The Grand Prix Trust has been quietly going about its important business for the past 30 years, supporting Formula 1’s unsung heroes.

Now under the stewardship of Martin Brundle, who has stepped up to the mantle following on from Sir Jackie Stewart, the Trust helps those no longer in F1 that need support. Once known as the Grand Prix Mechanics Trust, it has expanded its remit to all F1 personnel, trackside or factory-based, who have worked in the sport for more than two years.

Brundle explained more during his recent podcast, recorded in association with Mercedes-Benz, and opened the floor to you to help them continue thier work. “I think there might well be a lot of Motor Sport readers and listeners who will be interested in this. They can help us actually because they may well know some people who need some help,” he said.

“I took over from Sir Jackie Stewart as the chairman of trustees a year or so back. Jackie started this in the 1980s; it was called the Grand Prix Mechanics Trust back then. We dropped ‘mechanic’ from the name because in Formula 1 parlance these days there is no category of a mechanic today. We like to help people out where we can – people who fall on hard times due to their health or other issues like financial issues.

“Over 150 teams have gone broke in Formula 1, and a lot of people say ‘but F1 is so rich, why do you need to help people out in F1?’ Well, of course, the current teams are rich, and there are 10 of them with HR departments, but I’m surprised today how many people we help when they get into some problems that are beyond the remit and resource of an F1 team human resource department.

But fundamentally we’re there for the stalwarts and the pioneers of yesteryear. In the 67-year history of F1, as I said, more than 150 teams have gone out of business there were no pensions, health care plans, and all of that back in those days, and Jackie was absolutely right to start this up.

“We’ve helped a lot of people over the course of time.

“It’s applicable now to anybody who’s been involved in F1 for two years or more in any role, actually, anywhere in the world. We’ve helped people in Australia and New Zealand who were F1 mechanics back in the day – in the 1960s and ‘70s – who have ended up with some difficulties. I’ve also tried to make it an online social media hub for people who want to stay in touch on Facebook and meet some of their old colleagues or communicate with them, so we quietly do a lot of good.

“I can’t explain some times where we’ve helped individuals because of confidentiality and I wouldn’t want to do that. We’ve got two ladies who work for on the administration side: Sally, who is our client coordinator, is highly trained and we help a lot of people out without spending one pound because Sally knows where all the green buttons are and there are so many facilities out there in social care.

“We do a lot of good, so anybody who can help us, I would appreciate it, and if anybody reading the magazine and listening to this knows of people who have been involved in F1 and have ended up with problems, then contact the Grand Prix Trust.

“We get donations, we had a very generous donation recently, and we’ve got an industry leader challenge this year. Christian Horner’s going to try and drive with Terry Grant on two wheels – we’re just finding an Aston Martin for him to do that in now. I think he’s regretting saying he would do that.

“Jackie always talked about the ‘big one’, a car over the pit wall into the pitlane and hurting a lot of people, but I think safety regulations and multi-level of insurances have sort of negated that concern since he started this in the 1980s. For me now, the ‘big one’ is when I look at F1 and see 700-1000 people making two races for 21 races, and I look at that and I think that’s unsustainable. I don’t think that’s going to last. I’d like to see a lot more teams come in so we can fill the grid up with 26 cars.

“There’s going to be a change, there has to be. When Ross [Brawn] left Mercedes there was a cap of 650 people, and now there are 1000 people… is it going to go to 1,500 people? What going to happen? So there’s going to be a change and I think the Grand Prix Trust will be there when it’s needed.”

If you know someone who is in need of help, you can contact the Trust by visiting www.grandprixtrust.com.

If you wish to donate, visit www.grandprixtrust.com/donate/.