Lets Race simulators (above). The winner could go on to be a racing driver like GT4 and BRSCC Mazda driver Jade Edwards (top), development driver for Williams, Susie Wolff (below), or affiliated driver at Sauber and ex-IndyCar star, Simona de Silvestro (bottom)

Here's an amazing opportunity budding racing drivers over 16 – and wouldn't it be great if some girls have a go, or if one of them even won?
   The UK’s only full-motion F1 simulator centre, Lets Race, is launching a competition in partnership with multi-championship winning race team, Carlin, and the Henry Surtees Foundation, to take the best racers from the simulated world to the track. 
   The winner of Lets Race to Reality 2014 will receive a day’s testing in a Carlin Formula 3 car, complete with a dedicated team of mechanics, data engineer and race engineer. Wow!
   The competition is open to any driver over the age of 16. The first round during March and April will be held on Lets Race’s 10 full motion simulators in Horley, Surrey (cost £25).  The winners will then be invited to take part in a karting event at Buckmore Park in Kent 23 May (cost £65). Here, several heats will whittle them down to the most skilled racers. 
   A final selection process at Carlin’s headquarters in Surrey will allow participants a real inside glimpse into the world of a professional racing driver. Finalists will take part in various exercises, including a simulator session with a Carlin race engineer, before taking part in an interview process with racing industry professionals, including Former Formula 1 and Motorbike champion John Surtees, OBE. Just meeting such a legend will be prize enough for F1 fans.
    Rupert Swallow, MD of Lets Race said, “Carlin has worked with F1 drivers such as Sebastian Vettel, Max Chilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Kevin Magnussen, and we are offering competitors in Lets Race to Reality the opportunity to follow in those drivers' footsteps in a Carlin F3 car.” 
   John Surtees added, “I am very pleased to be part of Lets Race to Reality and offer competitors the chance to experience something that is normally out of reach for even the most ardent motorsport fan.  Not only will they create a once in the life time experience for the lucky winner, it will also raise money for the Henry Surtees Foundation and the great causes we are sponsoring.”

See more details, including entry dates and heats, on the Lets Race website

Here's a sight you don't see frequently enough: three female motoring journalists in one room. From left to right: Sophie Williamson Stothert, Sarah Bradley and yours truly. Sadly, Sophie is being dragged to the dark side (PR) by the promise of a salary.
   The event was the annual WOMAC party on board HMS President, moored on the Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and Temple. It was a great party, and the views were spectacular.
   Women on the Move Against Cancer is run by women working in the motor industry, and raises money for different cancer charities every year. We rely on our generous male and female friends in the industry to bring the money, some coming from corporate budgets, but an impressive amount being released from personal wallets.
   This year we are raising money for Sarcoma UK, and Chairman Janet Wilkinson was able to hand over a cheque for £15,000 on the night. More will follow.
  A big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket for the party, the raffle or the tombola, or who gave a donation. In these tough times, it's greatly appreciated.  

There's strange symmetry in the fact that the UK's media campaign for the Fiat 500L featured a fed up (if a bit too glam) mum rapping about The Motherhood, while in the States, they've got the real thing, rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
   The message are quite different, of course, over here, people have muttered that the 500L is over-large. Over there, the guys in the ad think a Fiat with so much space (and Mr Diddy) inside must be a mirage. The catchline is "Unbelievably Big".
   See the video on You Tube
  

I was on the new Honda Civic Tourer launch when they asked if we'd like a bast round Rockingham Speedway with triple BTCC champion, Matt Neal.
Even though the track resembled the Somerset Levels, I said yes. Read more