Partner Article

SM UK sponsors Yorkshire professional racing driver Josh Caygill

Auto-engineering firm SM UK has announced it will be the primary sponsor of Yorkshire professional racing driver Josh Caygill, who has been signed by the Redline Racing team for this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Postponed by two months due to coronavirus, the Porsche championship is now scheduled to get underway in May, with Caygill’s car emblazoned with SM UK’s red and white branding.

The Leeds-based company’s support for the Yorkshire racing driver goes back a decade and managing director Steve MacDonald has attended as many of his race events as possible.

Thirty-year-old Caygill, who moved from racing motorbikes to cars seven years ago, also works full time at the family-run Volkswagen Van Centres in West Yorkshire. “The unwavering support of Steve and the SM UK team means so much to me, and not just financially,” said Caygill.

“SM UK is my primary sponsor but their involvement in my racing career means far more than that. Their loyalty and enthusiasm has been fantastic and it’s no exaggeration to say that I would not be able to do this without Steve and the SM UK team – they are my number one fans.”

He added: “This is my first time competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup and I’m really excited to be taking part in such a prestigious event, as part of the Redline team.”

SM UK managing director Steve MacDonald said: “Our commitment to Josh, who is such a talented and hard-working racing driver, reflects SM UK’s own professionalism. We are so proud of him and wish him the very best of luck in his inaugural Porsche Carrera Cup season.

“SM UK is all about promoting the highest standards of vehicle safety and employing cutting-edge technology to ensure that HGVs and other vehicles are the safest they can be for other road users. We’ve had lots of enquiries and won new business as a result of our sponsorship and it’s great to be at the heart of the motor racing world.” SM UK, which also sponsors the Leeds Rhinos rugby league club, was established by Mr MacDonald in 2000. The business provides bespoke vehicle fit-out and conversion services for customers ranging from blue-chip commercial vehicle manufacturers and distributors, to professional tradespeople with a single van.

As well as fitting SM UK’s own award-winning HALO cyclist awareness system, the firm installs a range of safety kit, as well as commercial vehicle CCTV and modern internal racking systems, designed to make on-board tool and equipment storage safer and more efficient.

Over the past 12 months the business has grown its UK-wide team of mobile engineers and expanded its apprenticeship programme. The £6m turnover firm now employs 62 people across its Leeds headquarters, new Midlands vehicle conversion centre and national mobile engineering fleet.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Kilmurray .