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Knaresborough’s Oracle Finance Named Broker Of The Year

A Yorkshire company specialising in financing high performance vehicles has won a national industry title.

Oracle Finance – which was founded in 2006 by Peter Brook and Andy King, and is located on Knaresborough’s Whitfield Business Park – has been named as Broker of the Year by Alphera Financial Services.

The company, which employs a work force of nearly 30, has 40,000 clients on its books, ranging from sole traders and captains of industry to Premier League footballers and retirees, currently underwrites some £250 million per annum.

Mr Brook said: “We have worked closely with Alphera for a number of years now and are thrilled they have named us as their Broker of the Year for 2013. It is highly coveted in the industry and a superb accolade for us.

“The judges praised us for our volume commitment and over-achievement of efficiency targets. Winning this award is a testament to the hard work of all the Oracle Finance team.”

Mr Brook added: “Vehicle funding is a £22bn industry and despite the current economic climate we are seeing sales rise by 20 per cent, year on year.

“Two years ago we opened a London office to accommodate a growing number of southern-based clients. Over the next three years, we are aiming to expand the business considerably in terms of deals underwritten and staff we employ.”

Alphera Financial Services is part of BMW Group Financial Services, which is represented in over 50 countries, and has assets exceeding €50 billion.

It is also one of the world’s leading financial services companies specialising in automotive finance, and operates in more than 20 countries around the world, including the USA, South Africa, Australia and Germany.

Oracle Finance Reports 35 Per Cent Rise In Business In Second Quarter

The country’s leading provider of finance for high performance and specialist vehicles has recorded its best quarter ever since launching seven years ago.

Oracle Finance, which underwrites some £250 million of funding each year, has reported figures for April, May and June are up 35 per cent on the first quarter of 2013.

The business, which is based in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire and operates two satellite offices in London and Glasgow, employs a sales team of just under 30.

Oracle Finance managing director Peter Brook said: “Despite what can only be described as extremely challenging economic conditions over the past few years, we have seen our sales increase by 20 per cent, year on year.

“The second quarter of 2013 has been incredible and business is 35 per cent up on the first three months.

“We are putting this down to the economy starting to turn the corner, the strength of the prestige car market, and variety of financial packages we are offering to clients looking to purchase their dream car.

“Our figures have also been boosted by the specialist packages we offered for the new Range Rover, which proved incredibly popular.

“Vehicle funding is a £22bn industry and we currently have 40,000 clients on our books. Our customers range from sole traders and captains of industry to Premier League footballers and retirees.”

Oracle Finance Displays Rare BMW At Country’s Most Exclusive Motor Show

Guests at one of the UK’s most exclusive motor shows will have the chance to see one of the world’s rarest BMWs – thanks to a North Yorkshire car financing company.

Oracle Finance, the UK’s number one provider of funding for prestige and sports cars, is displaying a BMW M1 at this week’s exclusive Salon Privé premier “boutique” motoring event, being held in the grounds of a London stately home from September 4-6.

Earlier this year, Oracle Finance was named as Broker of the Year by Alphera Financial Services, which is part of the BMW Group Financial Services.

The very first M car, the BMW M1 was conceived to challenge Porsche in the mid-1970’s Sports Car Championship.

However, delays with development partner Lamborghini led to a late launch in 1979 yet the M1 provided huge entertainment during the two year Procar series which accompanied some Grands Prix.

Many top F1 drivers drove 450bhp racing M1s against private owners. The M1 also won its class at Le Mans on several occasions and in other great road races.

The ultimate BMW M1 was a German GT series contender which had twin turbo charges and produced 850bhp.

Oracle Finance managing director Peter Brook said: “Salon Privé is one of the most exclusive motoring events of the year, and, as our business is financing prestige and sports cars, it’s very fitting for us to be there with a BMW M1.

“Vehicle funding is a £22bn industry and despite the current economic climate we are seeing sales rise by 20 per cent, year on year.

“Only 450 of these cars were ever produced and, at the time, sold for £30,000 each. When any come on the market now a buyer can expect to pay upwards of £140,000.”

Salon Privé is a hospitality-only event appealing to discerning guests, collectors, buyers, owners and enthusiasts who prefer a more intimate and engaging experience.

It is a presentation of the very finest automotive and luxury brands as well as the rarest and most valuable of classic cars and motorcycles, all of which are beautifully displayed on the lawns of one the country’s most spectacular stately homes, Syon Park, the home of the Duke of Northumberland.

Ginetta Racing Drivers Club Sign Successful Business Owner

Ginetta are today delighted to confirm the inaugural member of the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club as fellow Yorkshireman and Managing Director of both Oracle Finance and Lawton Brook Ltd, Peter Brook.

Having launched their new-for-2014 Ginetta Racing Drivers Club in conjunction with their debut appearance at the annual Salon Privé exhibition last week, the innovative package was met with unprecedented interest, so much so, that a sneak peek at the offer by Brook, who was also exhibiting at the West London event, saw him commit to a car before the show had even opened to the public.

His role as Managing Director of Oracle Finance and Lawton Brook Ltd – companies which specialise in high performance car retail and finance – has seen Brook drive almost all every supercar in production, fuelling his desire to go racing, however, his demanding role left little time for him to commit to a season-long race series.

Brook explained; “I’ve been involved in the motor trade for over 25 years now and have been lucky enough to get behind the wheel of almost all sports cars on the market at one time or another. I always fancied going racing, but never found an easy and non-time-consuming way into the sport, plus, in my line of work, I just don’t have the time to commit to a 10-strong race calendar.”

With motorsport constantly in his peripheral vision, the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club not only provided Brook with a cost-effective route into motorsport, but a viable business opportunity further down the line.

Brook continued; “When I saw the Ginetta Racing drivers Club offer at the Salon Privé exhibition, it was obvious this was the route many businessmen like myself have been waiting for. Not only will Ginetta ‘do all the hard work for me’ as well as provide a great race series which doesn’t overrun the diary, but at the end of it all, I have my own Ginetta G40, suitable for the racetrack and the road which, at £24,250+VAT will retain its retail value.

For a low production vehicle, Ginetta have an excellent reputation for build quality and reliability and having previous interactions with Ginetta, I know Lawrence Tomlinson strives for perfection, so I feel very comfortable investing my money in the brand.”

Brook will take delivery of his fully taxed and road legal G40 Club Car in early 2014, which signals the start of his journey towards becoming a fully-fledged racing driver. The all-inclusive package will see Brook join Ginetta for two track days which include one-on-one instruction in the car, following which he will be guided through the steps to obtain his MSA National B race licence ahead of a fourround Ginetta Racing Drivers Club series in support of the 2014 British GT.

Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman of Ginetta Cars added; “It’s great to have Peter on board as our first official member of the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club. He is the epitome of the type of driver we are targeting – someone with a busy schedule, who wants to go racing and be a part of the fantastic social side of motorsport but doesn’t have the time to organise everything himself. As he quite rightly said, Ginetta are offering a great package to business owners who will have a track day car to use however they choose, and we are certain the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club is going to be a busy grid in 2014.”

Having supported over 240 entry-level racing drivers over the past five years, and having already established clear routes from entry-level racing, right through to top level sports car competition, Ginetta are delighted to add Peter Brook to that ever-expanding roll of honour.

Return of the Romeo

Return of the Romeo

For those of you who remember Alpha Romeo’s in their former glory the 4C is the car you’ve been waiting for. After nearly 30 years the brand has finally found a car to express their values rivalling both Porsche and Lotus. Weighing in at just 925kg it’s on a par with the Lotus Exige; although the interior seems raw and stripped back with a small boot space and fuel tank this is easily forgiven. The 4C is a beautiful looking car that will certainly turn heads. Reaching 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds it doesn’t fault on performance either. Reviews show this as being perhaps not the best but certainly the most desirable sports car at an affordable £45,000.