Mike made his racing debut in 2004 after purchasing Jonathan Palmer’s very first race car — a well-worn yellow Frogeye Sprite. The introduction to competitive racing was immediate and unforgiving. In a true baptism of fire, a Big Healey made contact with him at Copse, tearing open the side of the Sprite “like a tin can” with its wheel spinners.

After that first season, progression came quickly. Mike stepped up to an Austin Healey 100, before later moving into the first of several Healey 3000s. While the two models are very different to drive, both hold a special place for him — the Healey 100 for its beautiful balance, and the Healey 3000 for its unmistakable grunt.

A self-confessed car and bike enthusiast, Mike’s motorsport interests extend well beyond circuit racing. He regularly competes in vintage rallies with a 1934 Alvis Speed Special, enjoys trialling in a wonderfully entertaining Austin 7 Ulster, and — if he’s lucky — gets to share his wife Sarah’s pink Porsche 911 SC.

Mike’s favourite circuit is undoubtedly Spa-Francorchamps, having competed in the Spa Six Hour race for fourteen consecutive years. Results have varied, but in the early years he was regularly inside the top 20 in the Healey 100. Closer to home, Castle Combe is another favourite, particularly in the wet, where the circuit truly rewards smaller, lighter cars.

One of Mike’s standout racing moments was standing on the podium at Le Mans Classic, co-driving with his wife — a highlight that remains especially meaningful. Among drivers who have inspired him, David Coulthard left a lasting impression after beating him at Goodwood — tough, fair, and gracious in victory. That said, Mike believes the real heroes of modern motorsport are those who still prepare, bring, and race their own cars.

Away from the circuit, food is a central passion. Having spent his entire career in the food business, Mike is most at home in the kitchen — particularly when cooking Spanish cuisine. Known as an occasional Jamón smuggler and, according to his wife, the unquestioned Paella King, it’s a title he wears proudly.