Mazda UK will be supporting CarFest 2024 as the sponsor of the StarFest and Club CarFest stages, while to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the reveal of the Mazda MX-5, a host of special MX-5s from Mazda UK’s heritage fleet will be demonstrated on the CarFest demo track.
Created and founded by presenter Chris Evans in 2012, CarFest 2024 is the 13th edition of this unique event that is about more than just cars. With seven festivals featuring an array of activities to captivate the whole family – from live music to self-care experiences, comedy to celebrity interviews and culinary demonstrations to family fun, the array of activities is designed to deliver an unforgettable experience.
Most importantly since its inception CarFest’s core mission has been to raise funds for UK children’s charities, raising over £25 million for its partners to date. In 2024 CarFest is supporting BBC Children in Need, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, My Black Dog, Rainbow Trust, Starlight Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, Young Epilepsy and local Hampshire charity Naomi House and Jacksplace.
Commenting on Mazda’s involvement in this year’s CarFest, Mazda UK, Marketing Director, James Crouch, said: “at CarFest we will not only celebrate 35 years of the world’s bestselling two-seater sports car but also give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the Japanese craftmanship and Kodo Design that give Mazda cars their unique personality.
Adding, “as partners of The StarFest stage and Club CarFest, we will be showcasing a selection of cars from across the Mazda range, including the all-electric Mazda MX-30, giving festival goers the chance to find out more about Mazda’s multi-solution approach to drivetrain technology. With over 30,000 people a day attending the festival it’s a fantastic opportunity to introduce Mazda to a wide audience at the same time as supporting an event that raises money for a selection of amazing children’s charities”.
Talent appearing on The StarFest Stage crafted by Mazda includes James Lance, Ed Byrne, James May, Tim Peake, George Clarke, Russell Kane, Ben Miller, Rob Brydon, Shirley Ballas and Julia Bradbury, while in the evenings the space transitions to Club CarFest where DJ talent includes Patrick Nazemi, DJ Hyperstar, Beatbox Collective, Billie Clements and Denise Van Outen.
Commenting on Mazda’s partnership, CarFest Festival Director, Anjna Raheja, said: “we are thrilled that Mazda will be joining the CarFest family this year at Laverstoke Park, sponsoring both the StarFest and Club CarFest stages. Mazda’s strong sense of identity and unique personality mirrors so many things that CarFest stands for and we are very excited to be partnering with them on these two amazing stages at the UK’s largest family fundraising festival”.
Building on the success of previous years, CarFest 2024 is bringing back its now firmly established seven festivals: StarFest, FoodFest, SpaFest, RetroFest, KidsFest, AdventureFest and of course CarFest, while headline music acts this year include: Richard Ashcroft, Beverley Knight, Olly Murs, Sam Ryder, Jake Shears, Judge Jules, Reef, Scouting for Girls, Deacon Blue, Kula Shaker, The Feeling and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell.
Revealed to the world at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show, the Mazda MX-5 arrived in the UK in March 1990. To celebrate 35 years since its launch, ten examples from across the four generations will take to the CarFest track. Spectators will see a line-up that includes two 1.6-litre Mk1 MX-5s, the incredibly rare 1.6-litre turbo-charged Le Mans Special Edition Mk1 and a later 1.8-litre Mk1 in iconic British Racing Green. Also taking to the display track are three limited edition models that marked landmark moments in the MX-5’s history: the Mk2 10th Anniversary, the Mk3 25th Anniversary and the Mk4 30th Anniversary. The line-up is completed by the 2016 Launch Edition version of the Mazda MX-5 RF, plus two examples of the current 2024 Mazda MX-5.
Commenting on 35 years of the MX-5, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson, said: “since the launch of the original model over 136,000 Mazda MX-5s have been sold in the UK. This is a sports car that has resonated with enthusiastic British drivers ever since its debut and four generations on it’s as popular as ever. Along the way, it has remained true to the original principle of being an affordable, lightweight and above all fun-to-drive roadster. Today it is the very essence of the Jinba Ittai driver-and-car-as-one philosophy that goes into every Mazda.”
