405 Miles, £10,000 Raised: Run to British GT Challenge Complete
Jack Mitchell completes his 405-mile running challenge alongside the 2026 British GT Championship season, raising £10,000 for the BRDC Motor Sport Charity.
After five months, five British GT race weekends and 405 miles of running, my Run to British GT challenge has officially come to an end. At the beginning of the year, I set myself the goal of combining my racing commitments with a series of long-distance runs to raise £10,000 for the BRDC Motor Sport Charity and its Mental Health & Wellbeing Service.
The challenge began at Silverstone in April and continued throughout the British GT season, taking in Oulton Park, Snetterton, Donington Park and finally Brands Hatch in September. Each run was completed around a British GT race weekend, meaning I had to balance the physical demands of running with preparing for and competing in the championship.
The final stage saw me cover 85 miles from Silverstone to Brands Hatch, bringing the total distance to 405 miles and, more importantly, helping us reach the £10,000 fundraising target.
Raising Awareness of Mental Health in Motorsport
The main reason behind the challenge was to raise awareness of mental health within motorsport and support the work being done by the BRDC Motor Sport Charity. Motorsport is an incredibly demanding environment, not just for drivers but for everyone working behind the scenes. Mechanics, engineers, team members and support staff regularly face long hours, time away from family and the pressures that come with competing at a high level.
The BRDC Motor Sport Charity has a long history of helping individuals and families within the sport who are facing financial hardship, ill-health or disability. In October 2025, the charity launched its dedicated Mental Health & Wellbeing Service, with former racing driver Danny Watts playing a leading role in the initiative.
One of my main motivations for taking on the challenge was to help raise awareness of the support available and encourage its expansion beyond BRDC Members to the wider motorsport community.
An Important Step Forward
One of the most positive developments during the year has been the charity opening up its mental health and wellbeing support to non-members of the BRDC. This is something I was particularly keen to see when I first started planning the challenge.
While the BRDC provides important support to its members, there are many people working throughout the motorsport paddock who are not members of the club. Making these services accessible to more people is a significant step forward and will hopefully encourage individuals who may be struggling to seek support when they need it.
To see this development alongside completing the challenge and reaching the fundraising target makes the whole experience even more worthwhile.
405 Miles Across the British GT Season
The challenge certainly wasn’t straightforward. Running such long distances while continuing to race throughout the season brought plenty of physical and mental challenges. The Oulton Park leg was particularly demanding, with approximately 121 miles covered over four days, while the final 85-mile run to Brands Hatch was one last test after months of accumulated mileage.
There were difficult moments along the way, but the encouragement and support I received throughout the season helped keep me going. Reaching Brands Hatch and completing the final miles was a fantastic feeling, particularly knowing that we had also achieved the £10,000 fundraising target.
Thank You for the Support
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the challenge throughout the year. Whether you donated, shared the fundraising page, joined me for part of a run or simply sent a message of encouragement, it all made a difference.
I’d also like to thank the partners and businesses who helped make the challenge possible, along with Danny Watts and everyone at the BRDC Motor Sport Charity for the work they continue to do.
I’m incredibly proud to have completed the 405 miles and raised £10,000 for such an important cause. Although the running challenge has finished, I hope the awareness raised and the expansion of the charity’s mental health support will continue to have a positive impact on people working throughout motorsport.
405 miles. Five race weekends. £10,000 raised. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen.