The Driven Podcast

Rick Parfitt Jnr is this week's guest on The Driven Podcast. Rick, an old friend and colleague of John Marcar's, welcomes John and Charlotte Vowden into his home to share some of his amazing stories, anecdotes and wisdom from his life and career as a musician, professional racing driver and ambassador for Crohn's & Colitis UK.Rick shares stories of his unorthodox upbringing in a Rock and Roll household and tells us how the hobby of go-karting as a teenager led him to a profession in motorsport and a whole new outlook on life as a sufferer of Crohn's disease._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

This week on The Driven Podcast, John Marcar and Charlotte Vowden bring you three incredible guests from the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show 2025. global motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman, Ace Cafe reviver-turned-owner Mark Wilsmore and motorcycle racer turned commentator Steve Parish.Charley Boorman is a household name thanks to his global adventuring on two wheels alongside his best friend and Hollywood movie star Ewan Mcgregor. In the early noughties, Charley and Ewan embarked on a new TV show that took the world by storm: Long Way Round. Almost a quarter of a century later, the two friends are still at it, and Charley joins us to talk about his new series 'Long Way Home', which airs on AppleTV+ this spring.Mark Wilsmore is a passionate Londoner who has an unrivalled love for the city he calls home. In the early 1990s, Mark was pushed to the forefront of a revival that would turn out to be one of the most significant brand re-births of our time—the brand: The Ace Cafe, London. Mark is responsible for bringing what is arguably London's most iconic motorcycle venue back to life, which closed its doors in 1969. He was responsible for a reunion in 1994, which would later result in an official re-opening in 1997. Mark shares his story of the modern-day era of the Ace Cafe.Steve Parrish is an acclaimed motorcycle racer who shot to fame following his success on two wheels between 1976 and 1986. After retiring from motorcycle racing, Steve went on to compete in the sport as a team manager for Yamaha while also embarking on a new challenge - Truck Racing. Steve later turned his hand to commentary, and the stories he has from all chapters of his career so far are remarkable. In this third segment of the podcast, we get a glimpse into some of those fantastic tales.INTERVIEW TIMINGS: Charley Boorman > 4:30 - 36:47Mark Wilsmore > 37:29 - 1:11:32Steve Parrish > 1:12:50 - 1:50:31All three conversations were recorded on-site at the MCN London Motorcycle Show at the London Excel on February 14th 2025. For details on how to obtain tickets for future events, please visit https://www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com/_______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.To find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

This week, on The Driven Podcast, racing and stunt driver Jessica Hawkins welcomes Charlotte Vowden and John Marcar to the Aston Martin Racing Technology Campus (AMRTC) in Silverstone.Jessica Hawkins is a pioneer for women in motorsport. Having excelled in her career as a professional championship-winning racing driver and stunt driver, Jessica is now team ambassador and Head of F1 Academy for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, which includes supporting and mentoring new drivers to set them up for success in the most notorious motorsport in the world.In this episode, Jessica tells her story of how she got into motorsport and how things have changed for her as a female driver in a heavily male-dominated world._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

In 1997, Tiffany Coates decided to embark on an overland adventure to India with her best friend. They wanted to do it on a motorcycle, but neither of them had licenses or even knew how to ride. So they learnt. Equipped with a Haynes Manual and fearless ambition, they set off on a BMW R 80 GS named ‘Thelma’ – which they bought over the phone and unseen.Bonkers and brave, their spontaneous adventure took them further than they had ever anticipated and Tiffany has never looked back. From Tibet to Madagascar, Africa, Borneo and Alaska, home is where ‘Thelma’ is parked and Tiffany can pitch a tent. A global adventurer with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock, Tiffany is passionate about inspiring others to explore the world on two wheels.On this week's Driven Podcast, Tiffany Coates shares some of her incredible stories with Charlotte Vowden and John Marcar, and offers tips on how to travel solo in remote places._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

Mark Harrison is rightfully regarded as an automotive sales and marketing expert, having worked in integral roles with brands such as Honda and its BTCC team, BMW, where he assisted in the launch of the Iconic BMW M3 CSL and later the new Mini and McLaren where he helped launch the first road cars for the brand.Today, Mark is known for his role with Praga, a company steeped in history, which is now responsible for producing the iconic Praga R1 racing cars and, later, the new road-going Hyper Car - Bohema.In this week's podcast episode, Mark shares some of the highlights of his career history and brings us up to speed on the hypercar, which is now causing waves in the new world of specialist hypercars._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

This week’s episode of The Driven Podcast takes you far from the warm confines of a studio and puts you… in a warm desert to hear the sounds of the Dakar Rally. You’ve likely heard of the Dakar, but you actually heard it? As well as being there to hear the cars thunder by, we get inside the Ford team to learn about the top tier T1 Raptor.Alex Goy ventured out into the sands to see what’s what in all things Dakar. From discovering the perfect way to tackle the rally (it’s a bit gross but WOULD work), hearing what a T1 truck sounds like at full pelt, to sitting down with the Ford M-Sport team to learn how to peel a Rally Raid truck apart, and what it’s like to drive, it’s quite the adventure. Guests this week include Driver Mitch Guthrie Jnr, off-road programme manager - Mike Norton, Chief Engineer Jon Sprackling and team principle Mathew Wilson.You’ll hear tales of derring do, some rather fine motor vehicle noises, and learn first hand what it’s like to tackle the toughest race on earth. Think you know Dakar? You will after this…_______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

This week, on The Driven Podcast, we're joined by the wonderful Alex Brundle. Alex is a much loved and very familiar voice to the world of motorsport thanks to his profession as a commentator for single-seater and endurance racing.When not in the commentary box, Alex is likely to be found behind the wheel as a professional racing driver. His racing career has seen him on the Le Mans 24-hour podium twice, along with multiple World Endurance Championship race victories and the 2016 European Le Mans Series Championship to his name. In 2024 alone, Alex was driving everything from brand new endurance racing cars at the Nurburgring 24 hours to classic racing cars at the Goodwood Members Meeting and Revival meeting.In this casual chat with John Marcar and Charlotte Vowden, Alex shares the ins and outs of his career and reveals how (legal!) mushrooms keep him focused for certain jobs!_______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

This week, on The Driven Podcast, we meet two influential people at one of the most prolific British car brands, MG and record the first-ever official podcast interview with the MG brand.Guy Pigounakis is the commercial director of MG UK, and he has an incredible story of how he first joined the brand as a rebellious teenager by knocking on the factory doors at Longbridge in the 1970s - a bold move which undoubtedly led to him sitting in the top seat today. David Allison is head of Product and Planning for MG and stems from a 25-year career in the automotive sector where he's selling everything from cars to vans before transitioning into the driving force of product planning for multiple OEMs. David is now responsible for signing off on all new MGs that are selling globally. In this unique and exclusive podcast, recorded in the London HQ of MG Motor UK, John Marcar and Charlotte Vowden sit with Guy and David to work through their individual careers' with many highs, and some challenges too and learn more about MG in the new age under its new Chinese ownership._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2025. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.

This week's episode of The Driven Podcast will likely sit in our podcast hall of fame and favourites for quite some time. Jake Hill had British Touring Car fans on the edge of their seats throughout the 2024 season right up to the season's final round at Brands Hatch, where he clinched the championship title for the first time.John Marcar and Miles Lacey sat with Jake at his home in Kent to hear the story of his journey to that iconic championship win, but there was also a crucial 4th voice on the recording. The fourth voice on this week's episode is Simon Hill (Jake's Dad). Simon, a professional racing driver turned commentator, is an integral factor in Jake's motorsport career and success, with some frankly inspired stories and anecdotes from his own career and the early stages of Jake's.Expect amazing stories, hilarious memories, and frankly touching conversations between Jake and Simon - as a result; please be warned that this episode contains strong language and adult humour._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews in which we explore our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find yet more content on our website, YouTube channel and social feeds, which are readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarAudio Producer & Title Music - Tom KentTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024. All rights reserved. Driven and the driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively.