MEET OUR
LEADERSHIP TEAM
SAM ROACH
COMPANY FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Sam is a motor industry events, marketing and motorsport professional, with a passion for all things automotive. Since 2001, Sam is owner and founder of RacingLine Ltd, overseeing the delivery of our Performance Parts, Motorsports and Events divisions.
MOTORSPORT EXPERIENCE
As you'd expect, Sam's life passion has been around cars, driving and motorsport.
It all started early. Aged 15 he became the BP ‘Young Driver of the Year’, and moved into competitive motorsport one week after passing his driving test aged 17 (and 11 days!).
For ten years, alongside his career, he competed in circuit racing formulae, from Formula Ford to Mini, Ford and Volkswagen saloon series with much success. In fact, he won the last race he ever competed in, in a Vento VR6 in an early Volkswagen Racing Cup Cup event.
He also contested the British Rally Championship in a Volkswagen UK-backed Polo GpN, with some success.
As soon as he started RacingLine, he made the decision to retire from competitive driving. But he never misses the chance to put his helmet back on and take the wheel when possible during sponsor and corporate events and for track testing of our Performance range.
Most recently, Sam was part of a three-man team who claimed a World Record for the shortest time to cover the famous 'Cape to Cape' journey - covering the 18,000km from South Africa to the northern tip of Norway in a world-beating 9 days, 5 hours.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Prior to running RacingLine, Sam started his career as a sponsored undergraduate engineer with Ford Motor Company aged 18. He completing a Mechanical Engineering (Vehicle Specialism) degree, earning a 1st class honours classification. This study included 4 months of study in Hamburg, Germany, which added German to Sam's French and Spanish language skills. After graduating he moved away from engineering into Ford of Europe’s Sales and Marketing function. To support this change, he completed a Marketing Diploma at Columbia University, New York.
After a variety of roles with Ford, he moved across to Volkswagen UK as Fleet Marketing Manager, before getting the opportunity to purchase Volkswagen Motorsport and move his career into Motorsport Management and Events and Marketing Services.
PERSONAL
Outside Sam's busy work life, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends at home in St Albans, UK.
Holiday time includes a passion for skiing, sailing and as much travelling as possible.
Connect with Sam