Scott Moran: A Life At The Top Of The Hill

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Few drivers have left a bigger mark on British hillclimbing than Scott Moran. A six-time British Hill Climb Champion, Scott has spent much of his career setting the standard in one of motorsport's most challenging disciplines, where every run is a flat-out sprint against the clock and there are no second chances.

As the son of former champion Roger Moran, Scott grew up surrounded by motorsport, but his success has been built on far more than family heritage. From his early days in a modest Delta-Imp and Caterham to becoming one of the sport's dominant forces in a Gould single-seater, he forged a reputation for speed, consistency and an unwavering determination to improve.

Over the years, his thrilling rivalries, record-breaking performances and championship victories have helped define a golden era of British hillclimbing. Yet despite the trophies and accolades, Moran remains deeply appreciative of the family, teamwork and camaraderie that lie at the heart of the sport.

In this exclusive interview, Scott reflects on his journey from a young enthusiast watching his father compete to becoming one of the most successful drivers in British hillclimb history.

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Q1. You grew up in one of the most famous hillclimbing families in Britain. What are your earliest memories of the sport, and did you always know you wanted to follow in your father Roger Moran's footsteps?

My earliest motorsport memories actually come from rallying. Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, my dad was competing in road rallies and stage rallies, and I remember going out with my mum and sister to watch him compete at night. That's really where it all started for me.

Dad eventually moved into hillclimbing when rallying became increasingly expensive. He tried a hillclimb at Loton Park in 1988 in his rally car and immediately took Fastest Time of the Day. From there he progressed through saloons and single-seaters and went on to become British Champion.

I never really had a grand plan to compete at the top level myself. I just enjoyed motorsport and competition. I started hillclimbing in 1995 in a Delta-Imp while also racing downhill mountain bikes. In many ways, downhill biking was great preparation for hillclimbing because you're on your own, racing against the clock and making split-second decisions.

Later I competed in a Caterham before moving into single-seaters in 2002 when Dad invited me to share his new Pilbeam. It was a baptism of fire, but I gradually found my feet. Looking back, I simply wanted to enjoy myself and improve. The success came later.

Q2. Your battles with drivers like Martin Groves became legendary, especially at Shelsley Walsh. Looking back, which rivalry or moment in your career stands out as the most intense or emotional?

The rivalry with Martin Groves was incredibly special because we were effectively competing in identical machinery. Neither of us had a clear technical advantage, so it really came down to the driver.

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Martin could drive absolutely anything, he could even drive a tea tray quickly! We were both fiercely competitive and neither of us liked losing. We had several years of immensely close competition. Most weekends it could go either way and one us would have a long drive home. 

For the June 2007 Shelsley Walsh meeting the track had been resurfaced and grip levels improved dramatically.  The record was broken several times over the weekend but I went home with it on the Sunday night, it’s the record everyone wants so that one was very special.  It didn’t last long though as Martin took it back in the August.  He then broke it again in 2010 and that record was actually only broken in 2021 by Sean Gould.  The track has just been resurfaced it again for 2026 and Will Hall now has the record at 22.33, exactly 1/2 a second quicker than my 2007 effort.  Watch out in August as I think it may yet go lower! 

Another great rival was Trevor Willis. He was the benchmark in the road going mod prod class before moving into single-seaters, and we enjoyed many close contests over the years. Trevor is quiet and unassuming away from the car, but behind the wheel he's an absolute monster. Racing against drivers like Martin and Trevor pushed me to improve and probably made me a better driver.  Another driver/combination was Jos Goodyear in the GWR Raptor.  The car was awesomely fast and Jos was extremely brave. He pushed me out of my comfort zone on more than one occasion!  

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Q3. Winning six British Hill Climb Championships is an incredible achievement. Which championship season meant the most to you personally, and why?

Two stand out.  The first is 2008 because it was my maiden British Championship title. I'd been chasing it for years and to finally win, especially against the level of competition we had at the time, was hugely satisfying.

The second is 2011. That year means the most because my Dad finished second in the championship. To finish first and second together as father and son was something very special. We had strong competition from Trevor Willis, who was phenomenal in his car, but we managed to come out on top. Our son Ollie was only a year old then and he's in so many of the photographs from that season. Looking back, it was a wonderful family achievement.

Q4. You and your father shared the Gould GR61X for many years. What was it like competing alongside your dad while also building your own identity within the sport?

I couldn't have achieved what I did without Dad. It was very much a family effort. He taught me an enormous amount, particularly through data analysis and car development, and I learned so much from both him and Dave Wilson over the years.

At first Dad was quicker than me, particularly in the braking areas, although I started to gain an advantage on some of the faster sections once I learned the finer points of driving the car. Sharing machinery also meant there was an extra responsibility. If you damaged the car, you weren't just affecting yourself; you were affecting your teammate, who happened to be your father.  That probably made both of us look after the equipment more than we otherwise might have done. It was a genuine team effort and we loved every minute of it.

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Q5. Hillclimbing is often described as one of the purest forms of motorsport because it's just driver, machine and mountain. What makes hillclimbing so special compared to circuit racing?

For me, it's the fact that you've got one chance and it has to be right.

Circuit racers have laps to build up speed and confidence, but in hillclimbing you leave the line and immediately have to perform at your absolute limit. If you miss a gear, brake too late or take the wrong line, that's it. The run is effectively gone.

You're racing against the clock, against yourself and against the hill. Every tenth of a second matters. That's what makes it so rewarding but also so demanding. There are no warm-up laps and no opportunities to recover from mistakes.

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Q6. The sport has evolved hugely over the years in terms of technology, aerodynamics and professionalism. How have you adapted as a driver, and what changes have had the biggest impact on performance?

The biggest change has been the complexity of the cars. Modern hillclimb machinery offers so many more setup options than we had years ago. Aerodynamics, electronics, damping systems and data analysis have all become increasingly important.

The challenge today isn't simply having a fast car, it’s understanding how to get the best from it. Finding the sweet spot can be incredibly difficult because small changes can have a huge effect on performance.

We tended to run a relatively straightforward setup, whereas modern cars have countless parameters that can be adjusted. Technology has undoubtedly moved the sport forward, but it has also increased the importance of engineering expertise.  One thing that hasn’t changed is that you still need a driver that can pedal it quickly once you’ve sorted out the setup and what suits one driver may not necessarily suit another

Q7. For young people discovering hillclimbing today, what is the magic of the sport, and what advice would you give to someone dreaming of competing at championship level?

The best thing about hillclimbing is how welcoming it is. The paddocks are open and accessible, and people are always willing to help. Even at the top end of the sport during Run Offs, I've seen competitors lend parts to rivals, delay runs to help someone repair a car and go out of their way to make sure a fellow competitor gets their run. That’s a huge part of the sport's appeal so I suggest you come along to as many events as possible, and just by walking around talking to drivers you’ll learn an enormous amount.  The clubs, marshals, scrutineers and experienced competitors all want to help. Hillclimbing isn't just about driving; it's also about engineering, preparation and being part of a fantastic community. I would certainly advise attending a couple of driving schools and speak with the instructors and venue staff on how to get started.

Q8. When you're away from the cockpit and the pressure of competition, what helps you switch off and recharge?

Family time is incredibly important. Deb has supported me all the way through my career and in the later years has stayed at home on race weekends due to work and school commitments. Our children, Ollie and Emily, are growing up quickly, so spending time with them is something I really value.

I still really enjoy mountain biking and try and get out as often as possible. I do try and drag the kids out now and again but they’ve not got bitten by the bug just yet.  Ollie is now really interested in motorsport himself and has got a few auto solos under his belt, we also enjoy a bit of karting from time to time. It's great to share those experiences together.

I also enjoy opportunities to drive and test cars outside the pressure of competition. It's nice to enjoy machinery without the stopwatch constantly ticking away in the background.

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography

Q9. You've competed internationally in FIA Hillclimb Masters events. What are your thoughts on those events and on the growing Tin Top Challenge?

The FIA Hill Climb Masters is a fantastic event. I've competed in several and won one gold medal and two silvers. It's an opportunity to race against the best drivers from across Europe and experience just how big hillclimbing is in countries such as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

The first time I attended a European event I was amazed by the scale of it. The professionalism, infrastructure and support are on another level.

As for the Tin Top Challenge, I think it's one of the best things to happen to British hillclimbing in recent years. People can relate to a Fiesta, Subaru or similar production-based car far more easily than they can to a highly specialised single-seater. It's a more affordable route into the sport and has the potential to attract a lot of new competitors and some really interesting cars. 

The British Championship remains the pinnacle, but costs are rising and the top cars have become extremely specialised. The Tin Top Challenge offers an accessible alternative and could play a major role in the future growth of hillclimbing. In many ways, it may help secure the long-term future of the sport.

Photographer credit: Stuart Wing of Capture Your Car Photography