SMMT Test Day North 2024 at Wetherby Racecourse

The 2024 SMMT Test Day North, an annual regional driving event which brings cars, PR personnel, and journalists to our region, has taken place in Yorkshire.

Organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the event is one of two which take place each year to complement the main Test Day event at the Millbrook vehicle proving grounds in Bedfordshire. While usually a little smaller than this sprawling event, the regional events — one in the north, one in the south — offer a chance for many local journalists to drive some cars of which may not ordinarily have the opportunity to get behind the wheel, and catch up with our PR friends with whom we normally talk over the phone or via email.

It’s a highlight on the Northern Group’s calendar then, and this year’s event visited its frequent location at Wetherby Racecourse — conveniently located just off the A1(M) and on the North and West Yorkshire border. There were more than 40 cars available from more than a dozen brands, including a couple which have not previously been to an SMMT Test Day North event.

Lotus and Maserati were both making their debuts and saw a roaring trade as the attendees ensured the six vehicles were barely sitting still all day long. That applied largely across the board too, as a range of vehicles from BMW and MINI, BYD, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, MG, Nissan, and Suzuki were more commonly out on the road than in the staging area by the racecourse stands.

Test Day North is also when the Northern Group traditionally crowns its Car of the Year winner in a special lunchtime presentation. This year’s winner, as voted for by the whole NGMW membership, was the Suzuki Swift, and both the car and press office team — Alun Parry and Jessica Grimditch — were on hand to receive the award. Group chair Andrew Evans presented the “Arthur” trophy — a genuine miner’s safety lamp — to Alun, while vice-chair Annabelle Quirk gave the celebratory bottle of bubbly to Jessica.

Although the day began with traditional northern September weather, everything brightened up before too long and the attending NGMW members managed to head out onto the roads more than 50 times between them — some of which you can see in our special event gallery.