The Greatest Car Manufacturer Debate - 26 March

20 March 2026

There is now less than a week to go until The Greatest Car Manufacturer Debate & Charity Auction on Thursday 26 March 2026 from 7-11pm at London Scottish House (in London, which is raising funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, as part of A Driving Force for SSAFA 2026 (ADF26).

The event is being organised by ADF26 participants Alex and Harriet Wolfe, from London as part of their fundraising.

ADF26 involves 60 teams raising funds across 2026, hoping to raise £100,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, with 60 participant cars taking on an11-day driving adventure across 10 countries from 1-11 August 2026.

During the evening, the ultimate petrolhead question will be tackled: Which car company is the greatest of all time? Five legendary marques will go head-to-head in a lively debate, championed by some of the most respected voices in the automotive world.

• Aston Martin – because everyone wants to drive James Bond’s car
• Ferrari – the prancing horse, the dream marque for generations
• Ford – from the Model T to the Le Mans-winning GT40
• Lamborghini – creator of the supercar, from Miura to Countach
• McLaren – from the iconic F1 to Le Mans victory and Formula 1 World Champions  

The keynote speakers will be:
 
Ryszard Nowobilski for Aston Martin

Co-founder of Aston Keeper, an independent Aston Martin specialist in Surrey. He is a lifelong car enthusiast and lover of British engineering, from pre-war cars, Ariel motorcycles to modern Astons. Alongside his engineering work Ryszard serves as chair of a group of charities and is an amateur racing driver.

 
JayEmm (James Martin) for Ferrari

With 476,000 YouTube subscribers and over 168 million views, James Martin of JayEmm on Cars is one of the most respected automotive reviewers online. Known for his honest insights into ownership, he has lived with and reviewed iconic Ferraris including the 550 Maranello, F12, and F430 Scuderia, as well as experiencing most modern supercars.

Jeremy Walton for Ford

Author of the legendary Fast Fords series and a lifelong Ford historian, Jeremy Walton has spent more than 35 years immersed in the brand. He has driven everything from the Le Mans-winning GT40 to Princess Diana’s Escort RS Turbo, which later sold for over £750,000.

John Thorne for McLaren

Founder of Thorney Motorsport, the world’s largest independent McLaren specialist. John has become a leading authority on McLaren ownership, helping thousands of enthusiasts keep their cars reliable, enjoyable, and on the road.

Iain Tyrrell for Lamborghini

Founder of Iain Tyrrell Classic Cars and one of the world’s leading classic car experts. Iain is renowned for discovering and authenticating the iconic Lamborghini Miura from the 1969 film The Italian Job and currently serves as Technical Officer for Lamborghini Club UK.

The debate will be chaired by Alex Wolfe, host of the Wolfe Power Club, the No 1 energy podcast on Apple Podcasts and TikTok, known for lively conversations with industry leaders.

Guests will have the chance to vote for their favourite manufacturer, with every vote bought helping your chosen marque claim the crown.

Alongside the debate, we are reintroducing the chance to pay for votes to help your chosen manufacturer claim the crown, with every penny raised supporting SSAFA.