Automotive industry charity, Ben, has launched this year’s annual health and wellbeing report revealing results from its most recent survey, which polled over 1,000 automotive workers. The top five health and wellbeing issues identified for automotive workers are stress (57%), poor sleep (52%), anxiety (44%), low mood (41%) and not taking time out (to rest or relax) (43%).

Almost all survey respondents were personally affected by a health & wellbeing issue during the previous year.​ Poor work-life balance has increased by 6%, to 38%, and this issue is most common for those working in showrooms, parts departments, and garages. Long hours, low staffing levels and high workloads are also growing concerns.

Mental health scores have got worse over the past 12 months and automotive workers cited they believe employers need to do more to support them, with 1 in 9 people personally affected by a lack of support for mental health in the workplace. The survey results continue to show that automotive workers are more likely to experience issues with work-life balance and mental health, compared to other UK workers. Furthermore, mental health issues remain the most prominent of the top 10 issues, affecting hundreds of people in the automotive industry.

The survey also revealed that almost 1 in 4 automotive workers are considering leaving the industry and, of these people, 1 in 2 are considering doing due to poor mental health.

Money worries remain a big problem for automotive workers with many still impacted by cost-of-living pressures. 1 in 6 people reported skipping meals, 1 in 5 have experienced issues with debt and 1 in 4 of those considering leaving the industry reported they had financial problems.

Dom Herbertson, Paul Jordan, Andrea Majola, Stefano Bonetti, Erno Kostamo and Patrick Hoff are the protagonists of an incredible new adventure on the Isle of Man, which will see them wearing the top-of-the-range Nolan X-804.

• Tunbridge Wells gave the British public their first ever motor show in October 1895
• Festival of Motoring launches to celebrate this incredibly historic event
• Show honours the original ‘Horseless Carriage Exhibition’ with a curated selection of over 20 iconic cars and motorcycles from all eras
• Set in beautiful The Pantiles Georgian architectural district, event will celebrate the historical significance of the area in the motoring industry
• Exciting new event takes place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August 2025
• Details of this free-to-attend event at https://www.rtwmotorfest.com/

Tunbridge Wells, Kent: 19th May 2025 

Royal Tunbridge Wells holds a remarkably significant place in the history of British motoring. In 1895 this beautiful historical town in Kent, hosted the first ever motor show to take place in Great Britain. This extraordinary milestone will be celebrated in 2025 with the exciting launch of the new Royal Tunbridge Wells Festival of Motoring.

Taking place on the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August 2025, more than 20 of the greatest cars and motorcycles of the past 130 years will be displayed along the tree-lined Georgian walkways of The Pantiles at the heart of this picturesque town.

Situated in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, The Pantiles is a beautiful Georgian colonnade that leads from the well that gave the town its name. The area, developed following the discovery of a chalybeate spring in 1606, has become a popular tourist-attraction and is now home to over 70 specialist shops, art galleries, cafés, restaurants and bars, and now a must-see new motoring event.

This unique motoring festival will feature an incredible display of over 20 cars and motorcycles, exhibited by local world-renowned specialists, restorers and racing teams, in a celebration of the area and of 130 years of motoring.

“We are extremely excited to bring back this historically significant motoring showcase to an area that is so rich in automotive knowledge, specialist engineering and history,” says co-organiser Dylan Miles. “We want to use this opportunity to acknowledge the local businesses, which often work on an international scale from humble premises in and around Tunbridge Wells.”

Many star cars will be displayed, including a titan of pre-war grand prix racing, the Bugatti Type 35, along with a more modern race car, the spectacular Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V-Series R that has thrilled spectators in the 2025 World Endurance Championship.

Other icons of motoring history include a stunning 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, 1950s racing legend the Jaguar D-Type, and a striking 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight.

Fans of more modern motoring heroes will enjoy sights including a 1984 Ferrari Testarossa, 1995 Porsche 993 GT2 EVO, a Bugatti Veyron and a Ferrari LaFerrari among many others.

Organised by motor car pioneer, scientist and Tunbridge Wells Mayor, Sir David Lionel Salomons, that inaugural ‘Horseless Carriage Exhibition’ featured the first car to be imported into Great Britain, a Panhard-Levassor with a 3.5hp Daimler engine. It was joined by Salomon’s Peugeot which used the same engine and was only the second car to be imported and driven on British roads. Three other vehicles were displayed, including a Daimler-powered fire engine, while De Dion-Bouton exhibited both a tricycle and a ‘steam-horse’ manufactured by the French automaker.

Despite the success of this first motor show at the Tunbridge Wells showground, the London Motor Show was to take over a year later and the town did not host another Horseless Carriage Exhibition until 1961, with the last one being opened by Donald Campbell in 1966.

“It is a real honour to be trusted by the owners of The Pantiles and indeed the neighbours we live alongside in Tunbridge Wells, to honour the town’s place in motoring history by bringing back this unique celebration of the motor car,” says co-organiser Daniel Cogger, Senior Manager of Hagerty Private Client Services. “The 4th Horseless Carriage Exhibition will not only celebrate the 130th anniversary of the very first motor show in Britain, but will also champion the thriving local automotive business in the area.”

With no other motoring event in the UK able to claim such a unique historical provenance, the Tunbridge Wells Festival of Motoring will once again place this beautiful British town at the centre of our motoring map.

More details on the return of this exciting, new free-to-attend event to the motoring calendar can be found at https://www.rtwmotorfest.com/ and on Instagram @rtwmotorfest.

Initial estimates suggest that 260,000 bikeriders visited the event over the four days The ve themed areas and the new 'events within events' are growing in success

The 39th edition of the Biker Fest International was a resounding success, exceeding all expectations. The four-day event, which took place from 15 to 18 May, will go down in history as a new record-breaking gathering in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine - Italy). This was not only due to the impressive numbers, but also to the overwhelming energy that swept through the seaside town, welcoming enthusiasts from all over Italy and neighbouring countries into the party atmosphere and spirit of sharing that represents the true strength of the BFI.

It wasn't easy, but the organisers once again managed to raise the bar for the event. The ve areas hosting Europe's most historic and important motorcycle rally — Luna Park, O road, Stadium, Market and PalaPineta — were peacefully invaded by a ood of motorcyclists and enthusiasts. «The 2024 edition was extraordinary, setting new records, partly thanks to the perfect weather. Improving on this seemed like an impossible challenge. Yet, despite the somewhat inclement weather this year, the Biker Fest once again surpassed itself, continuing its unstoppable growth. Initial estimates indicate that 260,000 people attended this excellently organised event, which continues to be a hit with the public» said Massimo Brini, Lignano Sabbiadoro municipality's councilor for Tourism.

Behind this exponential growth is the relentless work of the Persello family, the heart and soul of BFI, which has always believed in the driving force of the motorcycle movement. The 6,700 test rides— one of the highest numbers in Europe—carried out by more than 25 automotive brands con rm BFI's central role in the two-wheel market, especially during its most important season. And that's not all: the BFI con rms its status as a multifaceted and cross-cutting event with the growing success of the US Car Reunion, which this year o ered a spectacular sight, bringing together 550 American cars in the Market area. It was preceded by the new Kustom&Classic, the car meet reserved for pre-1999 cars, destined to become yet another highly attractive “event within the event.” And then there was the con rmation of the 50cc Fever Fest dedicated to vintage 50 cc mopeds, a favorite with younger audiences, which had former MotoGP rider Marco Melandri as its special guest.

The most historic Custom Bike Show in Europe lived up to expectations, rewarding the best of the more than 100 special bikes entered, all of which were of a particularly high standard. This year, the show was joined by another promising new addition: the 1st Performance Bagger Show. This show put the spotlight on the current trend: racing and sporty baggers, examined and awarded by the legend of WSBK Ruben Xaus. Live rock concerts, mototours and spectacular of-road performances rounded out the event, which stays true to itself while renewing itself every year. It is capable of thrilling veterans and newcomers, bikers and families, industry experts, and the simply curious.

As the engines cool down after this extraordinary edition, attention is already turning to 2026, when the BFI will celebrate its 40th anniversary with new themed areas and services designed to attract new enthusiasts and increase the fun. For now, however, mark your calendars for the 4th Italian Bike Week. From September 18 to 21, it will be the closing event of the tourist season in Lignano Sabbiadoro (www.italianbikeweek.net).