Now in its second year, the annual (and rhyming) SLG Grand Prix is fast becoming an agency tradition.
First started way back in 2018, the all-electric go-karting championship has seen triumph and defeat in equal measure, with some team members taking home medals, while others are left with nothing more than the bitter taste of defeat.
This September saw 12 more competitors make their way to the best (and only) circuit within a mile of the office, ready for half an hour of competitive sitting down.
Tragically, last year’s 2nd place driver and SLG’s Lead Developer, John Burgess was unable to attend. Some say his absence was due to general illness, though if he had any loyal followers, they might be inclined to say it was foul play.
After a hard-fought qualifying round where ‘no contact’ was taken as a suggestion and not a rule, the grid was set:
Qualifying
- Jacob Brodmann – Senior Art Designer
- Mike Holt – Business Development Manager
- Rob Barker – Copywriter
- Tom Vardy – Creative Director
- Emma Weir – Senior Account Executive
- Ritesh Maisuria – Art Director
- Will Whyler – Senior Campaigns Executive
- Chelsea Henderson – Stunt Double for John Burgess
- Becky Charlton – Account Manager
- Anthony Walker – Senior PR Manager
- Leah Flanagan – Front of House
- Mark Fraser – Senior Copywriter
After a much-needed cooldown over water, blue slush drinks and bovine energy drinks, the SLG racers were back on the track and waiting for the signal to go.
Red lights lit in sequence, until, after what seemed like an eternity, they changed to green, and the race was underway.
Rob Barker and Mike Holt raced hard but fair, and while they both were busy covering each other, Tom Vardy went for the 2nd place gap, took it, and held position, with only Jacob Brodmann ahead.
15 minutes and an undetermined amount of laps later, the chequered flag was waved. Jacob kept the lead, followed by Tom Vardy in second and Rob Barker taking the last spot on the podium.
Final Results
- Jacob Brodmann
- Tom Vardy
- Rob Barker
- Mike Holt
- Emma Weir
- Will Whyler
- Ritesh Maisuria
- Anthony Walker
- Chelsea Henderson
- Leah Charlton
- Becky Charlton
- Mark Fraser
And with that, the SLG Grand Prix was over. Drivers went their separate ways into the night, now at the mercy of Manchester’s unpredictable rail services and traffic patterns.
The racing might be over until 2020, but if past quarterly competitions are anything to go by, including bowling, darts, beer pong and axe throwing, the main event will be here again before we know it.




