear viewer, I’m excited to think that more people than ever before will be talking about cars and motoring. And I’ll be one of them.

Thanks as always for your continued support – please check out my classic motoring channel at http://www.classicsdriven.co.uk and on Twitter @ClassicsDriven for the latest updates, and to get involved.

Let’s talk cars!

#DreamBig

When I was really young, I had a dream of being a presenter.

Yes I had to get a ‘real’ job along the way too, because that’s how it works…but you know what I’ve got a pretty cool one of those too!

At the weekend I hosted this huge, incredible show, with an excellent bunch of people who I’m proud to now call friends, and I presented to a live audience of potentially over 20,000 people.

I drove there in a V12 engine’d Jaguar XJS classic car, loaned to me for filming.

I’m not where I want to be ultimately just yet (Chris Evans is taking his time), but I have a lot of hard work – and most importantly a lot of great people – to thank for where I am on that journey.

So thanks if that’s you. Now I want you to do two things for me;

1) Get yourself to VW Festival next year

2) #DreamBig

Over and out,

Woody x

I seem to have developed a sort of accidental niche when it comes to cars. I’ve always liked cars from the 1980s, but I realised when updating my Classics Driven channel last night that, in fact six of my last films feature ’80s automotive icons.

Add to that, the fact that I’m back  at Harewood House this weekend hosting the VW Festival (complete with its ’80s theme) and you’d be forgiven for thinking I’d purposefully set out on some kind of mission to pigeon hole myself.

Don’t worry I haven’t, and the volume of my hair is entirely a combination of excess energy and wax. No perm in sight.

But actually, when I think about 1980s motoring, it just makes so much sense to me. I enjoy the smells, the sounds and the fun of back-to-basics driving, I like quirky cars with red seat belts, I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to brands and cult marketing. And above all? I was born in the very same decade.

So while it has kind of happened by accident, perhaps there is some greater power at play in the way my motoring content is coming together. I promise though, should someone hand me the keys to a 1963 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III, I’ll put the Woody into 1960s motoring. Is that a deal?

In the meantime, please do check out my Classics Driven channel, and get involved on Twitter – there’s a big box of car conversations that we haven’t had yet!

Thanks for your continued support – I love doing this, and as long as there are interesting cars to drive, I’ll film them for you!  

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know I’ve got a bit of a ‘thing’ for classic cars. It’s where my motoring heart lies.

I grew up on a diet of Saab 96s, Ford Mk1 Escorts and Minis, and my first rally car? A Mk2 Cortina GT.

So now I’ve made it official – I’ve launched a brand new site designed to bring classic motoring to a new generation of motoring enthusiasts. A generation that, if we’re not careful will skip classic cars and go straight to modern stuff.

You’ll find a range of content and discussion around the world of classic motoring on the site, and I hope you’ll also join us on Twitter, where we’ll be talking more of the same.

CLICK HERE to go straight there…

It turns out producing rally TV is not just entertainment. We’re using our influence at Special Stage to support the changes taking place to secure the future of the sport. Here’s why…

A lot of work is being done by UK motor sport’s governing body, the Motor Sports Association (MSA) to respond to calls for improved safety measures for competitors and spectators in stage rallying. It’s likely that unless we all get behind these changes, rallying could look very different in a few years.

On the face of it, the changes we’re seeing are to improve safety on events. Ultimately though, this goes further; it’s a campaign to protect the future of the sport, and it needs us all to get behind it.

The work being done by the MSA, together with organisers of rallies and championships across the UK goes beyond putting new rules in place; what’s required is a cultural shift, and in a terrifyingly short space of time. We simply can’t afford to get this wrong.

So how do we think, as a bunch of rally fans and competitors who produce a TV show, that we can support the change? By helping the MSA to win hearts and minds – and we brought along some of our friends, too…

You can help by sharing – let’s get the message out on social media, forums and at events. Thanks for your support!

You didn’t think my Top Gear audition would be the last piece of content I’d produce for a while, did you?

No, this weekend I’ve been out shooting cars again, and I’m excited to bring you a film featuring one of the most intelligent cars I’ve ever had the pleasure of piloting – the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid.

With a 360bhp V6 engine and a 60bhp electric motor, this car isn’t far off supercar performance, but offers 30+ mpg, making it a very interesting proposition. Particularly to those who still need convincing about green tech.

As you’ve come to expect from my films, it’s not just a straight car review – I’m afraid you don’t see the back seat leg room and I don’t put anything in the boot. However, it tells a story that I don’t think you’ll have heard about the Q50 before, and that’s what I’m aiming for.

I appreciate your support, and I love bringing you these films – enjoy!

Drama. Silence.

What an amazing few days I’ve had since announcing on social media that I’ve submitted an audition video for the Top Gear job. I’ve had support from all directions, but I just wanted to tell you about the latest driving force getting behind me – my local newspaper, the Hull Daily Mail!

The newspaper picked up my audition online, thanks in no small part to the number of people Tweeting them it, and called me to arrange a shoot. So in turn, I called the owner of the TVR Tuscan that you may have seen in this film, to get reunited with the best of Blackpool for a front page story.

The Hull Daily Mail has got behind me at various stages in my motoring career, right from when I began racing the car I built while at university (and indeed, the one I mention in my audition video!). So to celebrate completing the collection, I’ve put together a montage of photos taken by the paper. You could say – my motoring career, as told by the Hull Daily Mail!

Just like everyone else out there, I still have no idea what the process is, so I’m feeling my way blindly through this. I have no idea if social media noise will go for or against me, but as I have just one shot, I can’t help thinking the more, the merrier.

It remains a one-in-a-million shot, but the support you’ve all shown on social media has been staggering, and truly every ‘like’, ‘favourite’, Tweet, post and message makes me feel that little bit closer to achieving my dream.

If you haven’t read it yet, here’s the story in the Hull Daily Mail – please share it on social media and help me get the word out!

Thanks again for all your support…

Woody

In my life I always wanted to be one of two things; a professional rally driver or a Top Gear presenter. I’ve been lucky enough to do rallying to a reasonable level, but I think it’s fair to assume that my career will not take me anywhere near the chance of a WRC title. So that just leaves the Top Gear job…

As you’ll no doubt have heard, new host Chris Evans has announced open auditions to find new talent for the show. With no format confirmed, and no clues as to what the production team is actually looking for – if anything – from this process, the only thing we know is that it’s a level playing field, and not a gimmick.

In other words, my impossible dream is now remotely possible – I’ve got my shot. And so has the rest of the world. The brief is a 30 second video, no cars, no gimmicks, just you, a camera and your relationship to cars.

Having announced on social media that I would be submitting an audition video, I have been completely blown away by the support I’ve received from friends, colleagues, fellow petrolheads and members of the public. If that includes you – really, thank you. I hope my dream can come true so I can have a hand in bringing you future episodes of the world’s favourite motoring TV show.

The Ts and Cs on the Top Gear website stipulate that content submitted is allowed to be used elsewhere, and given that other auditions are now appearing on the web, I thought I’d share my audition ‘tape’ with you.

Thank you, wish me luck, and whatever you want in life – dream big.